Photos: The Cast of THE WIZ Takes Their Opening Night Bows

The Wiz officially opened on Broadway last night at the Marquis Theatre.

By: Apr. 18, 2024
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The Wiz officially opened on Broadway last night at the Marquis Theatre. Check out photos of the cast taking their bows below!

Read the reviews for The Wiz here.

This twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop brings a whole new groove to easing on down the road.

The Broadway cast features Nichelle Lewis as ‘Dorothy,’ Wayne Brady as ‘The Wiz,’ Deborah Cox as ‘Glinda’ and Melody A. Betts as ‘Aunt Em’ and ‘Evillene,’ Kyle Ramar Freeman as ‘Lion,’ Phillip Johnson Richardson as ‘Tinman,’ Avery Wilson as ‘Scarecrow.’ THE WIZ ensemble includes Lauryn Adams, Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Alan Mingo, Jr., Anthony Murphy, Dustin Praylow, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Wilson.

Featuring a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls (and others), director Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney’s Aida), award-winning choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Black is King), additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers”), Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements), Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements), and Emmy Award®-winning music director and Grammy Award®-winning writer, Adam Blackstone (Dance Music Arranger), and Paul Byssainthe Jr. (Music Director), are conjuring up an Oz unlike anything ever seen before.  A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop will bring a whole new groove to easing on down the road. 

THE WIZ design team includes scenic design by Academy Award-winning Hannah Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncé’s Black is King and Lemonade), costume design by Emmy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting design by Barrymore Award-winning Ryan J. O’Gara (Thoughts of a Colored Man), sound design by Jon Weston (Parade), video and projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical) and make-up design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche (The Piano Lesson).

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski 

The Wiz
Allyson Kaye Daniel

The Wiz
Melody A. Betts

The Wiz
Deborah Cox

The Wiz
Wayne Brady

The Wiz
Kyle Ramar Freeman

The Wiz
Phillip Johnson Richardson

The Wiz
Avery Wilson

The Wiz
Nichelle Lewis

The Wiz
Nichelle Lewis

The Wiz
Nichelle Lewis

The Wiz
Phillip Johnson Richardson, Nichelle Lewis, Avery Wilson, Kyle Ramar Freeman

The Wiz
The cast of THE WIZ

The Wiz
The cast of THE WIZ

The Wiz
Phillip Johnson Richardson, Nichelle Lewis, Avery Wilson, Kyle Ramar Freeman

The Wiz
Deborah Cox, Wayne Brady

The Wiz
Melody A. Betts

The Wiz
The cast of THE WIZ

The Wiz
The cast of THE WIZ

The Wiz
The cast of THE WIZ

The Wiz
Deborah Cox, Schele Williams, Amber Ruffin

The Wiz
Schele Williams with the cast and creative team of THE WIZ

The Wiz
Alan Mingo, Jr. and the cast of THE WIZ

The Wiz
Alan Mingo, Jr. and the cast of THE WIZ

The Wiz
Schele Williams with the cast and creative team of THE WIZ



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