The Official WIZ Casting Announcement
The Official WIZ Casting Announcement
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#0The Official WIZ Casting Announcement
Posted: 7/24/06 at 9:57pm
Apparently Mary Testa will NOT be playing Evilene -- I take the whole "non-traditional casting" rumor was just that ...... a rumor.
From Variety:
"Wayne Brady and David Alan Grier will star in the La Jolla Playhouse revival of "The Wiz," playing the scarecrow and the title role, respectively, in the 1975 African-American adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz."
Helmed by outgoing La Jolla a.d. Des McAnuff, who directed last season's big Tony winner "Jersey Boys," the production is the first high-profile revival of the tuner since a short-lived 1984 Broadway visit. Even before casting was announced, those in legit circle were talking about the show as a strong candidate for a Gotham transfer.
Nikki M. James ("All Shook Up") has been cast as Dorothy, with "Jersey Boys" vet Tituss Burgess as the lion and Michael Benjamin Washington ("La Cage aux Folles") as the Tinman.
McAnuff has said he and original orchestrator Harold Wheeler will aim to give the music a contemporary sound. (Tunes are by Charlie Smalls, with book by William F. Brown.)
Original concept also will be tweaked, with an environmental set by Robert Brill ("Cabaret"), as well as the addition of a dancer (Albert Blaise Cattafi) in the role of Toto instead of an actual dog.
Other "Jersey" collaborators involved in "The Wiz" are lighting designer Howell Binkley (who took home a Tony for his lighting design on "Jersey") and choreographer Sergio Trujillo. Paul Tazewell ("The Color Purple") provides costumes.
Also in the cast are E. Faye Butler as wicked witch Evillene, Orville Mendoza ("Pacific Overtures") as Uncle Henry and Valarie Pettiford ("Half & Half") as both Aunt Em and Glinda. Heather Lee ("Gypsy") plays another witch, Addaperle."
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117947322?categoryid=15&cs=1
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
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"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#1re: The Official WIZ Casting Announcement
Posted: 7/24/06 at 10:00pmI'm glad it's announced through, this wasn't worth the wait. It's not bad, but it's not exciting.
I have NEVER met Cheyenne Jackson. I have never hung out with him in his dressing room, he did not tweet me, he never bought me a beverage, and he mostly certainly didn't tickle me. . .that is all.
Luckydave14
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/04
#2re: The Official WIZ Casting Announcement
Posted: 7/24/06 at 10:05pmI'm excited about Nikki M James. When does Tituss leave Jersey Boys?
#3re: The Official WIZ Casting Announcement
Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:00am
I am excited for this, even though it is going to be playing after I move to NY for school.
My high school did this show my freshman year, there was only one black person in the show and she was in the ensemble. But I still love this show.
#4re: The Official WIZ Casting Announcement
Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:48amI think this cast is pretty close to perfect. I really hope Des does right by this show and that it makes it to NY.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#5re: The Official WIZ Casting Announcement
Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:50amAww. She'll make a good Dorothy.
