The Wiz Live! 2015 - Articles Page 27

A first glimpse of the men behind the magic!

NBC is having an open casting call for the lead role of Dorothy in the network's upcoming holiday special “The Wiz Live!,” set for Thursday, Dec. 3.

Tony Award winner, George Faison taps multi-genre recording artist Damien Sneed as the musical director and conductor for the CityParks Foundation's Central Park's SummerStage production of "The Wiz: A Celebration in Dance & Music" on Wednesday, August 12 at Rumsey Playfield, located on East 72nd Street, off Fifth Avenue in Central Park. The event is free, doors open at 7:00 p.m. and show time is 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. On Thursday, August 13, and Friday, August 14, the production will be held at Marcus Garvey Park at 120th Street and Fifth Avenue in Harlem, show time is 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. The Wiz: A Celebration in Dance & Music will be produced, directed and choreographed by George Faison and Timothy Graphenreed is the musical supervisor and dance arranger for the production.  

BWW has confirmed today that NBC will host an open casting call for 'Dorothy' in THE WIZ LIVE in NYC next month.

In honor of this week's big casting coup coming in the form of original Dorothy Stephanie Mills joining the cast of NBC's live musical presentation of THE WIZ later this year, titled THE WIZ LIVE!, today we are posing some possible casting suggestions that line up with the thoughtful and affectionate choice of Mills as Auntie Em by taking a look at some of the other original leads and stars associated with the property who could be perfect fits for the live telecast as well as some familiar faces who would be ideally cast in the Oz-centric musical spectacular. Tony Award-winning Broadway divas to Hollywood superstars and beyond, this list has more potential than munchkins in Oz!

Will it be THE WIZ or THE MUSIC MAN or maybe something else entirely?!

The 26th annual edition of Gypsy of the Year raised a record-breaking $5,229,611 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, thanks to six weeks of fundraising by 64 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. The grand total was announced Tuesday, December 9, 2014, by special guests Hugh Jackman, Nathan Lane and Judith Light after two stellar performances of original dances, songs and skits by more than 200 'gypsies' from Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Today we celebrate the life of Tony Award-winning director, choreographer and artist Geoffrey Holder in honor of his death this week at the age of 84.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: James Snyder, The Trevor Project, Judy Kaye Sings Bernstein & Sondheim, Remembering Elaine Stritch, and 54 Sings The Wiz.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, celebrates the Tony Award-winning musical, The Wiz, with '54 Below Sings The Wiz,' part of the '54 Sings Series.' '54 Below Sings The Wiz' will play two performances only: Sunday, August 10 at 7PM and 9:30PM. To make a reservation, visit www.54below.com. Cover starts at $50. $25 food & beverage minimum.

54 Below has announced the latest musical scores to be featured in its acclaimed '54 Sings' concert series this summer:

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of VIOLET, starring Sutton Foster, Colin Donnell, Alexander Gemignani and Joshua Henry, begins previews tomorrow, March 28, 2014. VIOLET officially opens on April 20, 2014 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full company and check out a sneak peek performance and interviews with the cast!

IF/THEN, starring Idina Menzel (aka 'Adele Dazeem'), begins previews tomorrow, March 5, and officially opens on March 30 at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full cast, plus watch interviews and footage of the company performing in last month's NYC fan concert of the musical!

South Bend Civic Theatre commemorates the 75th anniversary of the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz" by presenting The Wiz, with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. Winner of 7 Tony Awards, this original take of the journey of Dorothy through the Land of Oz will entertain and delight audience members of all ages.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece LES MISERABLES begins previews on Broadway tomorrow, Saturday, March 1 at the Imperial Theatre. The official opening night for LES MISERABLES is Sunday, March 23. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast, plus watch a video of the company in rehearsal!

The Crown Center has released their calendar events from December 2013 to December 2014.

By popular demand, The Coterie returns to Oz with the Tony Award-winning musical The Wiz, a modern reimaging of L. Frank Baum's 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.' Directed by Jeff Church, The Wiz will be performed live on stage from November 15 - January 5, 2014.

Complementing the 2013 Mainstage season, the Hangar Theatre presents a magical series of live theatre for young audiences based on favorite children's stories. The KIDDSTUFF season will conclude with performances of The Wiz, a 'super soul' musical version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz playing from August 15-17 at 10am and 12pm. For tickets and information visit HangarTheatre.org or call 607.273.4497.

Darren Ritchie (Standby, Wonderland, Little Shop of Horrors, Dracula, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Dwelvan David(Songs for a New World, The Wiz, Ragtime, Show Boat), Alex Goley (Big River, Berenstain Bears Live!), Jeff Ostermueller (Spring Awakening, Seussical) and Yaniv Zarif (Carousel) have joined the lineup for The Pop Show Presents...Billy Joel! tonight, July 29 at Birdland Jazz Club.

Darren Ritchie (Standby, Wonderland, Little Shop of Horrors, Dracula, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Dwelvan David(Songs for a New World, The Wiz, Ragtime, Show Boat), Alex Goley (Big River, Berenstain Bears Live!), Jeff Ostermueller (Spring Awakening, Seussical) and Yaniv Zarif (Carousel) have joined the lineup for The Pop Show Presents...Billy Joel! on Monday, July 29 at Birdland Jazz Club.

Little Radical Theatrics (LRT) will present its Summer production of the classic Broadway musical 'The Wiz' from tonight, July 19th - 21st at The Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester in Pleasantville, NY.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its fifth season with the Tony Award-winning musical THE WIZ. Kimberly Dooley(Lucky Duck, Seussical, The Musical, Once On This Island) directs and choreographs this soulful re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's family classicThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz, featuring a cast of 46. THE WIZ plays today, July 13 through August 25 (Press opening: July 13) at the Julia Morgan Theater in Berkeley.

Little Radical Theatrics (LRT) will present its Summer production of the classic Broadway musical 'The Wiz' from July 19th - 21st at The Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester in Pleasantville, NY.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its fifth season with the Tony Award-winning musical THE WIZ. Kimberly Dooley(Lucky Duck, Seussical, The Musical, Once On This Island) directs and choreographs this soulful re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's family classicThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz, featuring a cast of 46. THE WIZ plays July 13 through August 25 (Press opening: July 13) at the Julia Morgan Theater in Berkeley. For tickets ($17-60) and more information, the public may visit berkeleyplayhouse.org or call 510-845-8542x351.

Get ready, 'cause here it comes- MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL that is! MOTOWN begins preview performances tonight, March 11 and will open on Broadway on April 14, 2013 at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street).Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL will feature a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue. Meet the company of the new musical with videos of them from past productions and roles below!