La Jolla's The Wiz Extends Through November 26

La Jolla Playhouse has announced a two-week extension of Des McAnuff's re-imagination of the Tony Award-winning classic, The Wiz.  The run, originally scheduled to close November 12, is now scheduled to run through November 26, 2006.

"While there are still some good seats remaining for the original run of The Wiz, tickets are extremely limited, especially with the enthusiastic word of mouth and patrons returning for a second time," comments Playhouse Managing Director Steven B. Libman.  "We want to share this exceptional performance with as many people as possible and are pleased to add these additional shows."

"Based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, McAnuff's Wiz is a major re-envisioning for the 21st century. When The Wizard of Oz met the urban beat of the 1970s, history was made to the tune of seven Tony® Awards. Now the young Dorothy travels to the strange and spectacular Land of Oz once again as McAnuff teams up with original Wiz orchestrator Harold Wheeler to create a re-imagined, multi-cultural musical phenomenon for a new century," state press materials.

The Wiz stars TV and theatre vet David Alan Grier as The Wiz, Nikki M. James as Dorothy, Tituss Burgess as Lion, Michael Benjamin Washington as Tinman, Rashad Naylor as Scarecrow, Albert Blaise Cattafi as Toto, E. Faye Butler as Evillene, Heather Lee as Addaperle, Orville Mendoza as Uncle Henry and Valarie Pettiford as Aunt Em and the Good Witch of the South, Glinda.  The ensemble includes Charl Brown, Courtney Corey, Mark Emerson, Dionne D. Figgins, Demond Green, Albert Guerzon, Dominique Kelley, Ron Kellum, Alan Mingo, Jr., Anisha Nagarajan, NRaca, Karine Plantadit, Tera-Lee Pollin, Keiana Richard, Liz Ramos, Marcos Santana and Jonathan Taylor.

The design team consists of: scenic and environmental designer Robert Brill, costume designer Paul Tazewell, Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys lighting designer Howell Binkley, sound designer Peter Fitzgerald, projection designer Michael Clark, choreographer Sergio Trujillo, music director Ron Melrose and production stage manager Frank Hartenstein.

Corporate sponsors for The Wiz are Cooley Godward LLP and City National Bank.  

For tickets, call 858.550.1010 or buy online at www.lajollaplayhouse.com.