Virginia Repertory Theatre Presents THE WIZ
By: Julie Musbach May. 06, 2019
Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of The Wiz on Friday, June 21, 2019 at the November Theatre/Arenstein Stage, 114 West Broad Street. The show will run through Sunday, August 4, 2019. Previews will be on Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20, 2019. With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown, this R&B pop musical based on L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a fantastical journey, following the adventures of Dorothy and her friends as they "Ease on Down" the yellow brick road.
Virginia Rep is thrilled to welcome Mariah Lyttle to Richmond for her November Theatre debut as Dorothy. A recent graduate of Ithaca College, Lyttle holds a BFA in Musical Theatre. Recent credits include Hairspray at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre and Sarah in Ragtime at Park Playhouse in Albany, New York. Also newcomers to the November Theatre, Virginia Rep welcomes Dylan Jackson as Scarecrow and Brandon LaReau as Lion. Jackson is set to graduate from Carnegie Mellon University in 2020 with a degree in Acting and Music Theatre. Recent credits include Miles in Gloria at Hatch Arts Collective. LaReau is a two-time Irene Ryan Award nominated actor, with a BA in Musical Theatre from Christopher Newport University, currently pursuing an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy at VCU. Recent credits include Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors at VCU.
Virginia Rep is delighted to welcome back Desiree Roots, who will portray Aunt Em, Addaperle and Evilene. Roots most recently appeared on the November Theatre stage as Effie White in Dreamgirls. Other Virginia Rep credits include Sophia in The Color Purple, Vera in Mame and Caroline in Caroline, or Change. Also a veteran to the Virginia Rep stage, Devonte Jerome Wells joins the company as Tin Man, after most recently appearing in Dreamgirls as Jimmy Early. Rounding out the principal cast, Jerold Solomon (Atlantis; Between Riverside and Crazy) and Jessi Johnson (The Christians; The Little Engine That Could) will portray The Wiz/Uncle Henry and Glinda, respectively.
Virginia Rep Associate Artistic Director Kikau Alvaro will direct and choreograph the production, after most recently choreographing Atlantis and directing Huck and Tom and the Mighty Mississippi at The Children's Theatre at Willow Lawn. Originally from San Jose, California, Alvaro joined Virginia Rep as Associate Artistic Director in September of 2017. He also serves as the Head of Musical Theatre at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Anthony Smith returns to Virginia Rep after musical directing Atlantis, Sister Act, and last summer's smash hit, West Side Story. Smith also associate musical directed last season's holiday spectacular, Mary Poppins, and Cadence Theatre Company's Fun Home in partnership with Virginia Rep. Making their Virginia Rep debuts, Kimberly V. Powers will serve as Scenic Designer and Paul Black will serve as Lighting Designer. Jeanne Nugent (Mr. Popper's Penguins; Mary Poppins) will design costumes. Virginia Rep Audio Visual Supervisor Derek Dumais (Atlantis; Once) will Sound Design.
Direction & Design team includes Direction/Choreography by Kikau Alvaro, Musical Direction by Anthony Smith, Associate Direction by Rachel Dilliplane, Associate Choreography by Jacob Brent, Scenic Design by Kimberly V. Powers+, Lighting Design by Paul Black, Costume Design by Jeanne Nugent, Sound Design by Derek Dumais, Dramaturgy by Mariah Taghavie-Moghadam, Production Stage Management by Kerri J. Lynch*, AEA Assistant Stage Management by Jocelyn A. Thompson*, and Assistant Stage Management by Mason Hemphill and Justin Janke.
The Cast includes Mariah Lyttle as Dorothy, Dylan Jackson* as Scarecrow, Devonte Jerome Wells* as Tin Man, Brandon LaReau as Lion, Desiree Roots* as Aunt Em/Addaperle/Evilene, Jerold Solomon* as Uncle Henry/The Wiz, Jessi Johnson as Glinda, William Anderson, Terrence Bennett, Anthony Cosby, Joshua James Crawford, Madison Harris, Keaton Hillman, Tyandria Jaaber, Zakiyyah Jackson, Nisa Mercado, Michelle Mercedes*, Diontey Michael, Rachel Seeholzer, and Ira White as the Ensemble, and Dani Brown as the Swing.
* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.A.
+Member of USA, United Scenic Artists', local 829
Ticket Information
Box Office: 804-282-2620
Full Price Tickets: $36 - $63
Discounted Group Rates and Rush tickets available.
U-Tix for college and high school students $15 are available by phone or in person on the day of show only. Valid Student ID required.
Performance Schedule
Evening performances at 7:00 p.m. on select Wednesdays and every Thursday
Evening performances at 8:00 p.m. every Friday and Saturday
Matinee performances at 2:00 p.m. on select Wednesdays and Saturdays and every Sunday
Accessibility Programs
Audio Described Performances
In collaboration with Virginia Voice, Virginia Rep is pleased to offer Audio Described performances, in which actions, expressions and gestures are described during gaps between dialogue throughout the performance for patrons with low vision or blindness. In addition to live audio description during performances, patrons are also invited to participate in a tactile tour before the performance. The Audio Described performance for The Wiz will be on Sunday, June 30 at 2:00pm.
Induction Loop
The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre is equipped with a state-of the-art induction loop hearing system that is compatible with all telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. A handheld receiver and headphone system is also available free of charge for anyone who is hearing impaired.
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