*Broadway in Hollywood and Producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss, and Todd Tucker are pleased to announce that the long-anticipated pre-Broadway L.A. premiere engagement of THE WIZ will arrive at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for three weeks only; February 13 – March 3, 2024.
This Los Angeles engagement marks the final city of the Pre-Broadway national tour. THE WIZ begins its limited Broadway engagement at the Marriott Marquis Theater on March 29, 2024.
Due to exceptionally high demand, ticket availability for THE WIZ is limited. Interested audiences are advised to check regularly for availability. Tickets for THE WIZ are available for purchase at www.BroadwayInHollywood.com or in person at the Hollywood Pantages Box Office. Check the website for current box office hours. All prices are subject to change without notice.
THE WIZ returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Broadway-bound tour, the first one in 40 years. This new tour began in THE WIZ’s original home city of Baltimore, where the show made its world premiere 50 years ago. Following its run in Baltimore, the tour will have eased into 13 Emerald cities across the country, including this L.A. run, before beginning its limited Broadway engagement at the Marriott Marquis Theatre in New York City on March 29, 2024.
This groundbreaking 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.
The cast of THE WIZ features Wayne Brady (Kinky Boots) as The Wiz, award-winning recording artist Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody A. Betts (The Factotum, Lyric Opera Of Chicago) as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman (A Strange Loop) as Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson (“Sharper,” A24) as Tinman, and recording artist Avery Wilson (“On Top Of The World) as Scarecrow. Nichelle Lewis (Hairspray, National Tour) makes a star turn Broadway debut as Dorothy.
The Wiz features a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls (and others). Schele Williams (The Notebook, a revival of Disney’s Aida) is the director. Award-winning JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Black is King) is a choreographer with 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 provides music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements. Allen René Louis is in charge of vocal arrangements and music arrangements. Emmy Award® winning music director and Grammy Award®-winning writer, Adam Blackstone is the Dance Music Arranger. All of this stellar talent conjures 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 also includes the hit song “Everybody Rejoice,” music and lyrics by Luther Vandross, as well as the “Emerald City Ballet” with music by Timothy Graphenreed.
Oz is reimagined with 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), projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), and wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical).
Based on L. Frank Baum’s children’s book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, THE WIZ takes one of the world’s most enduring (and enduringly white) American fantasies and transforms it into an all-Black musical extravaganza for the ages.
THE WIZ premiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation, going on to win seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography (George Faison), and in a Broadway first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). “Ease on Down the Road” became the show’s break-out single, and “Home” has since become a bona fide classic. That original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) – and 1,672 performances – on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor and Lena Horne, and marked Quincy Jones’ first collaboration with Michael Jackson.
Casting by Tara Rubin Casting.
THE WIZ has a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes (including intermission) and is recommended for a general audience. Children under the age of 5 will not be admitted into the theatre. All patrons must have a ticket, regardless of age.
For more information about THE WIZ, please visit www.WizMusical.com.
Follow THE WIZ on Instagram & Facebook.
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