The Wiz is a musical retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, as portrayed by an all-African American cast. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1975, was later adapted to film in 1978, and aired as a live broadcast on NBC in 2015.
References[]
- The song "Ease on Down the Road" from the musical was performed in episode 510 of The Muppet Show.
- Muppet Babies Live! featured two songs from The Wiz: "Ease on Down the Road" and "I'm a Mean Ole Lion".
- In Muppets from Space, Rizzo the Rat possesses a cast and crew jacket for a production of "The Cheese Wiz."
- In the Sesame Street Live show "Out of This World," Terry and the cast perform a slightly rewritten version of the musical's finale song, "Home."
Connections[]
- Alvin Alexis played a party guest in The Wiz (1978 film)
- Ashanti reprised her role of Dorothy in the City Center's production of The Wiz (2009)
- Common played the Bouncer in The Wiz Live (2015)
- André De Shields originated the Wiz in the Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
- Carol Dennis played a Munchkin, sunflower, stranger, and Emerald City citizen in the 1984 Broadway revival
- Roberta Flack sang as part of the adult choir in The Wiz (1978 film)
- Babi Floyd sang as part of the adult choir in The Wiz (1978 film)
- David Alan Grier played the Cowardly Lion in The Wiz Live (2015)
- Ben Harney was a replacement for the Tinman in the original Broadway production of The Wiz
- Cheryl Hardwick played keyboards in the original Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
- Geoffrey Holder directed and costume designed the original Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
- Lena Horne played Glinda in The Wiz (1978 film)
- James Monroe Iglehart played the Cowardly Lion in the City Center production of The Wiz (2009)
- Michael Jackson played the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978 film)
- Queen Latifah played The Wiz in The Wiz Live (2015)
- Jesse Levy played cello on the soundtrack for The Wiz (1978 film)
- Theresa Merritt was a replacement for Evillene on Broadway (ca. 1976) and played Aunt Em in The Wiz (1978 film)
- Noel MacNeal puppeteered the giant head of The Wiz in The Wiz Live (2015)
- Paul McGinnis puppeteered the giant head of The Wiz in The Wiz Live (2015)
- Ella Mitchell played Evillene as a replacement in the original Broadway production (ca. 1977) and in the 1984 revival
- Ne-Yo played the Tin Man in The Wiz Live! (2015)
- Fred Nihda built the Tin Man costume for the original Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
- Richard Pryor played The Wiz in The Wiz (1978 film)
- Diana Ross played Dorothy Gale in The Wiz (1978 film)
- Ted Ross played the lion in The Wiz (1975, Broadway) and the film (1978)
- Nipsey Russell played the Tinman in The Wiz (1978 film)
- Clarice Taylor originated Addaperle in the Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
- Toots Thielemans played harmonica on the soundtrack for The Wiz (1978 film)
- Luther Vandross wrote the song "Everybody Rejoice" for The Wiz (1975)