Broadway Musical Home

This “super soul” 1975 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical retells L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wizard of Oz” in the context of African-American culture.

Story:

Dorothy, a restless Kansas farm girl eager to see more of the world, is transported by a tornado to a magical world of Munchkins, witches, and a yellow brick road. On her way to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz, who she believes can help her get back home to Kansas, she encounters the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion - friends who help her battle the Wicked Witch of the West and eventually learn that there really is “no place like home.”

: Composer and Lyricist
Charlie Smalls

: Librettist
William F. Brown

Broadway Premiere

Theatre: Majestic Theatre, Broadway Theatre

Opening Night: Jan 5, 1975

Total Performances: 1,672

Original Cast: Tiger Haynes, Ted Ross, Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, Clarice Taylor, Mabel King, Andre De Shields, Tasha Thomas, DeeDee Bridgewater

Director: Geoffrey Holder

Choreographer: George Faison

Producer: Ken Harper

Musical Director: Charles H. Coleman

Orchestrations: Harold Wheeler

Scenic Design: Tom H. John

Costume Design: Geoffrey Holder

Lighting Design: Tharon Musser

1984 Broadway Revival

Theatre: Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Opening Night: May 24, 1984

Total Performances: 13

Original Cast: Stephanie Mills, Gregg Baker, Peggie Blue, Ann Duquesnay, Juanita Fleming, Carl Hall, Ella Mitchell, Howard Porter, Charles Valentino

Director: Geoffrey Holder

Choreographer: George Faison

Producer: Tom Mallow, James Janek and The Shubert Organization

Musical Director: Charles H. Coleman

Orchestrations: Harold Wheeler

Scenic Design: Peter Wolf

Costume Design: Geoffrey Holder

Lighting Design: Paul Sullivan

2024 Broadway Revival

Theatre: Marquis Theatre

Opening Night: April 17, 2024

Total Performances: 143

Original Cast: Nichelle Lewis, Deborah Cox, Wayne Brady, Kyle Ramar Freeman, Phillip Johnson Richardson, Melody A. Betts, Avery Wilson, Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Anthony Murphy, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, Timothy Wilson

Additional Material: Amber Ruffin

Director: Schele Williams

Choreographer: Jaquel Knight

Producers: Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker, Kandi Burruss, Todd Tucket, Common, MC Lyte

Musical Director: Joseph Joubert

Orchestrations: Joseph Joubert

Scenic Design: Hannah Beachler

Costume Design: Sharen Davis

Lighting Design: Ryan J. O’Gara

Sound Design: Jon Weston

Wig Design: Mia Neal

1978 Film Version

Movie Name: The Wiz

Type: Hollywood Musical

Director: Sidney Lumet

Screenplay: Joel Schumacher

Starring: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell

2015 TV Version

Movie Name: The Wiz Live!

Type: Live Musical Telecast

Director: Matthew Diamond and Kenny Leon

Screenplay: Harvey Fierstein

Starring: Common, Amber Riley, Uzo Aduba, Stephanie Mills, Elijah Kelley, Ne-Yo, David Alan Grier, Mary J. Blige, Shanice Williams, Queen Latifah

Musical Numbers

The Feeling We Once Had

Tornado

He's The Wizard

Soon As I Get Home

I Was Born On The Day

Before Yesterday

Ease On Down The Road

Slide Some Oil To Me

I'm A Mean Ole Lion

Be A Lion

So You Wanted To See The Wizard

What Would I Do If I Could Feel

Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News

Everybody Rejoice

Y'All Got It!

If You Believe

Click on a song name to listen/purchase it on

Stream Online Now

: Wiz Live Version Available to Stream via Amazon

CDs

: Original Broadway Cast Album

: Motion Picture Soundtrack

: The Wiz LIVE! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event

Vinyl

: Original Broadway Cast Recording

Sheetmusic

: Vocal Selections

Videos

: Original Hollywood Version DVD

: Original Hollywood Version Blu-Ray

: The Wiz! LIVE! DVD

Other

1975 Tony Award Nominations

Best Musical
Best Original Score
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Ted Ross
Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Dee Dee Bridgewater
Best Costume Design
Best Choreography
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Book of a Musical

1975 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Music and Lyrics
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Ted Ross
Outstanding Choreography
Outstanding Costume Design
Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Stephanie Mills
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Hinton Battle
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Mabel King
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Outstanding Set Design

1976 Grammy Award Nominations

Best Cast Show Album

2024 Drama League Award Nominations

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Distinguished Performance Award - Nichelle Lewis

2024 Chita Rivera Award Nominations

Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show - Phillip Johnson Richardson
Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show - Avery Wilson

2024 Theatre World Award Nominations

Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance - Phillip Johnson Richardson
Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance - Nichelle Lewis