Wayne Brady-Led ‘The Wiz’ Sets Broadway Opening Night Date

The Wiz will officially ease on down to Broadway. Following a sold-out run in Baltimore, the Tony Award-winning musical will embark on a national tour before landing at the Marquis Theatre for a limited engagement beginning previews March 29, 2024, ahead of an April 17 opening night. 

Produced by Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker, the production launched its pre-Broadway national tour on Sept. 24 in Baltimore, the home of the original production's 1974 world premiere.

The Broadway cast will feature Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody A. Betts as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow and Wayne Brady in the titular role of The Wiz. 

The Wiz ensemble includes 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 and Timothy Wilson.

Featuring a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls, The Wiz first opened on Broadway in 1975, when it received seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. In 1978, this reimagining of The Wizard of Oz through the lens of Black culture hit the silver screen starring Diana Ross as Dorothy alongside Michael Jackson's Scarecrow. 

The latest production will see director Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney's Aida), choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé's "Single Ladies," Black is King), Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements) and Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements) put a contemporary, soulful stamp on the musical. The production will also include "Everybody Rejoice" music and lyrics by Luther Vandross. 

The Wiz design team will include 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), wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ) and make-up design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche (The Piano Lesson). Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting. 

Tickets will go on sale Nov. 3.