The Wiz

1974 musical based on the 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

For other uses, see The Wiz (disambiguation).

The Wiz

The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz"

Original Cast Recording

Music| Charlie Smalls
Timothy Graphenreed
Harold Wheeler
George Faison
Luther Vandross
Lyrics| Charlie Smalls
Zachary Walzer
Luther Vandross[1]
Book| William F. Brown
Basis| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum
Productions| 1974 Detroit tryout
1974 Philadelphia tryout
1975 Broadway
1976 US tour
1978 Film
1984 Broadway revival
2022 Mexico City
2023 US tour
2024 Broadway revival
2025 US tour
Awards| Tony Award for Best Musical
Tony Award for Best Original Score
Stephanie Mills (pictured in 2017) played Dorothy in the original 1975 Broadway musical The Wiz.

The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) in the context of contemporary African-American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974, at the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore,[2] and moved to Broadway's Majestic Theatre[3] with a new cast on January 5, 1975.

The 1975 Broadway production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It was an early example of Broadway's mainstream acceptance of works with an all-Black cast. It has had revivals in New York, London, San Diego, and the Netherlands, and a limited-run revival was presented by Encores! at New York City Center in June 2009. A big-budget film adaptation of the same name was released in 1978, with Ted Ross and Mabel King reprising their stage roles. The Wiz Live!, a television production of the stage musical, was broadcast on NBC in December 2015.

## Production history

[edit]

### Development and Broadway

[edit]

The idea for the musical originated with producer Ken Harper. He replaced the original director, Gilbert Moses, with Geoffrey Holder in Detroit during out-of-town tryouts. As cast member André De Shields, who played the title role, later wrote, "It was Geoffrey's masterful people skills and embrace of magical realism that metamorphosed The Wiz from caterpillar to butterfly."[4]

The original Baltimore cast included Stephanie Mills as Dorothy Gale, Stu Gilliam as the Scarecrow, Tiger Haynes as the Tin Man, Ted Ross as the Cowardly Lion, and Butterfly McQueen as the Queen of the Field Mice, but in a much smaller role. Renée C. Harris stayed on as understudy for the role of Dorothy, as did McQueen for the role of Addaperle.

The production was choreographed by George Faison, with scenic designer Tom H. John, costumes by Geoffrey Holder, lighting by Tharon Musser, and orchestrations by Harold Wheeler. Faison and Holder both won Tony Awards for choreography and costume design, respectively at the 29th Tony Awards in 1975.

The show had a pre-Broadway tryout at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit in November 1974,[4] and at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia from December 11, 1974, through December 21, 1974.[5] After drawing mixed critical reviews, producer Ken Harper considered closing the musical after its Broadway opening night. One source attributes its turnaround success to a publicity campaign that included a TV commercial featuring the cast singing "Ease On Down the Road," a song that proved so popular that it was released as a single recorded by the disco group Consumer Rapport;[6] The single hit the Billboard Soul Singles chart, peaking at No. 19 and the Hot 100, peaking at No. 42.[7]

William F. Brown, who wrote the book, gave a more specific explanation in 1993: "20th Century-Fox, the musical's major investor, put in another $100,000 to keep it going and everyone agreed to royalty cuts until the production's cost--about $1.1 million--was recouped....By the eighth week, we were selling out."[8]

The Broadway production moved to the Broadway Theatre on May 25, 1977, and closed on January 28, 1979, after four years and 1,672 performances.[9]

Along with other musicals including Purlie (1971) and Raisin (1974), The Wiz was a breakthrough for Broadway, a large-scale big-budget musical featuring an all-Black cast. It laid the foundation for later African-American hits such as Bubbling Brown Sugar, Dreamgirls and Sophisticated Ladies.

### National tours and later revivals

[edit]

The musical toured the US in 1976[10] and during the tour, Kenneth Kamal Scott (then billed as "Kamal") replaced André De Shields as the Wiz, Renn Woods was cast as Dorothy but departed the tour after playing only a couple of cities because during the show's engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, the 19-year-old performer was recruited for a featured part in the movie production of Hair. Renee C. Harris (who was in her very early 20s) took over as the tour's Dorothy and continued leading that company for a couple of years playing many engagements in cities across the country. At this time, the production also featured Ben Harney as the Tin Man and Ken Prymus as the Lion. Prymus was known to audiences for his featured role as Private Seidman in the movie M*A*S*H (1970) where he sang "Suicide is Painless". Both men were subsequently featured in other Broadway shows and were as replacements in the Broadway production of Ain't Misbehavin'. Harney also originated the leading role of Curtis Taylor Jr. in the Broadway debut of Dreamgirls. When Harris eventually departed the company, the tour continued with Deborah Malone in the role of Dorothy. There was also a second national touring company which was a scaled down production. This second tour opened with Malone reprising her role as Dorothy, who was later replaced by Lillias White.[11]

A revival ran on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre from May 24, 1984, through June 3, 1984, closing after 13 performances and 7 previews. Directed by Geoffrey Holder, the cast featured Stephanie Mills as Dorothy. It then ran in London at the Lyric Hammersmith from December 11, 1984, through February 2, 1985.[12] A planned 2004 Broadway revival[13] was not produced.[14]

In August 2015, George Faison presented The Wiz: A Celebration in Dance and Music, performances of the original songs and choreography in honor of the Broadway hits 40th Anniversary at Summerstage in New York City. A number of members of the original Broadway cast returned for this celebratory run. Actress Phylicia Rashad, a munchkin and swing in the original production, co-hosted the performance with George Faison. André De Shields reprised his original role as the Wiz; Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tony Award winner for her role as Glinda, reprised her original role; Evelyn Thomas reprised her original role as the Tornado and Ebony Jo-Ann who played Addaperle in the Broadway revival of the production reprised her role as well. Singer-songwriter Wallace Gary joined the cast as the Scarecrow. Damien L. Sneed acted as the musical director and conductor of The Wiz: A Celebration in Dance and Music.[15]

From 1996 to 1997 there was a US concert version tour with Tasha Scott as Dorothy, Grace Jones as Evillene, Peabo Bryson as The Wiz, and CeCe Peniston as Glinda. The cast also featured Tony Terry as the Tin Man and Romelda Benjamin as Aunt Em.

A North American tour, directed by Schele Williams with new material by Amber Ruffin, launched in the fall of 2023 in Baltimore with plans to transfer to Broadway for a limited engagement in spring 2024.[16] The Broadway revival opened at the Marquis Theatre on April 17, 2024 with previews beginning March 29, 2024.[17][18] The production concluded its limited engagement on August 18, 2024 after 18 preview performances and 142 regular performances.[19] The tour will then resume performances beginning February 2025 starring Alan Mingo Jr. and Mykal Kilgore.[20]

### Other productions

[edit]

An Australian production for J. C. Williamson Theatres Limited played in Melbourne and Sydney from January–October 1976; starring Andrea Frierson (Dorothy), Victor Willis (Tin Man), Freddie Paris (Lion), Chuck McKinney (The Wiz) and Robert Ellis (Scarecrow). Upon his return from Australia in late 1976, Victor Willis joined the cast of the original Broadway production.[21]

Flymonkey Productions (London) ran two shows. The first one was in 2000 which received great reviews and a second was run the following year in 2001 receiving exceptional reviews from the London press. Both productions were run at the Hackney Empire. The 2001 show was particularly notable because it was the last show to be performed at the Hackney Empire before the theatre closed its doors for refurbishment. Both shows were directed by Jamie Hinde; musical director Steve White (both shows); production manager Andy Barnes (both shows); choreography by Suzannah Howlett (2000) and Juliet Vibert (2001, also appeared as a dancer in both shows). The production starred Tamsier Joof (both shows); Rustie Lee (both shows); Sharon D. Clarke (2000), Victoria Wilson-James (2001), and Kat Boyce of MTV (both shows).[22][23]

A production ran at the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, from September 26, 2006, through November 12, 2006, receiving good reviews and extending its run by three weeks. It was directed by Des McAnuff, who, with Harold Wheeler, orchestrator of the original Broadway version, revised the musical for contemporary audiences. It starred Nikki M. James (Dorothy), E. Faye Butler (Evelline) and David Alan Grier (The Wiz), and featured sets by Robert Brill.[24][25]

Dodger Productions holds US rights to revive the musical, while Joop Van den Ende's Stage Entertainment holds the European rights.[26] Stage Entertainment mounted a full-scale production at the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 2006. The production was directed by Glenn Casale and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast and featured sets by David Gallo.[26]

New York City Center's Encores! Summer Stars series production ran June 12 through July 5, 2009. The production was directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler. It starred Ashanti as Dorothy, Tichina Arnold as Evillene, Dawnn Lewis as Addapearl, Joshua Henry as the Tin Man, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion, Orlando Jones (succeeded by Colman Domingo) as The Wiz, and LaChanze as Aunt Em and Glinda.[27]

A major British revival of the musical was produced in 2011 by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (however performed at the New Alexandra Theatre due to The REP's refurbishment)[28] in a co-production with the West Yorkshire Playhouse, re-locating Kansas to present day Birmingham[29] This production was directed by Josette Bushell-Mingo, with choreography by Paul J. Medford.

The first German-speaking production was produced in Linz, Austria in the new Musiktheater Linz,[30] directed and choreographed by Kim Duddy.

The Fiddlehead Theatre Company, in the historic Strand Theatre in Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, mounted a production, directed by Stacey Stephens, Fiddlehead Theatre Company's associate producing artistic director, in February 2015.[31]

A production ran at The Muny from June 19–25, 2018. It starred Nathan Lee Graham as The Wiz, James T. Lane as Tinman, Darius de Haas as Lion, Demetria McKinney as Glinda, and newcomers Danyel Fulton and Jared Grimes as Dorothy and Scarecrow, respectively. It was directed by Denis Jones and choreographed by Camille A. Brown.[32]

The Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester mounted a production that ran from November 24, 2021, until January 16, 2022,[33] with the cast including Tarik Frimpong as the Scarecrow. The production was recorded and streamed as an encore production, and performances from it were broadcast by the BBC as part of Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery.[34]

A Mexican production ran from June 2023 to September 2024 at Teatro Hidalgo in Mexico City for over 200 performances. Produced by Juan Torres and directed by Ricardo Díaz, the show was choreographed by Pablo Rodríguez. Set design was by Oscar Acosta. The show starred Lucero Mijares in her theatre debut as Dorothy, Oscar Acosta as the Tin Man, Juan Fonsalido as the Scarecrow, Felipe Alvarez as the Lion, and Jair Campos as the Wiz.

## Plot

[edit]

### Prologue

[edit]

Teenaged Dorothy Gale lives with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and dog, Toto, on their farm in Kansas. Though her work there keeps her busy, she often gets distracted in her boredom with farm life, choosing instead to play with Toto and dream of someday seeing far-off lands. Aunt Em, however, has little patience for her daydreaming, believing that dawdling is contrary to their way of life. After an argument, Aunt Em apologizes to her for an unintentionally hurtful remark. She explains that she only scolds because she wants Dorothy to be the best she can be, and fears that she will not be prepared for the responsibilities life will soon put upon her. Aunt Em loves her dearly and hopes they will always be as close as they were when she was younger ("The Feeling We Once Had").

### Act I

[edit]

When an approaching storm turns out to be a tornado, Dorothy takes shelter in the farmhouse as Aunt Em and Uncle Henry do so in the storm cellar. As the tornado hits the farm, the house, with Dorothy inside, is lifted into the air and flies for miles, with the wind represented by dancers ("Tornado"). The house finally comes to rest with a bump in the middle of a field covered with flowers. There Dorothy is met by the Munchkins, all of whom are dressed in blue, and Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, who tells her that she is in the Land of Oz. Furthermore, her house has fallen on Evamean, the Wicked Witch of the East, and killed her, freeing the Munchkins from her evil powers. Dorothy, distressed and confused, wants only to return home. With her magic unable to take Dorothy beyond the country boundaries, Addaperle decides Dorothy's best chance for assistance is to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City in the center of Oz, to see the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, or "The Wiz" for short ("He's the Wizard"). She gives her Evamean's silver shoes, and tells her not to take them off before she reaches home, for they hold a mysterious, but very powerful charm that will keep her safe.

Dorothy sets off down the Yellow Brick Road, full of doubt and fear at what lies ahead ("Soon As I Get Home"). Stopping to rest by a cornfield, she is startled when a scarecrow hanging on a pole strikes up a conversation with her ("I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday"). He tells her of his longing for brains so that he can be like other people, and she invites him to accompany her to see if the Wizard can help him. ("Ease On Down the Road #1").

The Yellow Brick Road leads them into a great forest where they discover a man made of tin, rusted solid. They oil his joints ("Slide Some Oil To Me") and he tells them how Evamean put a spell on his axe so that it began to cut off parts of his body. Each time it happened, a tinsmith replaced each missing part with one made of tin until he was entirely made of it. The one thing the tinsmith forgot was a heart, and he has longed for one ever since. Dorothy and the Scarecrow invite him on their journey to see the Wizard with the hope that he may give him one ("Ease On Down the Road #2").

They continue following the Yellow Brick Road deeper into the forest, where they are attacked by a large lion ("I'm a Mean Ole Lion"). However, he is quickly revealed to be a coward hiding behind bravado as Dorothy stands up for her friends. When he learns where they are going, he apologizes and asks if he may accompany them to ask the Wizard for some courage. They agree and the trio becomes a quartet ("Ease On Down the Road #3"), but face a new danger when they are attacked by an evil gang of witch-like beings called Kalidahs ("Kalidah Battle"). After a great fight and harrowing escape, they stop by the road to rest. The Lion is embarrassed by his cowardice in the battle, but is comforted by Dorothy's kind words ("Be a Lion").

Seeing a green glow in the distance, they continue their journey to the Emerald City, and wander into a field of poppies who blow opium dust on them. Dorothy recalls that Addaperle warned her of these poppies, and runs from the field as fast as she can with the Scarecrow and Tin Man behind her. The Lion is overcome by the dust and begins to hallucinate ("Lion's Dream"). He is dragged from the field and returned to his friends by the Mice Squad who police the area.

Marching up to the gates of the Emerald City, they are met by the Gatekeeper who insists they must all be fitted with a pair of green tinted glasses that are locked on to prevent them being blinded by the dazzling sights. They enter the city and look about in awe at the richly dressed people that inhabit it ("Emerald City Ballet"). The haughty and condescending people laugh and ridicule this odd group for wanting to see the Wizard until they see that Dorothy is wearing Evamean's silver shoes. They are promptly shown right into his palace.

Once in the throne room, they are assaulted by a great show of lights, smoke, and pyrotechnics as the Wizard appears before them ("So You Wanted To Meet the Wizard"). They each plead their case to him, the Tin Man doing so in song ("What Would I Do If I Could Feel?"). He agrees on one condition: they must kill Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West. With their goals seeming further out of reach than ever before, they sink to the floor in tears.

### Act II

[edit]

Evillene rules over the yellow land of the west, enslaving its people, the Winkies. She is evil, power hungry, and ruthlessly determined to get her hands on her sister's silver shoes, so that she may increase her power and rule over all of Oz ("Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News"). Receiving word of Dorothy and her friends approaching, she sends her Winged Monkeys to kill them ("Funky Monkeys"). Catching up to them in the forest surrounding her castle, the monkeys dash the Tin Man against rocks until he falls apart, and rip the straw out of the Scarecrow, leaving both of them helpless. Seeing Dorothy's silver shoes, however, they dare not harm her. Instead, they carry her to Evillene's castle along with the Lion. While searching for a way to get the shoes from Dorothy, Evillene forces her and the Lion to do menial chores around her castle. She takes delight in torturing the Lion before Dorothy, threatening to have him skinned unless she hands over the silver shoes. Angered by this, she picks up a bucket of water and throws it over Evillene, who melts until only her magic golden cap remains. Her spell on the Winkies is lifted, and they show their thanks by restoring the Scarecrow and Tin Man to top condition, and reuniting the group ("Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day").

Returning to the Emerald City, they see the Wizard (now a booming voice that seems to come from the very air). He reneges on his promise, and the Lion turns a crank revealing a door. Behind it stands a bewildered man, in pajamas and pink curls in his hair, who claims to be the Wizard. He shows them the elaborate mechanical effects used to create his illusions, and tells them that he is really a balloonist from Omaha named Herman Smith who traveled to Oz by accident when his hot air balloon drifted off course. The Ozians had never seen such a sight and proclaimed him Wizard. Not wanting to disappoint them, he assumed the role and had a great city built. He then had everyone in it wear green glasses, and in time, they came to believe it was green.

Furious, the group confronts the Wizard on his deceptions ("Who Do You Think You Are?"), but he points out that the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion already have the things they seek as shown in their behavior on the journeys they have made ("Believe In Yourself"). They remain unconvinced, so he creates physical symbols of their desires and they are satisfied. He proposes that Dorothy can return to Kansas the way he came, and offers to pilot her in his hot air balloon. He addresses the citizens of the Emerald City in person for the first time in many years, telling them of his imminent journey, and leaving the Scarecrow in charge ("Y'all Got It!"). Just as his speech reaches its climax, the balloon comes free from its moorings and rises quickly into the air, taking Dorothy's hopes of getting home with it.

Just as the group despairs of finding help, Addaperle reappears in a flash of light, suggesting that Dorothy ask Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, for assistance. She transports them to Glinda's castle in the red land of the south, where they are warmly welcomed and invited to rest after their many trials ("A Rested Body Is a Rested Mind"). Glinda is a beautiful and gracious sorceress, surrounded by a court of pretty girls. She tells Dorothy that the silver shoes have always had the power to take her home, but like her friends, she needed to believe in their magic and in herself before it was possible ("If You Believe"). She bids a tearful goodbye to her friends, and as their faces fade into the darkness, she thinks about what she has gained, lost, and learned throughout her journey through Oz ("Home"). Clicking her heels together three times, she finds herself transported back to Kansas in an instant. As an overjoyed Aunt Em and Toto appear, and she runs to hug them, she knows that she is back home at last.

## Motion picture and television adaptations

[edit]

Main articles: The Wiz (film) and The Wiz Live!

Motown Productions acquired the film rights to The Wiz in 1977 and signed Stephanie Mills in anticipation of having her star as Dorothy in the film adaptation. Motown singer and actress Diana Ross asked Motown CEO Berry Gordy to cast her instead, but he declined, feeling that the then-33-year-old Ross was far too old for the part. However, she contacted Rob Cohen of Universal Pictures, who offered to have them finance the film if she were to play Dorothy, at which point he acquiesced.

The resulting film version of The Wiz also starred former Motown star Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man, Richard Pryor as the Wizard, jazz singer Thelma Carpenter as Miss One (the name "Addapearle" was not used for this production) and Lena Horne as Glinda. Ted Ross and Mabel King reprised their roles of the Lion and Evillene from the Broadway production respectively. Sidney Lumet served as director, working with screenwriter Joel Schumacher (who used none of William F. Brown's stage script) and music supervisor Quincy Jones. The film was a critical and commercial failure, performing poorly at the box office and severely panned by critics, who branded the casting of Ross instead of Mills as Dorothy a disastrous blunder.[35][36]

In 1998, following their TV-movie production of Cinderella (1997), producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron began pre-production on a TV-movie adaptation of The Wiz for The Wonderful World of Disney, which was to star a then-unknown Anika Noni Rose as Dorothy. The project fell through due to Universal still having the film rights to adaptations of The Wiz, and the production was shelved.[37] The O.Z., a hip-hop re-adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with an all-Black cast that was to use original music rather than adapt The Wiz, was then planned by FOX and director Chris Stokes in the early 2000s.[38] With Brandy, Queen Latifah, Patti LaBelle, Busta Rhymes, and Little Richard among its planned cast,[39][38] the telefilm ultimately went un-produced; FOX instead became a co-producer on The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005), starring Ashanti as Dorothy and Latifah as Aunt Em.

Eleven years later, following the production of two live musicals for NBC – The Sound of Music Live! (2013) and Peter Pan Live! (2014) – Zadan and Meron announced The Wiz Live! as their next production (NBC, by this point, having purchased Universal Studios).[37] NBC's live performance of the stage show aired on December 3, 2015.[40] Stephanie Mills, who originated the role of Dorothy on Broadway, played Aunt Em.[41] An open casting call for the role of Dorothy took place on June 6, 2015.[42] In July 2015, Queen Latifah was cast as the Wiz and Mary J. Blige was confirmed to play the role of Evillene.[43] In addition, Beyoncé was offered to play Glinda, but no deal was made.[44] The following month, David Alan Grier was cast as the Cowardly Lion, and newcomer Shanice Williams was chosen to play Dorothy.[45][46] Uzo Aduba played Glinda and Amber Riley portrayed Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North.[47] Other principal cast-members included Elijah Kelley as the Scarecrow, Ne-Yo as the Tin Man, and Common as the Bouncer, the gatekeeper of the entrance to Emerald City.[48]

## Instrumentation and chorus

[edit]

The orchestra calls for 2 keyboards, 2 guitars, electric bass, drums, percussion, 2 trumpets, trombone, 2 woodwinds and a 5-piece chorus (4 male and 1 female). The first keyboard is played by the conductor. One guitarist plays lead while the other guitarist plays rhythm. The first woodwind player doubles on tenor and alto saxophones and flute while the second one doubles on tenor, alto and baritone saxophones and flute.

## Cast

[edit]

Role  | Detroit  | Broadway  | US Tour  | Film Version | Broadway Revival  | US Tour  | Concert Tour[49] | Encores!  | Broadway Revival[50] | US Tour

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1978 | 1984 | 1992 | 1996 | 2009 | 2023 | 2025
Dorothy Gale | Stephanie Mills | Ren Woods | Diana Ross | Stephanie Mills | Tasha Scott | Ashanti | Nichelle Lewis  | Dana Cimone
Scarecrow | Stu Gilliam | Hinton Battle | Valentino  | Michael Jackson | Charles Valentino  | Garry Q. Lewis  | Kameko Hebron  | Christian White  | Avery Wilson | Elijah Ahmad Lewis
Tin Man | Tiger Haynes | Ben Harney | Nipsey Russell | Howard Porter  | Eugene Fleming  | Tony Terry | Joshua Henry | Phillip Johnson Richardson  | D. Jerome
The Lion | Ted Ross | Gregg Baker  | H. Clent Bowers  | Gerald Atkins  | James Monroe Iglehart | Kyle Ramar Freeman  | Mykal Kilgore
Glinda | Dee Dee Bridgewater | Lena Horne | Ann Duquesnay | Toni SeaWright  | CeCe Peniston | LaChanze | Deborah Cox | Sheherazade Holman
Aunt Em | Tasha Thomas | Dee Dee Bridgewater | Theresa Merritt | Peggi Blu | Romelda Benjamin  | Melody Betts  | Kyla Jade
Evillene | Mabel King | Ella Mitchell | Mabel King | Ella Mitchell  | Grace Jones | Tichina Arnold
The Wiz | André De Shields | Richard Pryor | Carl Hall | André De Shields | Peabo Bryson | Orlando Jones

* * *

Colman Domingo | Wayne Brady | Alan Mingo Jr.
Addaperle | Clarice Taylor | Vivian Bonnell | Thelma Carpenter | Juanita Flemming  | Ebony Jo-Ann  | Rikki Valentino LaFontaine  | Dawnn Lewis | Allyson Kaye Daniel  | Amitria Fanae

### Notable replacements and understudies

[edit]

Broadway (1975-1979)

* Dorothy: Renée Harris (u/s), Arnetia Walker, (u/s)
* Scarecrow: Gregg Burge
* Tin Man: Ben Harney, Ralph Wilcox (u/s), Victor Willis (u/s)
* Lion: Michael Leslie, Ken Page, James Wigfall, Victor Willis (u/s)
* Aunt Em: Dee Dee Bridgewater (u/s)
* Glinda: Phylicia Rashad (u/s)
* The Wiz: Carl Hall, Victor Willis (u/s)
* Evillene: Theresa Merritt, Ella Mitchell, Irene Reid, Tasha Thomas (u/s)
* Addaperle: Butterfly McQueen (u/s)

1st and 2nd US Tours (1976, 1992)

* Dorothy: Sharon Brown (u/s), Renée Harris, Lillias White (2nd Tour)
* Lion: Ron Taylor

3rd US National Tour (2023-2024)

* The Wiz: Wayne Brady

Broadway Revival (2024)

* The Wiz: Alan Mingo Jr.

## Songs

[edit]

Act 1

1. "Overture" - Orchestra
2. "The Feeling We Once Had" – Aunt Em
3. "Tornado" - Company
4. "Which Where, Which What, Witch Why?" - Addaperle (cut from pre broadway tryouts 1974)
5. "He's the Wiz" – Addaperle and Munchkins
6. "Soon as I Get Home" – Dorothy
7. "I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday" – Scarecrow
8. "Ease on Down the Road #1" – Dorothy and Scarecrow
9. "Slide Some Oil to Me" – Tin Man
10. "Ease on Down the Road #2 " - Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tin Man
11. "Mean Ole Lion" – Lion
12. "Ease on Down the Road #3"- Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion
13. "Kalidah Battle" - The Company
14. "Be a Lion" – Dorothy and Lion
15. "Lion's Dream" - Lion and Poppies
16. "Emerald City Ballet (Psst)" - Company
17. "So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard" – Wizard
18. "What Would I Do if I Could Feel" - Tin Man

Act 2

1. "Entr'acte"
2. "No Bad News" – Evilene and Winkies
3. "Funky Monkeys" - Company
4. "Wonder Wonder Why" / "Don't Cry Girl" – Dorothy and Lion (cut from pre broadway tryouts in 1974, and only appeared in 1983 revival)
5. "Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day" – Company
6. "Who Do You Think You Are?" – Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion
7. "Believe in Yourself" – Wiz
8. "Y'all Got It!" – Wiz and Company
9. "A Rested Body" – Glinda and Company
10. "Believe in Yourself" (Reprise) – Glinda
11. "Home/Finale" – Dorothy

|

All numbers composed by Charlie Smalls save for the following: "Tornado" is composed by Timothy Graphenreed and Harold Wheeler. "Emerald City Ballet (Psst)" is composed by Graphenreed and George Faison. "Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day" is composed by Luther Vandross. The song "Wonder, Wonder, Why" was added for the 1984 Broadway revival, but is not part of the current licensed score.[51]

## Critical reception

[edit]

In his review of the 1984 revival, Frank Rich wrote: "What made The Wiz surprisingly moving the first time around was that its creators found a connection between Baum's Kansas fantasy and the pride of urban Black Americans. When Glinda, the good witch, musically instructed Dorothy to 'believe in herself,' she seemed to be delivering a broader inspirational message. The Wiz was hardly a great musical in 1975, but it had something to say, and it said it with verve and integrity. It's depressing to watch a once-fervent expression of Black self-respect and talent be spilled on the stage as if it were a trunkload of marked-down, damaged goods."[52]

In their review of the 2006 La Jolla production, Variety wrote: "'The Wiz' remains a collage of contemporary slang and imagery, but La Jolla's is a multicultural collage in which Baum's themes speak to the broadest possible audience. Unquestionably, the humor and the heartbeat of the piece remain African-American at their source, but the overall effect is pluralistic and inclusive. In the truest and most positive sense of the phrase, McAnuff's show is color-blind. Every alteration from the 1975 original, inspired by the central multicultural concept, is salutary. Brown's almost wholly rewritten script is tart and funny at last. Smalls' score—supervised by musical director Ron Melrose and original orchestrator Harold Wheeler—sounds fresh and contemporary".[53]

As critic Peter Filichia wrote in 2015, "Arguably more impressive is Stephen Sondheim's opinion. Whenever he's asked for a favorite show that he didn't write, he immediately says The Wiz. What?! With all its false rhymes?! 'Because,' he always says, 'it's the one show which makes you feel better when you come out of it than you did when you walked in.'"[54]

## Recording

[edit]

The Wiz
The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard Of Oz"

Cast recording by

Various Artists

Released| 1975
Recorded| 1975
Genre| R&B, soul, pop
Length| 45:03
Label| Atlantic
SD 18137
Producer| Jerry Wexler
Singles from  The Wiz
The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard Of Oz"

1. "Tornado"
Released: 1975

The Original Cast Recording for The Wiz was released in 1975 on the Atlantic label, produced by Jerry Wexler. While well received, the album omits several key songs from the musical that were not recorded for the album- such as the show's overture, dance and accompaniment music. The "Tornado" instrumental was released as both a 7" single and a 12" extended single, while the show's musical arranger Harold Wheeler co-produced a cover of "Ease on Down the Road" with studio group Consumer Rapport that became a charting single in 1975, peaking at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7]

In 2017, the original Broadway cast recording of The Wiz was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."[55]

### Track list

[edit]

#### Side one

[edit]

1. "Prologue"
2. "The Feeling We Once Had" – Tasha Thomas
3. "Tornado" (instrumental)
4. "He's The Wizard" – Clarice Taylor
5. "Soon As I Get Home" – Stephanie Mills
6. "I Was Born On The Day Before Yesterday" – Hinton Battle
7. "Ease on Down the Road" – Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, Ted Ross, Tiger Haynes
8. "Slide Some Oil To Me" – Tiger Haynes
9. "I'm A Mean Ole Lion" – Ted Ross

#### Side two

[edit]

1. "Be A Lion" – Stephanie Mills, Ted Ross
2. "So You Wanted to See The Wizard" – André De Shields
3. "What Would I Do If I Could Feel" – Tiger Haynes
4. "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News" – Mabel King
5. "Everybody Rejoice" – Stephanie Mills and Company
6. "Y'all Got It!" – André De Shields
7. "If You Believe" – Dee Dee Bridgewater
8. "Home (Finale)" – Stephanie Mills

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

### Original Broadway production

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

1975  | Tony Award | Best Musical | Won
Best Book of a Musical | William F. Brown | Nominated
Best Original Score | Charlie Smalls | Won
Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Ted Ross | Won
Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Dee Dee Bridgewater | Won
Best Direction of a Musical | Geoffrey Holder | Won
Best Choreography | George Faison | Won
Best Costume Design | Geoffrey Holder  | Won
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Won
Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Stephanie Mills | Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Ted Ross  | Won
Hinton Battle | Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Mabel King | Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical | Geoffrey Holder  | Nominated
Outstanding Choreography | George Faison  | Won
Outstanding Music and Lyrics | Charlie Smalls  | Won
Outstanding Set Design | Tom H. John  | Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design | Geoffrey Holder  | Won

### 2024 Broadway production

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

2024  | Theatre World Award[56] | Nichelle Lewis  | Won
Phillip Johnson Richardson  | Won
Chita Rivera Awards[57] | Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show  | Phillip Johnson Richardson  | Nominated
Avery Wilson  | Nominated
2025  | Grammy Awards | Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album | Nominated

## See also

[edit]

* The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)—other adaptations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Las Vegas CityLife". Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
2. ^ Gardner, R. H. (22 October 1974). "'Wiz' fun at times but doesn't whiz". The Sun (Baltimore). p. B-1. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
3. ^ This was not the same Majestic Theatre that played The Wizard of Oz in 1903, which was on Columbus Circle, where Time Warner Center now stands.
4. ^ a b De Shields, Andre. "Easin' On Down the Yellow Brick Road". Performing Arts Legacy. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
5. ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 13, 1974, p. 27.
6. ^ Green, Kay, Broadway Musicals, Show by Show (1996), Hal Leonard Corporation, ISBN 0-7935-7750-0, p. 241.
7. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 132.
8. ^ Klein, Alvin (February 7, 1993). "Dorothy and Wiz Hip-Hop Into the 90's". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
9. ^ "The Wiz (1975 production)". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
10. ^ "The Wiz (1st National Tour, 1976)". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
11. ^ "The Wiz – Broadway Musical – 1978-1979 Tour | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
12. ^ "Chronology of London Shows". The Guide to Musical Theatre. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
13. ^ Simonson, Robert (April 9, 2003). "The Wiz to Get New Broadway Revival in 2004; McAnuff to Direct". Playbill. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
14. ^ "Des McAnuff Tapped for Dodgers Wiz Revival". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
15. ^ "City Parks FoundationThe Wiz: A Celebration in Dance and Music - City Parks Foundation". www.cityparksfoundation.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
16. ^ Evans, Greg (2022-12-01). "'The Wiz' Sets 2024 Broadway Return With New Material By Amber Ruffin". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2022-12-01.
17. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (September 25, 2023). "The Wiz Sets 2024 Broadway Dates, Theatre; Get a 1st Look at the New Production". Playbill. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
18. ^ "The Wiz (Broadway, Marquis Theatre, 2024)". Playbill. September 25, 2023. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
19. ^ Tran, Diep; Culwell-Block, Logan (August 18, 2024). "The Wiz Concludes Limited Broadway Engagement August 18". Playbill. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
20. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (2024-01-23). "The Wiz Will Tour After Coming to Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
21. ^ Williamson J. C. Theatres Ltd., official program, May 1, 1976.
22. ^ "The Wiz" : Review of the show in the London Evening Standard by Max Bell, published May 1, 2001 "The Wiz". 10 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2018-04-03. retrieved March 31, 2015
23. ^ "Victoria Wilson James". DMC World Magazine (Interview). June 20, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23.
24. ^ Portantiere, Michael (25 July 2006). "Brady, Burgess, Grier, James, Pettiford, Washington to Star in La Jolla's The Wiz". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
25. ^ Stevens, Rob (12 October 2006). "The Wiz". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
26. ^ a b Lampert-Gréaux, Ellen. "Wiz Kids". Live Design. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
27. ^ Gans, Andrew (July 5, 2009). "The Wiz Ends Limited City Center Engagement July 5". Playbill. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
28. ^ "The Wiz at Birmingham Repertory Theatre". Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
29. ^ "The Wiz – West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds". The Public Reviews. Archived from the original on 2013-05-09.
30. ^ "The Wiz at Musiktheater Linz". 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
31. ^ Harding, Chris (2014-10-08). "Along the Nile, Strand-style: 'AIDA' opens Oct. 17 at the theatre; Dot residents get a break". Dorchester Reporter. Archived from the original on 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2014-10-09.
32. ^ "Everybody Rejoice! The Wiz Full Cast Announced". The Muny. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
33. ^ "The Wiz". Hope Mill Theatre. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
34. ^ "Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery".
35. ^ Sharp, Kathleen (2003), Mr. and Mrs. Hollywood: Edie and Lew Wasserman and Their Entertainment Empire, Carroll & Graf Publishers, pp. 357–58.
36. ^ Harpole, Charles (2003), History of the American Cinema, Simon and Schuster, pp. 64, 65, 219, 220, 290.
37. ^ a b Gerard, Jeremy (30 November 2015). "Craig Zadan & Neil Meron Look To Recapture 'The Wiz' Wow Factor". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2015-12-01. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
38. ^ a b Schumacher-Rasmussen, Eric (6 July 2000). "Hip-Hop 'Wizard Of Oz' Easing Down The Road". MTV News. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
39. ^ "Brandy, Latifah Remake 'Oz'". ABC News. January 30, 2001.
40. ^ The Wiz is NBC's next live musical Archived 2015-05-10 at the Wayback Machine Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved May 17, 2015
41. ^ ‘The Wiz’s’ Stephanie Mills Returns for NBC Production Archived 2017-06-27 at the Wayback Machine Variety, Retrieved May 17, 2015
42. ^ NBC announces casting call for Dorothy in The Wiz Live! Archived 2015-05-30 at the Wayback Machine Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved May 28, 2015
43. ^ Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige Join NBC’s ‘The Wiz’ Archived 2017-06-27 at the Wayback Machine Variety, Retrieved July 29, 2015
44. ^ Hibberd, James (July 30, 2015). "NBC wants Beyonce for The Wiz (but there is no deal)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
45. ^ Blake, Emily (August 4, 2015). "NBC's 'The Wiz Live!' finds its Cowardly Lion". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
46. ^ Hibberd, James (August 5, 2015). "NBC reveals newcomer playing Dorothy in The Wiz". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
47. ^ Roots, Kimberly (August 6, 2015). "Glee's Amber Riley, OITNB's Uzo Aduba Join NBC's The Wiz Live". TV Line. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
48. ^ Kondolojy, Anada (August 13, 2015). "Common, Ne-Yo and Elijah Kelley are Newest Additions to All-Star Cast for 'The Wiz Live!'". TV By the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
49. ^ Winn, Steven (1997-06-13). "Big Names, Small Parts / Grace Jones gets wicked in 'The Wiz'". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
50. ^ "Cast & Creative". The Wiz. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
51. ^ "The Wiz". Playbill. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
52. ^ Frank Rich, "Stage: 'The Wiz' Back on Broadway", New York Times, May 25, 1984.
53. ^ Verini, Bob. "The Wiz". Variety. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
54. ^ Filichia, Peter (2015-12-15). "The Wiz and I By Peter Filichia". The Official Masterworks Broadway Site. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
55. ^ "National Recording Registry Picks Are "Over the Rainbow"". Library of Congress. March 29, 2016. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
56. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Cole Escola, Meleah Joi Moon, Rachel McAdams, More Win 2024 Theatre World Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
57. ^ "2024 Chita Rivera Awards Nominations and Winners". ChitaRiveraAwards.com. Retrieved 11 February 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Dowling, Colette (3 January 2025). "From the Archives: How The Wiz Went From Nearly Closing on Opening Night to Becoming a Tony-Winning Hit". Playbill.
* Ward, David; Henderson, Jerrell L. (2022). "The Wiz". Fifty Key Stage Musicals. pp. 146–150\. doi:10.4324/9781003009726-26. ISBN 978-1-003-00972-6.
* The Wiz: a virtual coffee table book
* The Wiz plot and production information at GuideToMusicalTheatre.com
* "Cast members discuss The Wiz, based on L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz", an October 20, 1978 episode of WGBH's Slices of Black Theatre
* The Wiz collection, 1974–1979 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library.
* Charlie Smalls scores for The Wiz, 1974 Music Division, The New York Public Library.

Wikiquote has quotations related to The Wiz.

* ​The Wiz​ (1975) at the Internet Broadway Database
* ​The Wiz​ (1984) at the Internet Broadway Database

* v
* t
* e

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Books

| Books|

| Baum|

* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
* The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904)
* Ozma of Oz (1907)
* Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (1908)
* The Road to Oz (1909)
* The Emerald City of Oz (1910)
* The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1913)
* Tik-Tok of Oz (1914)
* The Scarecrow of Oz (1915)
* Rinkitink in Oz (1916)
* The Lost Princess of Oz (1917)
* The Tin Woodman of Oz (1918)
* The Magic of Oz (1919)
* Glinda of Oz (1920)

|

Thompson|

* The Royal Book of Oz (1921)
* Kabumpo in Oz (1922)
* The Cowardly Lion of Oz (1923)
* Grampa in Oz (1924)
* The Lost King of Oz (1925)
* The Hungry Tiger of Oz (1926)
* The Gnome King of Oz (1927)
* The Giant Horse of Oz (1928)
* Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz (1929)
* The Yellow Knight of Oz (1930)
* Pirates in Oz (1931)
* The Purple Prince of Oz (1932)
* Ojo in Oz (1933)
* Speedy in Oz (1934)
* The Wishing Horse of Oz (1935)
* Captain Salt in Oz (1936)
* Handy Mandy in Oz (1937)
* The Silver Princess in Oz (1938)
* Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (1939)
* Yankee in Oz (1972)
* The Enchanted Island of Oz (1976)

Other|

* The Magical Monarch of Mo (1899)
* Dot and Tot of Merryland (1901)
* The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1902)
* Queen Zixi of Ix (1904)
* John Dough and the Cherub (1906)
* The Sea Fairies (1911)
* Sky Island (1912)
* Little Wizard Stories of Oz (1913)
* The Wonder City of Oz (1940)
* The Scalawagons of Oz (1941)
* Lucky Bucky in Oz (1942)
* The Magical Mimics in Oz (1946)
* The Shaggy Man of Oz (1949)
* The Hidden Valley of Oz (1951)
* Merry Go Round in Oz (1963)
* The Forbidden Fountain of Oz (1980)
* The Ozmapolitan of Oz (1986)
* The Wicked Witch of Oz (1993)
* The Giant Garden of Oz (1993)
* The Runaway in Oz (1995)
* The Rundelstone of Oz (2000)
* The Emerald Wand of Oz (2005)
* Trouble Under Oz (2006)

Characters|

| Baum|

* Aunt Em
* Billina
* Cowardly Lion
* Dorothy Gale
* Glass Cat
* Glinda
* Good Witch of the North
* Jack Pumpkinhead
* Jellia Jamb
* Jinjur
* John Dough
* Mombi
* Munchkins
* Nome King
* Pastoria
* Patchwork Girl
* Polychrome
* Princess Ozma
* Queen Lurline
* Scarecrow
* Shaggy Man
* Soldier with the Green Whiskers
* Tik-Tok
* Tin Woodman
* Toto
* Uncle Henry
* Wicked Witch of the East
* Wicked Witch of the West
* Winged monkeys
* Wizard of Oz
* Woggle-Bug

|

Post-Baum|

* Elphaba
* Madame Morrible
* Jinnicky the Red Jinn
* Kabumpo
* Peter Brown

Elements|

* Deadly Desert
* Emerald City
* Gingham dress
* Land of Ev
* Land of Oz
* Merryland
* Ruby slippers
* Silver shoes
* "Surrender Dorothy"
* Yellow brick road

Related|

* Copyright status
* Political interpretations

Adaptations

| Stage|

* The Wizard of Oz (1902)
* The Woggle-Bug (1905)
* The Tik-Tok Man of Oz (1913)
* The Wizard of Oz (1942)
* The Wiz (1974)
* The Marvelous Land of Oz (1981)
* The Wizard of Oz (1987)
* The Wizard of A.I.D.S. (1987)
* Twister (1994)
* Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz (2003)
* The Wizard of Oz (2011)
* The Woodsman (2012)

|

Films|

* The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays (1908)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
* The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914)
* The Magic Cloak of Oz (1914)
* His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz (1914)
* The Wizard of Oz (1925)
* The Wizard of Oz (1933)
* The Wizard of Oz (1939)
* The Wizard of Oz (1950)
* The Rainbow Road to Oz (unproduced)
* Return to Oz (1964, TV)
* The Wizard of Mars (1965)
* The Wonderful Land of Oz (1969)
* Ayşecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde (1971)
* Journey Back to Oz (1972)
* Oz (1976)
* The Wiz (1978)
* The Wizard of Oz (1982)
* Os Trapalhões e o Mágico de Oróz (1984)
* Return to Oz (1985)
* Dorothy Meets Ozma of Oz (1987)
* The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story (1990)
* The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True (1995)
* Lion of Oz (2000)
* The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005)
* Apocalypse Oz (2006)
* After the Wizard (2011)
* Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz (2011)
* Dorothy and the Witches of Oz (2012)
* Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
* Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (2014)
* OzLand (2014)
* Guardians of Oz (2015)
* The Wiz Live! (2015)
* Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz (2016)
* The Steam Engines of Oz (2018)
* Rainbow (2022)
* Wicked (2024)
* The Wizard of the Emerald City (2024)
* Wicked: For Good (2025)

Television|

* Tales of the Wizard of Oz (1961)
* Off to See the Wizard (1967–68)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1986–87)
* The Wizard of Oz (1990)
* The Wonderful Galaxy of Oz (1992–93)
* The Oz Kids (1996)
* Tin Man (2007)
* "Wizard of Odd" (2010)
* Once Upon a Time (2011–18)
* Lost in Oz (2015–18)
* Emerald City (2017)
* Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (2017–20)
* "The Wicked Wiz of Oz: The Rusical!" (2025)

Books|

* The Wizard of the Emerald City (1939)
* A Barnstormer in Oz (1982)
* Mister Tinker in Oz (1985)
* Dorothy of Oz (1989)
* Sir Harold and the Gnome King (1991)
* Was (1992)
* Queen Ann in Oz (1993)
* The Magic Dishpan of Oz (1994)
* The Wicked Years
* Wicked (1995)
* Son of a Witch (2005)
* A Lion Among Men (2008)
* Out of Oz (2011)
* Visitors from Oz (1998)
* Paradox in Oz (1999)
* Oz Before the Rainbow (2000)
* The Hidden Prince of Oz (2000)
* The Unknown Witches of Oz (2000)
* Bloodstained Oz (2006)
* The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls (2006)
* Dorothy Must Die (2014)
* The Wicked Will Rise (2015)

Comics|

* Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz (1904–05)
* Adventures in Oz (1986–92)
* The Enchanted Apples of Oz (1986)
* Oz Squad (1991)
* Lost Girls (1991–92)
* Dorothy (2004–07)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2005)
* Cheshire Crossing (2006–19)
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2009)
* The Marvelous Land of Oz (2010)

Games|

* The Wizard of Oz (1985)
* The Wizard of Oz (1993)
* The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road (2008)
* Emerald City Confidential (2009)
* Ripened Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love (2009)
* The Wizard of Oz (2010)
* The Wizard of Oz (2013)

Music|

| 1939 film|

* "Over the Rainbow"
* "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead"
* "We're Off to See the Wizard"
* "If I Only Had a Brain"
* "The Merry Old Land of Oz"
* "If I Were King of the Forest"

|

Wicked|

* "The Wizard and I"
* "Popular"
* "Defying Gravity"
* "As Long as You're Mine"
* "No Good Deed"
* "For Good"

Other|

* The Wozard of Iz (1968)
* "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973)
* Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
* Meco Plays The Wizard of Oz (1978)
* The Wizard of Oz: Live Australian Cast Recording (2001)
* Oz the Great and Powerful (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2013)
* Wicked: The Soundtrack (2024)
* Wicked: The Original Motion Picture Score (2024)

Related|

* Land of Oz
* Oz Park
* Oz-story Magazine
* The International Wizard of Oz Club
* The Baum Bugle
* The Oz Film Manufacturing Company
* Wizard of Oz festival
* Wizard of Oz Museum
* Wicked film series

* Category

Awards for The Wiz

* v
* t
* e

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical

1975–2000|

* The Wiz (1975)
* A Chorus Line (1976)
* Annie (1977)
* Ain't Misbehavin' (1978)
* Sweeney Todd (1979)
* Evita (1980)
* The Pirates of Penzance (1981)
* Nine (1982)
* Little Shop of Horrors (1983)
* Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
* (no award) (1985)
* The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1986)
* Les Miserables (1987)
* Into the Woods (1988)
* Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989)
* City of Angels (1990)
* The Secret Garden (1991)
* Crazy for You (1992)
* Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993)
* Passion  (1994)
* Show Boat (1995)
* Rent (1996)
* The Life (1997)
* Ragtime (1998)
* Parade (1999)
* Contact (2000)

2001–present|

* The Producers (2001)
* Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)
* Hairspray (2003)
* Wicked (2004)
* Spamalot (2005)
* The Drowsy Chaperone (2006)
* Spring Awakening (2007)
* Passing Strange (2008)
* Billy Elliot the Musical (2009)
* Memphis (2010)
* The Book of Mormon (2011)
* Once (2012)
* Matilda the Musical (2013)
* A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (2014)
* Hamilton (2015)
* Shuffle Along (2016)
* Come from Away (2017)
* SpongeBob SquarePants (2018)
* The Prom (2019)
* A Strange Loop (2020)
* No Award (2021)
* Kimberly Akimbo (2022)
* Some Like It Hot (2023)
* Dead Outlaw (2024)
* Maybe Happy Ending (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album

1950s|

* The Music Man (1959)

1960s|

* Gypsy / Redhead (1960)
* The Sound of Music (1961)
* How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962)
* No Strings (1963)
* She Loves Me (1964)
* Funny Girl (1965)
* On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1966)
* Mame (1967)
* Cabaret (1968)
* Hair (1969)

1970s|

* Promises, Promises (1970)
* Company (1971)
* Godspell (1972)
* Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (1973)
* A Little Night Music (1974)
* Raisin (1975)
* The Wiz (1976)
* Bubbling Brown Sugar (1977)
* Annie (1978)
* Ain't Misbehavin' (1979)

1980s|

* Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1980)
* Evita: Premier American Recording (1981)
* Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (1982)
* Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album (1983)
* Cats: Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording (1984)
* Sunday in the Park with George (1985)
* West Side Story (1986)
* Follies in Concert (1987)
* Les Misérables (1988)
* Into the Woods (1989)

1990s|

* Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1990)
* Les Misérables: The Complete Symphonic Recording (1991)
* The Will Rogers Follies (1992)
* Guys and Dolls (1993)
* The Who's Tommy (1994)
* Passion (1995)
* Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller (1996)
* Riverdance (1997)
* Chicago: The Musical (1998)
* The Lion King (1999)

2000s|

* Annie Get Your Gun (2000)
* Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (2001)
* The Producers (2002)
* Hairspray (2003)
* Gypsy: A Musical Fable (2004)
* Wicked (2005)
* Monty Python's Spamalot (2006)
* Jersey Boys (2007)
* Spring Awakening (2008)
* In the Heights (2009)

2010s|

* West Side Story (2010)
* American Idiot (featuring Green Day) (2011)
* The Book of Mormon (2012)
* Once: A New Musical (2013)
* Kinky Boots (2014)
* Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (2015)
* Hamilton (2016)
* The Color Purple (2017)
* Dear Evan Hansen (2018)
* The Band's Visit (2019)

2020s|

* Hadestown (2020)
* Jagged Little Pill (2021)
* The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical (2022)
* Into the Woods (2023)
* Some Like It Hot (2024)
* Hell's Kitchen (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Tony Award for Best Musical

1949–1975|

* Kiss Me, Kate (1949)
* South Pacific (1950)
* Guys and Dolls (1951)
* The King and I (1952)
* Wonderful Town (1953)
* Kismet (1954)
* The Pajama Game (1955)
* Damn Yankees (1956)
* My Fair Lady (1957)
* The Music Man (1958)
* Redhead (1959)
* The Sound of Music / Fiorello! (1960)
* Bye Bye Birdie (1961)
* How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962)
* A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1963)
* Hello, Dolly! (1964)
* Fiddler on the Roof (1965)
* Man of La Mancha (1966)
* Cabaret (1967)
* Hallelujah, Baby! (1968)
* 1776 (1969)
* Applause (1970)
* Company (1971)
* Two Gentlemen of Verona (1972)
* A Little Night Music (1973)
* Raisin (1974)
* The Wiz (1975)

1976–2000|

* A Chorus Line (1976)
* Annie (1977)
* Ain't Misbehavin' (1978)
* Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979)
* Evita (1980)
* 42nd Street (1981)
* Nine (1982)
* Cats (1983)
* La Cage aux Folles (1984)
* Big River (1985)
* The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1986)
* Les Misérables (1987)
* The Phantom of the Opera (1988)
* Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989)
* City of Angels (1990)
* The Will Rogers Follies (1991)
* Crazy for You (1992)
* Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993)
* Passion (1994)
* Sunset Boulevard (1995)
* Rent (1996)
* Titanic (1997)
* The Lion King (1998)
* Fosse (1999)
* Contact (2000)

2001–present|

* The Producers (2001)
* Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)
* Hairspray (2003)
* Avenue Q (2004)
* Monty Python's Spamalot (2005)
* Jersey Boys (2006)
* Spring Awakening (2007)
* In the Heights (2008)
* Billy Elliot the Musical (2009)
* Memphis (2010)
* The Book of Mormon (2011)
* Once (2012)
* Kinky Boots (2013)
* A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (2014)
* Fun Home (2015)
* Hamilton (2016)
* Dear Evan Hansen (2017)
* The Band's Visit (2018)
* Hadestown (2019)
* Moulin Rouge! (2020/21)
* A Strange Loop (2022)
* Kimberly Akimbo (2023)
* The Outsiders (2024)
* Maybe Happy Ending (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Tony Award for Best Original Score

1947–1975|

* Street Scene by Kurt Weill (1947)
* Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter (1949)
* South Pacific by Richard Rodgers (1950)
* Call Me Madam by Irving Berlin (1951)
* No Strings by Richard Rodgers (1962)
* Oliver! by Lionel Bart (1963)
* Hello, Dolly! by Jerry Herman (1964)
* Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (1965)
* Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion (1966)
* Cabaret by John Kander and Fred Ebb (1967)
* Hallelujah, Baby! by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1968)
* Company by Stephen Sondheim (1971)
* Follies by Stephen Sondheim (1972)
* A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim (1973)
* Gigi by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner (1974)
* The Wiz by Charlie Smalls (1975)

1976–2000|

* A Chorus Line by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban (1976)
* Annie by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin (1977)
* On the Twentieth Century by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1978)
* Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim (1979)
* Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (1980)
* Woman of the Year by John Kander and Fred Ebb (1981)
* Nine by Maury Yeston (1982)
* Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber and T. S. Eliot (1983)
* La Cage aux Folles by Jerry Herman (1984)
* Big River by Roger Miller (1985)
* The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes (1986)
* Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer, and Alain Boublil (1987)
* Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim (1988)
* No Award (1989)
* City of Angels by Cy Coleman and David Zippel (1990)
* The Will Rogers Follies by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1991)
* Falsettos by William Finn (1992)
* Kiss of the Spider Woman by John Kander and Fred Ebb / The Who's Tommy by Pete Townshend (1993)
* Passion by Stephen Sondheim (1994)
* Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black, and Christopher Hampton (1995)
* Rent by Jonathan Larson (1996)
* Titanic by Maury Yeston (1997)
* Ragtime by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (1998)
* Parade by Jason Robert Brown (1999)
* Aida by Elton John and Tim Rice (2000)

2001–present|

* The Producers by Mel Brooks (2001)
* Urinetown by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis (2002)
* Hairspray by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (2003)
* Avenue Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (2004)
* The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel (2005)
* The Drowsy Chaperone by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (2006)
* Spring Awakening by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater (2007)
* In the Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2008)
* Next to Normal by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (2009)
* Memphis by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro (2010)
* The Book of Mormon by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (2011)
* Newsies by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman (2012)
* Kinky Boots by Cyndi Lauper (2013)
* The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown (2014)
* Fun Home by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron (2015)
* Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2016)
* Dear Evan Hansen by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (2017)
* The Band's Visit by David Yazbek (2018)
* Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell (2019)
* A Christmas Carol by Christopher Nightingale (2020/21)
* Six by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (2022)
* Kimberly Akimbo by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire (2023)
* Suffs by Shaina Taub (2024)
* Maybe Happy Ending by Will Aronson and Hue Park (2025)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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