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Wiz, The

This beloved Broadway musical sets Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz to a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel, and soul music!

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy, Fantasy/Adventure
  • 120 minutes

  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Animals
  • Orchestra Size: Medium

  • Performance Group:
  • Large Stage, Dinner Theatre, Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre, College Theatre / Student

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical
    Winner! 5 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Music & Lyrics
The New Musical Version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

Move on down the Road! Winner of 7 Tony awards, this beloved Broadway musical sets Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz to music in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel, and soul! This beloved classic musical is one of the most popular selection in the Samuel French Catalog, and is appropriate for theatres at all levels. Adapted into a film version featuring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.
REVIEWS:

Radiates so much energy you can hardly sit in your seat...great fun.

The New York Post

A continuous festival of movement...splendid character songs.

WWD

A carnival of fun...wickedly amusing show.

Time

A virtual musical circus...driving rhythms, soaring songs...boisterous, exuberant.

WABC TV
Premiere Production:

The Wiz originally opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on January 5, 1974 after only 15 previews. It shortly thereafter moved down the street to the slightly smaller Broadway Theatre. The show finally closed on January 28, 1979 after a grand total of 1,672 performances.

The Wiz had a brief revival at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, opening on May 24, 194.

Characters

  • Casting: 6M, 5F, 4M or F
  • Casting Attributes: Local Celebrity Cameo, Flexible casting, Room for Extras, Roles for Multicultural Casting, Expandable casting, Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)
  • Casting Notes: Plus various small parts, singers and dancers.

    Originally produced with an all-Black cast, it is preferred that the main characters are cast with people of color, but there are no restrictions so long as the spirit of The Wiz is maintained and cannot be confused with The Wizard of Oz.
  • Chorus Size: Large

  • AUNT EM: Female, Late 30's (Range: Mezzo Soprano, G3-C5)
    Dorothy's Aunt. Life has not been easy for her and promises little else. Harsh towards Dorothy at times, but acts out of love.

  • DOROTHY: Female, 13-16 (Range: Mezzo Soprano, G3-B5)
    Bright eyed and alive as can be. Would rather remain a child as long as possible instead of accepting the responsibilities of adulthood.

  • UNCLE HENRY: Male, Late 30's (Range: Non-Singing)
    Dorothy's Uncle. Physically run down from years of hard work on the farm. Often acts as the voice of reason towards Aunt Em.

  • ADDAPERLE: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Mezzo Soprano, F3-C5)
    Good Witch of the North. Has magic powers she refers to as "doing tricks." Her magic abilities don't always pan out as well as she would like them to.

  • YELLOW BRICK ROAD (Four Actors): Male or Female, Age Flexible (Range: Flexible, F4-Db5/F3-Db4)
    Four dancing actors combine to create the Yellow Brick Road. Metaphorically represents the road Dorothy travels down, encouraging her along the way.

  • SCARECROW: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, D3-A4)
    Tired of being a scarecrow and the prospect of not going anywhere. Embarks on the journey to see The Wiz in hopes he can provide a brain.

  • TIN MAN: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Baritone, E3-A4)
    Human at one time. Lost all his limbs to a cursed axe. Joins in the journey in hopes The Wiz will provide him with a heart because "it isn't enough to be good looking."

  • LION: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Baritone, G2-Bb4)
    Travels around the jungle scaring people, but has "a yellow streak a mile wide." Coward state stems from deeper mother issues and gets regular counseling from an owl. Joins in the journey to see The Wiz to gain some courage.

  • GATEKEEPER: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Non-Singing)
    Guards the gate to the Emerald City.

  • THE WIZ: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, C3-A4)
    All powerful leader over the land of Oz. Hides his true nature behind the facade of a temperamental leader. His true identity is an enigma.

  • EVILLENE: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Alto, Bb3-Db5)
    Wicked Witch of the West. Low-down evil. Not a kind bone in her body nor kind thought in her rotten mind.

  • LORD HIGH UNDERLING: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Non-Singing)
    Weak coward. Evillene's number one.

  • WINGED MONKEY: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Non-Singing)
    Servant of the Wicked Witch of the West. Summoned to do her bidding. The mere mention of him brings fear.

  • GLINDA: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Alto, C4-Eb5)
    Good Witch of the South. Prettiest of all the witches. Very wise in the way of show-business.

  • ENSEMBLE: TOTO - a dog, PIT SINGERS, TORNADO, MUNCHKINS, CROWS, KALIDAHS, POPPIES, FIELD MICE, EMERALD CITY CITIZENS, SOLDIER MESSENGER

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Libretto This is optional. Order Now

    The LIBRETTO is available for SALE ONLY and is not available for hire as part of the Rehearsal Material set. It must be purchased separately.

    		 $24.95
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Libretto
    1 x Vocal Chorus Book

    		 $24.00
    Pre-Production Pack Shipped upon receipt of a signed License Agreement and full payment of all invoices. This is optional.

    1 x Vocal Chorus Book
    1 x Piano/Conductor's Score

    		 $75.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    20 x Vocal Chorus Books
    2 X Piano/Conductor's Scores

    		 $450.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material - Full Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano/Conductor's Score
    1 x Reed I (Flute, Alto, Saxophone)
    1 x Reed II (Flute, Alto, Saxophone)
    1 x Reed III (Alto Flute, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone)
    1 x Reed IV (Oboe, Baritone Saxophone)
    1 x Trumpet I & II
    1 x Trumpet III
    1 x Horn
    1 x Trombone I
    1 x Trombone II
    1 x Percussion (incl. Timpani, Bells, Vibraphone, Xylophone - 2 books)
    1 x Drums
    2 x Violins
    1 x Cello
    1 x Bass
    1 x Guitar

    		 $350.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material - Reduced Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano/Conductor's Score
    1 x Bass
    1 x Guitar
    1 x Drums

    		 $60.00 +$30.00/pm
    Vocal Chorus Book 10 Pack Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    10 x Vocal Chorus Books

    		 $50.00 +$50.00/pm

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