How a struggling musical transformed Broadway with an all-Black cast
In short: In 1974, The Wiz opened in Baltimore with mixed reviews and a looming threat of closure. Yet, through a massive investment and a hit single, it became a Broadway phenomenon, paving the way for future African-American musical hits.
The musical is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, reimagined within the context of contemporary African-American culture. While the production faced early critical uncertainty, it achieved a massive turnaround. Producer Ken Harper considered closing the show after its Broadway opening, but a $100,000 investment from 20th Century-Fox and a successful publicity campaign changed its trajectory. This campaign featured a television commercial for the song "Ease On Down the Road," which became a hit on the Billboard Soul Singles chart.
The production's success was significant for the industry, serving as an early example of Broadway's mainstream acceptance of large-scale, big-budget musicals featuring an all-Black cast. This breakthrough laid the groundwork for future successful African-American productions like Dreamgirls and Sophisticated Ladies. The 1975 Broadway production was a major critical success, earning eight Tony Award nominations and winning seven, including Best Musical.
The artistic transformation of the show is often credited to director Geoffrey Holder. Replacing original director Gilbert Moses during out-of-town tryouts in Detroit, Holder's use of magical realism is credited by cast member André De Shields with helping the production evolve from a "caterpillar to a butterfly." The production's visual and rhythmic identity was further shaped by choreographer George Faison and costume designer Holder, both of whom won Tony Awards for their work on the show.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Wiz
- Also: Wikidata — The Wiz · CC0
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