DescriptionWinner of seven Tony awards including "Best Musical" and nominated for four Academy Awards, the 1975 Broadway hit and 1978 film The Wiz is coming to Chicago in a gritty new production that is sure to knock your socks off and change the way you think about these classic characters. Packed full of incredible songs like "Ease on Down the Road," "Home," "Be a Lion," and "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News," The Wiz is an urbanized retelling of L. Frank Baum's turn of the century novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, placed in the context of modern African-American culture. Resonating more deeply than ever in 2016's climate of racial and social unrest in America, director Lili-Anne Brown's production will explore what it means to live with intelligence, compassion, and courage in today's tough cities. |
Reviews | ||
FOUR STARS! (out of five) "There’s no bad news in Kokandy’s savvy revival of the streetwise Oz adaptation!" - Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago | READER RECOMMENDED! "Powerful singers and dancers!" - Jack Helbig, Chicago Reader | CRITICS PICK! "Easily the best musical I have reviewed to date!" - Naima Dawson, PerformInk Chicago |
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! "This production, directed to sheer perfection by Lili-Anne Brown utilizes the small stage of Theater Wit far exceeding my expectations." - Al Bresloff, Around the Town Chicago | "A very lively, well sung production... Great fun with all the big, famous numbers!" - Chris Jones, CBS 2 Chicago | "Audiences will adore Kokandy’s take on The Wiz. It’s brimming with quality and entertainment from tip to tail!" - Ian Rigg, Chicagoland Musical Theatre |
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! The talent in this production is so super-sized it could easily hold court in Soldier Field." - Amy Munice, Picture This Post |
Creative Team | |||
Lili-Anne Brown Direction | Jimmy Morehead Music Direction | Breon Arzell Choreography, Assistant Direction | Kait Samuels Stage Management |
Arnel Sancianco Set Design | Alexander Ridgers Lighting Design | Virginia Varland Costume Design | Michael J. Patrick Sound Design |
Mealah Heidenreich Props Design | Kirstin Johnson Sound Engineering | Shawn Kronk Master Electrician | Lindsay Brown Production Manager |
Darian Tene Assistant Choreography | Emily Boyd Paint Charge | Ebony Chuukwu Assistant Stage Management | Charlie Smalls Music & Lyrics |
William F. Brown Book |
Cast |
Production photos by Michael Brosilow.