Broadway Backstory Newsletter
Dear Seas
The Broadway Comes to Reno 30th Anniversary Season is proud to present a new revival of The WIZ, the show that changed the face of Broadway when it premiered 50 years ago. The soulful music, vibrant costumes, and dazzling talents of this cast are sure to make this production a memorable experience.
The Broadway Backstory Newsletter is created by Pioneer Center’s Education Division to help you learn more about the shows in our Broadway Comes to Reno series. Below you will find information and links [in blue] to websites, videos, and articles about the history and creators of the show. Don’t forget to forward this email to the other subscribers and Broadway lovers in your party.
During the entire week that The WIZ plays the Pioneer Center, we are proud to spotlight the work of another local nonprofit, STEP 2, a Reno-based treatment center for women battling substance abuse disorder. We will be collecting donations of household items (food storage bags, kitchen trash bags, cutting boards, dish sponges, tissue boxes, and more) from patrons attending the show. If you wish to participate, bring your items and deposit them in the barrels outside the theater doors as you enter. Thank you for your consideration.
Your tickets to The WIZ were emailed to you as a PDF attachment on March 11th. Look for the subject line “Confirmation of Order Number.” We look forward to seeing you at the Pioneer Center soon!
www.pioneercenter.com
Get the backstory on Broadway’s THE WIZ
The source material for the musical is the children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, first published in 1900. The auto-ethnographic novel was a whimsical fantasy and an allegory of the 1890s Populist movement all rolled into one. This distinctly American fairytale became a best-seller, inspiring countless adaptations including a 1902 Broadway stage musical, the iconic 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland, the fan-fiction novel and subsequent Broadway musical and film Wicked, and of course, the Broadway musical The WIZ.
In 1971, a young radio producer in New York, Ken Harper, had the idea to adapt The Wizard of Oz into a new musical told through an African American lens. Harper desired to re-imagine the iconic American fairytale as a story of racial liberation and Black joy –the creation of The WIZ was a pivotal moment in American Art History.
The book of the musical was written by William F. Brown. Jazz musician Charles Smalls provided the music and lyrics, winning Tony and Grammy Awards for his work.
Multidisciplinary artist Geoffrey Holder was the director and costume designer (2 Tony Awards) and the show’s dance maker George Faison became the first Black choreographer to win a Tony Award.
After out-of-town tryouts in Baltimore, Detroit and Philadelphia, The WIZ opened on Broadway in January 1975 at the Majestic Theatre with Stephanie Mills, Hinton Battle, Andre DeShields, Butterfly McQueen, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. A young unknown, Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show), was a Munchkin in the ensemble. The WIZ won 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for 4 years and 1,672 performances. Universal Pictures and Motown Productions adapted The WIZ as a feature film in 1978 directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsy Russell, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor. Joel Schumacher adapted the screenplay, and Quincy Jones produced the music.
The WIZ saw its first Broadway revival in 1984, with Stephanie Mills returning as Dorothy. This current Broadway revival opened April 17, 2024 at the Marquis Theatre. It features a new book adapted by Amber Ruffin, who also co-wrote the recent adaptation of Some Like It Hot.
Schele Williams directed this revival. A former Broadway actress, Williams co-directed The Notebook on Broadway, coming to the Pioneer Center next season, and is developing Hidden Figures and a revival of Aida for Disney Theatricals.
JaQuel Knight is the choreographer. He shot to fame at age 18 when he choreographed Beyonce’s video “Single Ladies,” going on to work with Megan Thee Stallion, Cher, Cardi B., Rihanna, Shakira and others.
The US national tour playing the Pioneer Center opened in September 2023 and played 13 major cities before pulling into Broadway for a 5-month run. The production resumed its national tour in January 2025.
