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First, I will say I respect your review, but I don’t agree with your opinion 🤷🏽‍♀️. I just saw The Wiz last night, 8/3/24. I was uber excited & impressed with the stage props, costumes, singing/ dancing, acting, the modern day twist that was added, etc.! In my opinion I was taken to each “location” presented. I think it was creative and convincing. The stage space wasn’t massive so I think they did an awesome job considering the space they had to work with. Awesome show!! Bravo to the entire creative team & cast👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💐💐💐💐💐💐!!!

Thanks for your review! I’ve been hesitant to go because just from the trailers, I can tell this version didn’t push itself with a contemporary lens. Plus, I saw the lead sing ‘Home’ during promo before it opened officially on Broadway and I thought to myself, “No, talented, but not a superstar”. Yes, she’s amazingly talented, but that role has to be a star. And you mentioned, the production design was boring. That’s unacceptable for Broadway. There’s too much comparison out there. Oz is a magical experience and audiences should be mesmerized, not just by grande performances, but the setting should be mind blowing. Not surprised about Wayne Brady. A bit surprised about Deborah Cox. When this show got zero Tony Award nominations, I knew there were problems. This show has been played on countless high school stages. This is 2024. A game on Broadway is the only way to play.

Saw the show yesterday and loved it! The singing, the dancing, the color -- wow!! Dorothy was played by an understudy (Christina Jones). Her voice was beautiful, but her acting was somewhat lackluster I thought. However, her musical numbers were great! My favorite was the scarecrow -- I thought he was fantastic in the way her portrayed his "brainlessness." His dancing and singing skills are amazing, and I really felt his embodied his character so well. I loved his energy! Also loved Evillene, especially the song "No Bad News" which was AMAZING!! Thanks for your review!

Best summary of the show

Hi, Theater Maven...I found your review interesting. I loved the 1975 version of The Wiz (yes, I'm older) and was highly skeptical of this version as they took out my favorite song (Scarecrow's "I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday). But I, like you, bought a seat near the very back for a March/April show when it first opened and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved it so much, I brought friends to see it on Sunday, July 28. [They even sang a section of my fav song towards the end!]. I was blown away by the singing, dancing, creativity and humor. I will say that Deborah Cox's performance was night and day. I agree with you, during the spring show, she was less than impressive. But now, she is blowing it out of the theater! I didn't even know she had such an expansive vocal range. She is now truly amazing. Thankfully, Wayne Brady has since left the show. He seemed like he didn't even want to be there and was just doing it for a check. I loved the drum majorettes as the yellow brick road. I found that very creative and very "us." And, lastly, as great as the cast was in the spring, it appeared they must have a bet to see who can get the longest and loudest ovation, because they sang and danced their butts off! It' was amazing to see what a difference two/three months can make. Also, I think the show appears small as it was not made for a Broadway run/theater.

Im really glad Alan Mingo Jr have taken over as the wizard! his performance on npr tiny desk i liked a lot and i was as u disappointed with Wayne Brady..

To be fair regarding the set design. This was a national tour that landed on broadway after the tour and a tour as to actually be on the smaller side for travel and packing purposes. So I fully understand you saying it feels small because for a sit down broadway show it actually is small. And the technically for this revival the “yellow brick road” was those for dancers in yellow. It wasn’t a legit road. I will say I absolutely loved it! I’m going back! I do agree with you’re assessment of Deborah Cox she was good I didn’t love her. I didn’t see Wayne he was gone before I got a ticket but my Wiz was great I honestly forget his name. I however adore the show in general. Not as much the movie but I’m obsessed with the stage show!!!!!!!

Saw it when they came to Los Angeles before they went to broadway. This version of the wiz felt like a random black mega church made copies of a script and put on a performance. It had no heart. Everyone was trying to out sing each other. It had NO HEART. Avery Wilson is a great singer but his acting in the show was literally the worst acting I have ever seen in a broadway show. The changes they made to the script added NOTHING. I could go on and on but it’s pointless.

I wonder if you were in the same Saturday matinee. I love, love this show.

Love your review! I agree about Deborah Cox. Love her, but not with that 1st song. Glinda doesn't sing that sing originally. Adapearle sings that song. I was disappointed by that. And I also agree about Wayne Brady. Celebrity doesn't always mean the best! I saw The Wiz with both men playing the Wiz. I didn't particularly care that Wayne was the Wiz. Melody and Avery were the breakout stars to me.

Agree 100% on the best characters too. Tin man the best surprise in my opinion!

Its left wing garbage

Hold up. There's a store that sells playbills? I have *hundreds* of playbills at home. Time to make some money!

This could also be used in movie theaters

What do you mean, you don’t understand how [Strange Loop] made it to Broadway? I just saw the show on Juneteenth in LA, and LOVED it! No surprise that it was awarded the Pulitzer as well as Tony awards! Spectacular!

It's bdsm, not merely black slave roleplay.. white couples do it too! I suspect the writer was just trying to be a bit edgy and shocking and "clever" (he's pretty young too), but it's unique and there's nothing else like it, so that's cool. Maybe it was supposed to be liberating because bdsm and kinky sex is fun? Maybe helping people get over their hangups by making the master and slave thing lighter and more positive? Though the therapists were also full of sh*t, right? lol Idk, I haven't seen it. I just read the description on wiki and think Kit Harington's hot. He could whip me any day! ;-P It sounded weird as hell indeed when I was reading about it, but that's my take as of this moment. My answer to your question how. (I did ask myself that too. lol It's quite strange when thinking of bdsm play in terms of racism and slavery in America.)

Saw the show & agree with everything you said, including the “Charlie/Chocolate Factory” stuff! That has to be one of the poorest designs I’ve ever seen on B’way & I’ve been around a hot minute.

It was great. Music, dancing, omg. ❤

I loved your review!

Echoing another comment that I saw, as I felt the same way. The actions you’re describing as a mess are actions that actually occur in many interracial relationships (as crazy as that sounds). I think the discourse is important. Thank you for sharing your video!

I would ask the wiz for a high paying job of 50k or more a year with benefits 😆!!!! 💋

I've read Elphaba's riff was recorded several different takes so what we get in the trailer may not be what we get in the finished film. I'm very excited for this film...but my major problem is that we don't get part two until the following year! In the old days if a film was that long there would be an intermission. Other than that...love the cast and the look of it. Can't wait!

I loved your review! I don't think I'll ever be able to see it live, though, since I live in the third world and sadly black narratives in my country are usually not considered "profitable enough" to make a local production. I hope one day I'll be able to see it live, but until then I'll look for a bootleg

Such a great review, and thank you for your perspective! I’m excited to listen to the cast album tomorrow. 😊

Great info. Thanks!

Saw it yesterday in Los Angeles. Amazing. ❤

The writer, Jeremy O Harris, is very young. He also clearly has his own racial issues.

I enjoyed your mindful overall review! I have followed Phillip Johnson Richardson's career of ongoing opportunities that demonstrates his multiple talents! Phillip's grandmother & I was classmates & friends since our elementary school years & still close friends! My last conversation with Phillip was at Chili's Restaurant in Mt. View, Ca. I encouraged him to continue staying focus on his career goals & health. I was happy to hear your appreciation of his talents! 🥰🙏🎤🎼

She's back! EDIT: Wayne Brady as The Wiz is unbelievable!

Shucked has become one of my favorite musicals. It's SO FUN! Between the hilarious book full of puns, the catchy songs, and the amazing talent (seeing Alex was amazing, but everyone was so great), there's just so much to enjoy. I got to see it twice on Broadway and I'm excited to see it on tour down here in Orlando, although I'm tempted to also go see it in... Tampa, lol!

I couldn't afford to see the play on Broadway; fortunately, PBS recorded it, and played it on their Great Performances yesterday (Fri 5/24/24). Highly recommended! Hilarious and thought-provoking. This play is the basis for the musical play Purlie.

Ugh I saw this in NY and am about to see it in LA I am soooooooo excited to see it again

As someone who played Mr.Krabs in SB:The Musical before. It has a special place in my heart😂😂😂 I’m always gonna be defensive about it.

I bet the save the town plot you want is on the TV tropes "Save the Orphanage" page. There are a lot :).

Late to the party but on the note of turning Into the Woods into the next Phantom, it got a bit of a chuckle out of me because the reason why Into the Woods didn't do as well at the Tony's during it's initial run was actually because it lost a lot of it's awards to Phantom.

Guess who never saw Phantom on Broadway I I never saw phantom on Broadway

I got to see the original run on Broadway, and will also recommend the pro shot. And you have me wanting to see the revival! Also, losing the narrator meant all the characters lost the plot armor.

I liked hearing your opinions about this show. I agree with you that this should be one of those shows perpetually performing and think that Plushy Whites would be great souvenirs!

This is more of a recap than a review. Please consider providing spoiler alerts accordingly.

i felt like the plot was kind of weird and just existed to connect the concert and call it a musical. it felt like an afterthought where going into a musical i was looking for a strong plot with the amazing performances and music. The characters except for the 3rd and 6th (maybe 5th) felt kinda static. Or were just that way in their song and then changed backed into their architype

this show has great story telling but the musical is not a 10, Weird how they gay the only out character a negative conflict that was not apart of the original story. Also weird they made Mr Amigo straight when in real life he's an out gay man... This show was hard I really wanted to like it. They also are not in high school anymore but feels like they are trying to let that fact go over the audiences head. Worst part for me and really weird seeing one characters only conflict was needing her moms credit card to buy a dress. Many in actual high school struggle with that kind of purchase at a dance.

i saw it recently and it made me feel so seen and i really loved it! i thought it was really amazing. i agree that the songs aren’t very memorable or unique, but after listening to the ones that have been released more i have come to really love them!!

I was brought to tears. Not great musical theater but a very moving show.

This is based on a true story vand a documentary which isxwonderful. No I have never been tona formal

I will always defend the spongebob musical! It's one of my favorites because of the familiar characters, the music, and just the cartoon world being brought to life in such a creative way. I believe the "fun shows" like Spongebob are exactly what people need to escape the reality of real life for a while. Sure the show touches on some real life points, but it does it in a way that keeps you engaged, uplifting you with solution afterwards. Like tv and movies, there are many genres of shows in theatre. Not all musicals are meant to be only a three hour tragedy or only a hour and a half comedy. Without variety, musical theater would be boring.

Got me some orchestra seats for Hamilton. Excited

I agree with you! And our opinion is not as rare as the other commenters might think on this show. Most people I talk to aren't crazy about it either. Tony Awards don't necessarily mean quality. There's always more at play to those than people are aware of or want to admit since a few commenters brought it up. This score was not Tesori's best work by far when you hold it up to her other shows and to me, if its a musical and I'm paying Broadway ticket prices, I had better love your score and this one did nothing for me. And your assessment of the overdone high school coming of age show is spot on too. There's been so many these past few years that all sound the same and have the same themes in them that it's just boring. I've started calling them all Evan Hansen Dances Akimbo In Ohio At The Prom To Be More Chill With The Mean Girls. Lol. Or some combination of all of them. Same stuff!

Thank you!!