Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre has unveiled plans for the first new UK production of the Wizard of Oz-inspired The Wiz in ten years.
Directed by Actors Touring Theatre’s artistic director and former Royal Exchange associate artistic director Matthew Xia, The Wiz will be the Christmas attraction at the Ancoats venue from 24 November 2021 until 16 January 2022.
Commenting on the production, Xia said: “I can’t wait to return to Manchester, my former home, to create the all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza that is The Wiz at the exceptional Hope Mill Theatre. We’re pulling together an outstanding team including musical supervisor Sean Green and choreographer Leah Hill to reimagine this classic funk, soul (and now afrobeat!) infused story of self-discovery, determination and Black joy. Everybody rejoice!”
Co-producer Ameena Hamid added: “With the aspiration it holds, The Wiz is a show that is close to my heart and one that feels particularly important in the current moment. I am delighted to be working with the Hope Mill on this production and can’t wait to centre black joy and excellence both on and off-stage. It feels like the perfect way to end the year of theatre’s return.”
Hope Mill Theatre will co-produce alongside Hamid and assistant producer ChuChu Nwagu. The full creative team and casting will be announced at a later date.
With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, a book by William F. Brown and original orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” debuted on Broadway in 1975. Inspired by L. Frank Baum’s much-loved children’s novel, the musical won seven Tonys including the award for Best Musical.
The ground-breaking production featured a career-launching performance from Stephanie Mills who would return to the role of Dorothy in the 1984 Broadway revival and its subsequent London run.
A major British revival was co-produced by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the West Yorkshire Playhouse with the usual Kansas-setting relocated to modern day Birmingham.
The musical provided the inspiration for a big budget 1978 film with an all-star cast led by Diana Ross and Michael Jackson which was followed in 2015 by a live TV production. Mixing elements of the original 1975 Broadway production and the 1978 film version, the NBC production starred Queen Latifah in the title role and Mary J. Blige as the Wicked Witch of the West. The Wiz Live! proved a hit with both the critics and viewers when it was first broadcast in December 2015 and was one of the shows made available to homebound audiences in 2020 on The Shows Must Go On YouTube channel.
Angela Thomas
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