AUDREY’S SOCIETY WHIRL: THE WIZ

Opening Night

Ease On Down The Road To New York City Center For A Soulsational Version Of Another All-Black Adaptation Of The Wiz Starring R&B songstress Ashanti

      *Grammy award winning R&B singer and songwriter Ashanti made her stage debut as Dorothy in The Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, an all-black production, on Thursday, June 18, for a limited engagement (until Sunday, July 5) at the beauteous New York City Center to tepid reviews.  It appears that history is repeating itself . . . again!

      If you recall, back in 1975 when the original all-black adaptation by L. Frank Baum -- based on William F. Brown’s The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz book -- opened on Broadway with an astonishing innovative music score and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, it also received similar lukewarm reviews from a number of bold-named critics.

      Back then, because of a positive word of mouth, folks came to see the play in spite of the critics.  Before it closed, The Wiz had played 1,672 performances.  The original production, which was directed by Geoffrey Holder and choreographed by award-winning choreographer George Faison, was further vindicated when the play won seven Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards.

      Now, some critics have done the same hatchet job on this updated snappier version of the play that reunites the Tony-winning “In the Heights” team – Alex Lacamoire (music director), Thomas Kail (director) and Andy Blankenbuehler (choreography).

      Tackling the lead role as Dorothy would be no easy task for any actress/singer stepping into the sparkling red shoes worn by the lead as Stephanie Mills -- who created the role and starred in the original production -- left an indelible mark as the black kid from Kansas.

      However, Ashanti created her own Dorothy; and, like Frank Sinatra, she sang the songs her way.  And like the hook she performed on Ja Rule’s record that introduced her to the music world, her musical numbers were “Always On Time.”

      I found that what the play lacks in costly production numbers it makes up for in creative content . . .  the staggering sets by David Korins; eye-popping costumes by Paul Tazewell; illuminating lighting by Ken Billington; and pulsating sounds by Acme Sound Partners.  

      The Wiz came to a stirring end with Ashanti’s heartfelt performance of “Home” which garnered raucous applause from the audience who were up on their feet dabbing tears from their eyes.

      The special Derrtysouth-sounding shout outs came from her boyfriend, platinum rapper Nelly, who snuck into the play after the house lights were turned down low to surprise his significant other.

      This super soul musical is the hippest version of The Wiz thus far thanks to another amazing all-black cast who render standout performances nightly: Raymond Lamar Bennett, Tanya Birl, Darlesia Cearcy, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Angela Grovey, Ebony Haswell and Lauren Lim Jackson.

      Also Kevin-Anthony, Carl Lation, Jennifer Locke, Amy McClendon, Kenna Michelle Morris, John Eric Parker, Herman Payne, Ryan Rankine, Levensky Smith, Ephraim Sykes, Adrienne Warren, Daniel J. Watts, Juson Williams and William B. Wingfield.

      After numerous thunderous ovations, the cast rushed off the stage to change into their party clothes so that they could join Opening Night revelers at a terrific post party celebration in the theater’s lobby which was attended by the “who’s who” from the entertainment industry. (Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.)

The Wiz soulful cast take bow-Joshua Henry, James Monroe Iglehart, Orlando Jones, Ashanti, LaChanze, Christian Dante White, Dawnn Lewis

Ashanti

Nelly

Curtain Call-The Wiz baad wicked witch Tichina Arnold

Dawnn Lewis, LaChanze
 

Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban happenings based in the New York City area.