Complete cast set for Broadway-bound 'The Wiz' revival

Wayne Brady is among the stars of the musical revival, which will play a national tour this fall ahead of a planned spring 2024 premiere on Broadway.

Ease on down the road! The complete cast has been set for the first revival of The Wiz, which is embarking on a national tour in September ahead of a planned Broadway transfer in spring 2024.

The cast is led by Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, who was selected via TikTok video from more than 2,000 submissions. She will make her Broadway debut in the role.

The principal cast, all of whom will also perform on the tour and on Broadway, also includes Wayne Brady as the Wiz, Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody A. Betts as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, and Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow.

The ensemble includes Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Anthony Murphy, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Wilson.

Additionally, Alan Mingo Jr. will play the Wiz on tour at all cities except San Francisco and Los Angeles, where Brady will play the role.

Director Schele Williams's production will be the first Broadway revival of The Wiz since its 1975 premiere. The show tells the story of The Wizard of Oz with an all-Black team, transforming the historically white story into a celebration of Black art and culture.

The show features a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls and others, with additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin,

The production's creative team also features choreographer JaQuel Knight, scenic designer Hannah Beachler, costume designer Sharen Davis, lighting designer Ryan J. O’Gara, sound designer, projection designer Daniel Brodie, and wig designer Charles LaPointe. Music supervision, orchestrations, and music arrangements are by Joseph Joubert, and vocal and music arrangements are by Allen René Louis.

Photo credit: Nichelle Lewis and Wayne Brady. (Photos courtesy of production; Lewis headshot by Gene Reed)