New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
New Bedford Festival Theatre and Executive Producer Wendy Hall have announced the casting for their production of The Wiz which will be presented April 27 – May 6, 2023 at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center at 684 Purchase Street New Bedford, MA. This production will be the last professional production of The Wiz before the Broadway revival next Spring.
The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel and soul music. This timeless tale of Dorothy’s adventures through the Land of Oz is a fun, family-friendly, modern musical.The cultural significance of a Black retelling of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is powerful. L.Frank Baum’s collection of Oz stories, propelled by the immense popularity of the 1939 Judy Garland film, became one of the first completely American fantasy tales (in the spirit of Grimm’s fairy tales); in creating The Wiz, Black Americans were able to include their voices within a piece of Americana on their own terms.
Leading the cast will be Jaden Dominique (Celie in “The Color Purple” at Maine State Music Theatre) as Dorothy, Kyla Jade (NBC’s The Voice, Season 14) as Addaperle/Evillene and Lawrence Flowers (Billboard Chart Topping Gospel Artist) as Scarecrow.
Joining them will be Stanley Martin (Original Broadway Company of “Aladdin”) as The Wiz, Darren Lorenzo (“The Wiz” at Fulton Theatre) as Lion, Martinez Mc Neil (“The Wiz” at Eastern Nazarene College) as Tinman, Ebony Strong (“Little Shop of Horrors” at Springer Opera House) as Aunt Em/Glinda, James Major Burns ( “The Wiz” at Fulton Theatre) as Uncle Henry. Also in the cast: Deidre Dunkin, Juanita-Renay Gray, Shawday Graves, Nakiiya Holmes, Ivory Leonard, IV, Kareem Mack, Jymil Littles, Tinaiya Tank and Richard Yarell III.
The Production will be Directed and Choreographed by Kenny Ingram, Music Direction, Charles Duke, Associate Choreographer Briana Reed, Lighting Design by Matt Guminski, Sound Design by Jason Choquette.
New Bedford Festival Theatre’s production of The Wiz runs April 27 – May 6, 2023 at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are available from $35 – $65.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.zeiterion.org/events/nbft-the-wiz, by phone (508) 994-2900, or in person at the Zeiterion Box Office 684 Purchase Street New Bedford, MA 02740.
