The Wiz

The Wiz is a musical retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz, as portrayed by an all-African American cast. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1975, was later adapted to film in 1978, and aired as a live broadcast on NBC in 2015.
==References==
*The song "Ease on Down the Road" from the musical was performed in episode 510 of The Muppet Show.
* Muppet Babies Live! featured two songs from The Wiz: "Ease on Down the Road" and "I'm a Mean Ole Lion".
*In Muppets from Space, Rizzo the Rat possesses a cast and crew jacket for a production of "The Cheese Wiz."
*In the Sesame Street Live show "Out of This World," Terry and the cast perform a slightly rewritten version of the musical's finale song, "Home."
==Connections==
* Alvin Alexis played a party guest in The Wiz (1978 film)
* Ashanti reprised her role of Dorothy in the City Center's production of The Wiz (2009)
* Common played the Bouncer in The Wiz Live (2015)
* André De Shields originated the Wiz in the Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
* Carol Dennis played a Munchkin, sunflower, stranger, and Emerald City citizen in the 1984 Broadway revival
* Roberta Flack sang as part of the adult choir in The Wiz (1978 film)
* Babi Floyd sang as part of the adult choir in The Wiz (1978 film)
* David Alan Grier played the Cowardly Lion in The Wiz Live (2015)
* Ben Harney was a replacement for the Tinman in the original Broadway production of The Wiz
* Cheryl Hardwick played keyboards in the original Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
* Geoffrey Holder directed and costume designed the original Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
* Lena Horne played Glinda in The Wiz (1978 film)
* James Monroe Iglehart played the Cowardly Lion in the City Center production of The Wiz (2009) 
* Michael Jackson played the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978 film)
* Queen Latifah played The Wiz in The Wiz Live (2015)
* Jesse Levy played cello on the soundtrack for The Wiz (1978 film)
* Theresa Merritt was a replacement for Evillene on Broadway (ca. 1976) and played Aunt Em in The Wiz (1978 film)
* Noel MacNeal puppeteered the giant head of The Wiz in The Wiz Live (2015)
* Paul McGinnis puppeteered the giant head of The Wiz in The Wiz Live (2015)
* Ella Mitchell played Evillene as a replacement in the original Broadway production (ca. 1977) and in the 1984 revival
* Ne-Yo played the Tin Man in The Wiz Live! (2015)
* Fred Nihda built the Tin Man costume for the original Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
* Richard Pryor played The Wiz in The Wiz (1978 film)
* Diana Ross played Dorothy Gale in The Wiz (1978 film)
* Ted Ross played the lion in The Wiz (1975, Broadway) and the film (1978)
* Nipsey Russell played the Tinman in The Wiz (1978 film) 
* Clarice Taylor originated Addaperle in the Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
* Toots Thielemans played harmonica on the soundtrack for The Wiz (1978 film)
* Luther Vandross wrote the song "Everybody Rejoice" for The Wiz (1975)
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Category:Stage References