EMERALD CITY AT LAST!
& A lovely pre-show Italian meal
Hello, and welcome back!
It’s a windy, chilly, and cloudy day outside, but it’s still Spring! To invoke the sun’s rays, I’m enjoying a cup of jasmine tea blended with champagne mangos.
I’m thrilled to share that dreams do come true: I finally got to see the revival of The Wiz on Broadway!
My first exposure to The Wiz was when my father brought home the DVD of the 1978 Motown film adaptation directed by Sidney Lumet, which starred Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne, Mabel King, and Richard Pryor. I became obsessed with it as an elementary school girl, and I hadn’t seen the original Wizard of Oz at that point.
I vividly recall playing pretend the plot of “The Wizard of Oz” with my best friend, Penny.
I did my Best-Ever Michael Jackson dance while singing “Ease on Down the Road,” and my friend watched curiously. We eventually combined versions of the story, which was a sweet compromise.
The Wiz was my entry into the theater, musicals, and the Black theatrical tradition.
Show Details
Location: Marquis Theatre
By: William F. Brown, with additional material by Amber Ruffin, based on the book by L. Frank Baum
Songs by Charlie Smalls
Director: Schele Williams
Choreography: JaQuel Knight
Cast
Wayne Brady (as The Wiz)
Nichelle Lewis (as Dorothy)
Deborah Cox (as Glinda)
Melody A. Betts (as Aunt Em and Evillene)
Kyle Ramar Freeman (as the Lion)
Phillip Johnson Richardson (as the Tinman)
Avery Wilson (as the Scarecrow)
Creative Team
Design: Hannah Beachler
Costumes: Sharen Davis
Lighting: Ryan J. O’Gara
Sound: Jon Weston
Projection design by Daniel Brodie
Wig design by Charles LaPointe
Makeup design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche
Music supervision, orchestrations, and music arrangements by Joseph Joubert
Vocal and music arrangements by Allen René Louis
Dance music arrangements by Adam Blackstone
The Show
I went to the theater without reading any reviews or looking for hints about the design or changes made to the story. The last time I saw a new version of the 1975 Broadway musical ‘The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz”’ was during the ‘Wiz Live!’ television performance in 2015, which was an adaptation of the original show and film.
The show was a thrilling fusion of soul, gospel, and R&B music, accompanied by dance styles such as jazz, ballet, hip-hop, ballroom, and movements inspired by the African Diaspora. Speaking of which, The Wiz was filled with inside jokes and mannerisms, which is something that I love about Black Theater.
I loved sharing a knowing glance at my neighbor and seeing a Black child get up from his seat to dance.
The show featured an extraordinary group of talented performers, and the crowd’s reaction was reminiscent of a church revival.
There were many “I know that’s right’s” and “GONE, GIRL’s!”
It was an incredible experience to finally see the show that initially sparked my love for theater and performing arts. I believe I needed to approach the show with an open mind to avoid projecting too much nostalgia and be receptive to the contemporary interpretations of the creative team and the performers.
P.S. I usually don’t buy show merchandise, but I couldn’t resist getting the Black AF RIP Evamene t-shirt. I had to have it!
Dinner
I treated my “going to see the Wizard” as a special event that called for a glass of Lambrusco, bolognese, and, you guessed it, tiramisu.
I Googled “tiramisu” before leaving my apartment and found Orso, conveniently located near the Marquis Theatre.
I headed to meet my friend there sans reservation, but because of what I can only assume to be divine favor, he and I got the last two seats available.
The woman in charge of coat check asked if I was seeing a show, and I told her I was seeing The Wiz. She responded with a very pleased and passionate sigh, which I found amusing 😅.
Like many other restaurants in the Theater District, Orso is aware of showgoers’ needs. Reservations are scheduled according to Broadway show schedules, ensuring enough time between your meal and your walk to the theater afterward.
I found the pour of Lambrusco to be tasty and generous, and the bolognese was mid (broke my heart!)
A Google reviewer told me that it was the best bolognese they’ve ever had, and I am sorry to say that I could not relate :(
My friend had the Funghi pizza, which, in his own words, was “Okay.” In contrast, his after-dinner treat was a latte, which was great!
But the true star of the meal was the tiramisu.
“But Tyra, what makes a great tiramisu?”
When I spoon out a piece of tiramisu, I am looking for a certain smoothness that signals to my brain how rich and decadent the bite will taste. When I taste it, I close my eyes and await the spark I get from finding The One. We cannot rely on our intellect to place the value of tiramisu. You must feel it!
Anyway, it was great, for sure, with a perfect espresso and chocolaty taste & a lovely presentation. (:
Though this cake was a star, I cannot say that it was the best tiramisu I’ve ever had without having a panel of Tiramisu’s Past.
Your best bet may be an appetizer, a beverage, and a tiramisu. Stop by a deli or the Theater District Shake Shake!
After indulging in Orso’s tiramisu and a glass of wine, I felt awake enough to make it through an 8 PM show.
An Update!
Remember how I said I’d end each post with details on upcoming shows and happenings in the performing arts scene? While writing and putting it all together, I realized this post was getting way too long!
So, I’m breaking it up and putting the rest in another post! So, moving forward, there will be a dinner and show post and a scene report post!
So stay tuned for the next thing!
I’ll see you at the next party. 💋