Ford's Theater Set to Ease On Down the Road With The Wiz
Performances of The Wiz begin tonight at Ford's Theatre.
The Tony-winning musical based on L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz features a book by William F. Brown and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The production, directed by Kent Gash, is described as follows: "Ease on down the road with Dorothy and her friends Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion on their quest to meet The Wiz. In this adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s magical novel, Dorothy is whisked away by a tornado to the fanciful land of Oz. There, she and her sidekicks encounter Munchkins, flying monkeys and a power-hungry witch named Evillene who vows to destroy them."
(© Scott Suchman.)
Featured in the cast are Hasani Allen (Scarecrow), DeMoya Watson Brown (Tornado), Kevin McAllister (Tinman), Monique Midgette (Aunt Em, Addaperle, Evillene), Dorothy (Ines Nassara), Jobari Parker-Namdar (The Wiz), Christopher Michael Richardson (Lion), Glinda (Awa Sal Secka), and Daryl A. Spiers (Lead Winged Monkey). The ensemble comprises Melissa Victor, Jaysen Wright, Jonathan Adriel, Ashley D. Buster, Jade Jones, Da’Von T. Moody, Solomon Parker, Tobias Young, Jocelyn E. Isaac, and Phil Young. Toto will be played by Charlie and Rusty.
The creative team includes Dell Howlett (choreography), Darius Smith (music direction and orchestration), Jason Sherwood (scenic design), Kara Harmon (costume design), Rui Rita (lighting design), David Budries (sound design), Clint Allen (projection design), Dave Bova and J. Jared Janas (hair and make-up design), and Zach Campion (dialects and voice direction). Craig A. Horness is the production stage manager and Taryn Friend the assistant stage manager. Casting is by Patrick Pearson.
Performances continue through May 12.
