50 Years of ‘The Wiz’: 8 Things You Never Knew About the Blockbuster Broadway Musical

Lori Acken January 5, 6:00 am

CIRCA 1975: Andre De Shields as the Wiz performs for the Broadway play — Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Nearly 75 years after novelist Frank L. Baum introduced readers to the wondrous world of Oz (and some 40 years after its eye-popping, Oscar-winning debut film adaptation), The Wonderful Wizard of Oz got its funkiest version yet — but producer Ken Harper’s Broadway musical, The Wiz, was far more than a reimagining of the beloved tale. It was a cultural phenomenon that celebrated Black artistry, music, dance and storytelling in a way that entertainment had never attempted before. And it almost didn’t see the light of day, much less the bright lights of the Great White Way.

Here are 8 things you probably never knew about this groovy trip down the Yellow Brick Road, which debuted on Broadway on Jan. 5, 1975 — 50 years ago today — and enjoyed a 1,600-plus performance run.

1Its real full title is a mouthful

Though the Broadway musical and its film and television incarnations are universally known as “The Wiz,” the stage production’s original title is The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” This full title can be seen on the cover of the original 1975 cast recording album.

2It was originally conceived for TV

Unlike so many of today’s stage musicals, which eventually make their way to the big or small screen, The Wiz producer Ken Harper pictured his musical as an extravagant TV special first. At the time, splashy variety shows were all the rage, including one starring popular comic Flip Wilson, whom Harper envisioned as his Scarecrow. With no takers on his idea of boosting that TV variety show flash and dash with a storyline, Harper turned to the stage instead.

3It made Stephanie Mills a teenage superstar

CIRCA 1975: Stephanie Mills as Dorothy sings in the Broadway play "The Wiz (Musical)" circa 1975.

Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Stephanie Mills — whose middle name just so happens to be Dorthea — was a seasoned performer when she won the role of Dorothy at age 17. But after a series of failed auditions, Broadway scared her, and her mom had to persuade her to try out for the career-defining role. Mills’ roof-raising performance of the soaring “Home” cemented the teen as a bona fide star of song and stage.

4It originally debuted in Baltimore

Unsure of how audiences would respond to his bold creation, Harper debuted it at the Morris A. Mechanic theatre in Baltimore, which was then a popular spot to test drive a show. Just a few months later, The Wiz eased on down the road to Broadway.

5It made George Faison the first Black choreographer to win a Tony

A former Alvin Ailey dancer, Faison drew on his own childhood wonder at the iconic film, imagined himself in each of the production’s different lands, and tweaked his choreography nightly until he knew he had it right. Risking the wrath of everyone from the set designers to the songwriters to the stage talent, Faison insisted that the sets, costumes, music and movement matched the message and emotion of each moment — a decision that was totally vindicated, as the finished product won 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Choreography and Best Original Score.

6Its score took three years to complete

A musical prodigy who entered Juilliard at age 11, composer Charlie Smalls was barely into his 30s when he began working on the music for The Wiz. Like Faison, Smalls remained focused on infusing the Black experience and culture into his stirring mix of gospel, soul and blues-influenced music — which he called “sophisticated funk” — winning both a Tony and a Drama Desk award for his work.

7It was a literal commercial success

The show’s pre-Broadway run hardly ensured its longevity on the Great White Way. So, with his eye still on the power of TV, Harper persuaded investors to also fund a television ad campaign that featured the cast performing The Wiz’s catchiest tune, “Ease on Down the Road” as an announcer declared The Wiz “a wow!” Giving a broad audience this charming sneak peek worked, drawing crowds of all races to the theater in droves.

8Its legacy lives on

THE WIZ LIVE, (from left): Elijah Kelley (as Scarecrow), Ne-Yo (as Tin Man), David Alan Grier (as Lion), Shanice Williams (as Dorothy), (aired Dec. 4, 2015).

Though a star-studded 1978 film (Diana Ross! Michael Jackson! Richard Pryor! Lena Horne!) bombed both critically and commercially, that hardly tarnished the musical’s legacy. The Wiz has inspired multiple tours, revivals and international productions and lay the groundwork for later hits such as Bubbling Brown Sugar, Dreamgirls and Sophisticated Ladies. And in 2015, NBC aired a live version of The Wiz that combined elements of the film and stage show, starring Queen Latifah, David Alan Grier, and Mary J. Blige. The performance also featured a return by Stephanie Mills, who — 40 years after her starring role as Dorothy — at 58, was now playing Auntie Em.