Anchoring the 2023 Revival of The Wiz
What were they thinking?
Audiences and critics often engage with live performance at the “point of experience” — the 2-3 hours of the specific performance they view. The primary reactions are to what’s in front of us — the actors, costumes, lights, sounds, movements. Something I’ve come to realize about myself is that I get as much joy and wonder from the details of what got us all there sitting/performing/managing this performance. Why this show? Why these choices? What choices never were? What am I missing? What did they want me to walk away wondering?
Bringing these layers into the seat with me is part of how I consume theatre. Any art form honestly. I could probably go ahead and say this is true for anything I consume, including PowerPoint presentations. It’s the kind of nerd I am.
As part of our co-producer participation in The Wiz revival, I am often offering up backstory and context in our communication with folks who invested through HudsonMann. Back in August, I shared the following pieces of content offered here below, with my framing from August intact:
August 30, 2023
Popping in to share some video content previewing the show, and musing on it. The first clip is from press last week and gives a thorough view into what's in store (at least as much as they are sharing at this point!).
The last two clips are some musing and analysis on the show in response to the Muny's 2018 production (that's where Amber Ruffin began working on the show). More context below!
Broadway.com, August 24, 2023
This article is a summary of excerpts from the 10 minute interview with director, Schele Williams that you will find at the end of the article.
The video is embedded after her last quote ending the article - it might look like a photo, but there's a "play" icon in the middle. Once you hit play, there will be a small small square icon in the bottom right that will make the video full screen. Article here.
Muny Conversations, November 2020
If you're really up for some weekend content, this past week I came across a series of videos that The Muny distributed in November of 2020 in the wake of a summer of protest. They invited the cast from their 2018 production of The Wiz (a precursor to this one!) to be part of their virtual variety show, and in response the actors asked for them to host a conversation about equity in theatre and the impact of The Wiz. There are 5 parts, moderated by Amber Ruffin, and I listened to them all podcast style one morning before work. I'll share two excerpts that have been resonating with me since I heard them:
In Part 4, Darius de Haas (who played the Lion in the Muny's production), does a beautiful breakdown of what the archetypes of the main characters in The Wiz correspond to in Black culture. I'm attempting to link to right were Amber asks the question, but if for some reason it doesn't work, it starts around 6:40. I especially appreciated his articulation of the Lion.
In part 2, Amber and Danyel Fulton (who played Dorothy) have a conversation about why the show feels special, and then about the role of black women in the show. Again, I'm trying to link to where that starts, but if that doesn't work it starts around 5:40. They riff a bit and then Amber tees up the question about black women in the show.
Often our impression of a show — shaped by the hype and the press — is as if the story starts with the announcement, then casting, then rehearsals and really kicks off when audiences enter the picture. Maybe we get some behind the scenes, we follow the story of some performers or key creative team members. For any show, but this show in particular, scooping back to some of the why and bringing it with you into your seat adds so much to the experience.
