The Wiz

The Wiz is a musical re-imagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with an all African-American cast. It premiered on Broadway in 1975. It was directed by Geoffrey Holder, and had a score by Charlie Smalls, and a libretto by William F. Brown. This production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The musical had many revivals including an upcoming revival in 2023, was made into a film in 1978 and had a TV musical special that aired on NBC in 2015. Between these adaptations, the play's frequent returns to the stage, and the continued popularity of such numbers as "Ease on Down the Road" and "Home", The Wiz appears to stand as one of the most well-known direct adaptations of original book.