The Wiz

ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
AND THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION
PRESENT THE ANTICIPATED REVIVAL OF THE
LEGENDARY BROADWAY SHOW,
THE WIZ,
AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC
JUNE 3 – 15, 2025

Tryouts for Original Broadway run took place in Philadelphia
at Forrest Theatre in 1974

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 12, 2025) – Producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss, Todd Tucker, NETworks Presentations, Ensemble Arts Philly and The Shubert Organization are thrilled to present the Broadway classic, The Wiz, at the Academy of Music from Tuesday, June 3 – Sunday, June 15, 2025, as a part of the 2024-25 Broadway Season. The Wiz returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new tour, direct from Broadway. The Baltimore Sun raves, “Powerhouse performances. Stunning choreography. Visionary sets,” and The Chicago Sun-Times proclaims The Wiz is “an eye-popping and high-intensity revival!”

This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway – from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. Based on L. Frank Baum’s children’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wiz takes one of the world’s most enduring (and enduringly white) American fantasies and transforms it into an all-Black musical extravaganza for the ages.

The Wiz premiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation, going on to win seven Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography (George Faison), and in a Broadway first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). “Ease on Down the Road” became the show’s break-out single, and “Home” has since become a bona fide classic. The original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) – and 1,672 performances – on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne, and marked Quincy Jones’ first collaboration with Michael Jackson.

“The Wiz is part of Philadelphia’s long and rich theater history, with show tryouts occurring at the Forrest Theatre ahead of its Broadway debut in the mid-1970s,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations at Ensemble Arts Philly. “With this much-anticipated revival, The Wiz’s creative team has blended spectacular performances with groundbreaking visual design to breathe new life into a treasured Broadway masterpiece and share a vibrant celebration of culture and inclusion with an entirely new generation.”

Featuring a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award®-winning score by Charlie Smalls (and others), director Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney’s Aida), award-winning choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Black is King), additional material by Tony Award®-nominated and Emmy®-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show, Late Night With Seth Meyers), Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements), Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements), and Emmy Award®-winning music director and Grammy Award®-winning writer, Adam Blackstone and Terence Vaughn (Dance Music Arrangers), and Paul Byssainthe Jr. (Music Director), are conjuring up an Oz unlike anything ever seen before. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop will bring a whole new groove to easing down the road.

The Wiz design team includes scenic design by Academy Award-winning Hannah Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncé’s Black is King and Lemonade), costume design by Emmy ® Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting design by Barrymore Award-winning Ryan J. O’Gara (Thoughts of a Colored Man), sound design by Jon Weston (Parade), video and projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical), and make-up design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche (The Piano Lesson), and casting by Tara Rubin Casting.

The production also includes ‘Everybody Rejoice’ music and lyrics by Luther Vandross, as well as the ‘Emerald City Ballet’ with music by Timothy Graphenreed. 

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TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org or by calling 215-893-1999. In-person ticket sales can be conducted daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See www.ensembleartsphilly.org for more information.

Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased from Ensemble Arts Philly. Visit the Ensemble Arts Philly website online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org/groupsales or reach out by phone at 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.

THE WIZ
Academy of Music
June 3 – 15, 2025
Performance Times Vary
Captioning performance: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 1:30 PM
ASL and Audio Description performance: Friday, June 13, 2025, 7:30 PM

The Wiz is part of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts’ 2024-25 Family Discovery Series, sponsored by Dietz & Watson. 

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For more information about The Wiz please visit www.wizmusical.com.

Follow The Wiz on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok. 

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THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION
The Shubert Organization is America’s oldest professional theatre company and the largest theatre owner on Broadway. Since the dawn of the 20th century, Shubert has operated hundreds of theatres and produced hundreds of plays and musicals both in New York City and throughout the United States. Shubert currently owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres, six off-Broadway venues, and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Under the leadership of Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO, The Shubert Organization continues to be a leader in the theatre industry. Shubert delivers innovative ticketing solutions via its Telecharge interface, API distribution, and private-label technology, offering unparalleled distribution and marketing to the theatre industry and beyond. Its consumer-facing brands—Telecharge for retail ticket sales and Broadway Inbound for group buyers, tour operators, and the travel industry—sell millions of tickets each year. The Shubert Foundation, sole shareholder of The Shubert Organization, Inc., is dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts in the United States. The Foundation provides general operating support to not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. Foundation grants in 2023 totaled $37.9 million to 635 grantees. For more information, visit www.shubert.nyc. 

ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY     
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.         

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 For photography, please visit https://ensembleartsphilly.smugmug.com/
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