The Wiz Brings Black Joy and Broadway Magic to Denver This April

"What excites me most about bringing The Wiz across America on this new revival tour is hearing everyone's personal connection to the show," says actor Alan Mingo Jr., who stars as the title character in the show's national tour. "Unlike any other show that I've been in, people have to tell you how they were introduced to the show."

From April 8-20, Denver audiences will have the chance to forge — or rekindle — their own connection with The Wiz, the joyful, genre-blending retelling of The Wizard of Oz that changed the face of Broadway in 1975. Now, thanks to a fresh touring production making its first stop in forty years, this iconic celebration of Black excellence is making its way across America once again, landing at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts for a two-week run.

Directed by Schele Williams with new choreography by Beyoncé-collaborator JaQuel Knight and updated material from comedian and writer Amber Ruffin, this revival of The Wiz is vibrant, timely and built for a whole new generation. And there's arguably no better time to revisit the world of Oz. With the Wicked films reigniting interest in the land of Emerald City and good witches, The Wiz offers a distinct but equally magical perspective.

Where Wicked questions power and destiny, The Wiz invites audiences to “ease on down the road” and discover belonging, identity and joy — all through a distinctly Black lens. Mingo believes that the legacy of this show and its ability to transcend generations is particularly powerful.
"This show in particular compels people to share with the performers exactly how they were introduced to the show and that's very special," he notes. "Many people have come to the stage door sharing their experience with the show, like 'My grandmother brought me to the original show. Now I'm bringing my niece and nephew, or 'My Mom would watch it every Thanksgiving; now I’m introducing the show to my kids.'"

Mingo, who has performed in show like Hairspray, Shrek the Musical and The Little Mermaid, says that despite his experience with blockbuster family shows, nothing else inspires audiences to open up the way The Wiz does. “I was introduced to the show through the movie,” Mingo says, referencing the 1978 film version starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Richard Pryor. “Seeing people who looked like me inspired me to become a performer myself.”

That spirit of representation and inspiration is central to what has made The Wiz a lasting cultural phenomenon. Despite sticking to the well-known yellow brick road plot of The Wizard of Oz, the musical uses Afrofuturism to reimagine Dorothy's journey, with a soundtrack that includes pop, funk, gospel and soul music.
"Being in an all-Black show is something special," Mingo says. "What separates The Wiz from other Black shows is that it is pure joy. A lot of our commercial black musicals, à la Showboat, Ragtime, Big River and The Color Purple, share the Black experience through pain and hurt. This show is all about Black excellence and joy."

Mingo's return to the role of the Wiz, which he played in previous stagings, came with a twist. He expected to work from the original script but quickly learned that a newly revised script had been written to modernize the pacing and tone.

“I’m a bit of a musical theater purist, so for me, doing the original script meant a lot,” he says. “It wasn't until the first day of rehearsal that someone informed me about a new script. The blessing in disguise was the new script allowed me to create my own version while still being mindful of the original performances of Andre de Shields and Richard Pryor. Saying new lines allowed me to be a lot more creative."

One key difference? This Wiz isn’t a bully.

"[The director] wanted him to be sort of a used car salesman," Mingo says. "Someone very charming who could manipulate them to do what he wants without being a bully. That also gave me a chance to create my own Wiz, but always keeping in the back of my mind the legacy or the shoulders on which I'm standing."

The show itself is designed to meet the moment. Fast-paced, visually stunning and energetically choreographed, the revival aims to speak to younger audiences without losing what made The Wiz revolutionary in the first place.

"The director and writer were very conscious of making sure the script that we are [using] is timeless," Mingo says. "We were looking to usher in a younger audience for this show who are used to social media and have a much shorter attention span so we were deliberate to make sure the show had a faster pace without sacrificing the heart and the soul of the original Broadway show."

This revival strikes a unique balance — honoring the past while speaking to the present. Fans of the original show and movie will find all the familiar characters and songs they love, but with new life and layers.

"For those die-hard Wiz fans, you will not be disappointed,” Mingo promises. “But introducing this beloved piece to a brand-new generation is a highlight of my career.”

While in Denver, Mingo hopes to explore some of the city’s cultural gems, including the Denver Art Museum, Botanic Gardens, zoo and maybe even a concert at Red Rocks if the stars align. But most of all, he’s excited to share this show with the Mile High City.

“I'm really excited about bringing The Wiz to Denver to see how they react to our version," Mingo says. "It is a combination of both the original Broadway show and the movie. And I will tell you in the few cities we’ve been in, the audiences have absolutely loved it."

The Wiz, Tuesday, April 8, through Sunday, April 20, at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1101 13th Street. Get tickets at denvercenter.org.