Review: Ease on Down the Road to DPAC for The Wiz
The story of The Wizard of Oz is tried and true. Firmly cemented in pop culture history for nearly 100 years, several versions of this now classic story have made their way to both the stage and screen, each one bringing something new and special to the beloved story of Dororthy Gale and her adventures in the land of Oz. The new touring production of The Wiz is no different, bringing a score full of soul, gospel, rock, and 70s disco funk.
L-R: Sheherazade as Glinda, Dana Cimone as Dorothy and Amitria Fanae’ as Addaperle in The Wiz
Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s original book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and directed by Schele Williams, the musical tells the story of Dororthy (Dana Cimone) and her desperate attempts to get back to Kansas after a tornado drops her in the magical land of Oz. As she journeys to the Emerald City to meet the mystical Wiz (Alan Mingo Jr.), she meets the Scarecrow (Elijah Ahmad Lewis), the Tinman (D. Jerome), and the Lion (Cal Mitchell), who help protect her from Evillene (Kyla Jade), this version’s Wicked Witch of the West.
While The Wiz holds onto everything that has made The Wizard of Oz a cultural mainstay, it also brings something new and original to the story. From the beginning, The Wiz offers more background for the characters, including Dororthy’s past and how she ended up living with Aunt Em (Kyla Jade) in Kansas. I’ve never considered Aunt Em a particularly interesting character, but Jade has turned her into someone unforgettable with sass, energy, and more obvious, affectionate love for Dorothy. Their duet “The Feeling We Once Had” was a pleasant surprise as Jade’s rich and soulful voice wrapped around her audience like a warm hug.
Dana Cimone (L) as Dorothy and Kyla Jade as Aunt Em in The Wiz
Cimone is precious as the lovable Dorothy, bringing a spunky flair and bravery to the role, all while asking the questions that have haunted Wizard of Oz viewers for decades, like why Glinda (Sheherazade) didn’t tell her about the silver slippers’ (the magic slippers were silver in the original book) power to get her home from the get go. Throughout the show, she balances sweet Dorothy innocence with vocal maturity and range (and show stopping riffs), and her number “Soon As I Get Home” is a classic musical theater “hero’s journey is starting” song. But it was her number “Wonder, Wonder Why” that was her shining moment, brimming with passion and intensity.
As Dorothy travels through Oz, she meets her new friends, each one bringing their own flair and twist to the role, including more explanation of how they each came to be in their various predicaments, thanks to the wrath of Evillene. First up is Lewis as the Scarecrow with a twitchy, jerky sort of energy as he brings a lightness to the typical scarecrow plop to the ground. His physicality and charisma steal the show, drawing all eyes to him even when he isn’t speaking.
Elijah Ahmad Lewis as the Scarecrow (center) and Dana Cimone as Dorothy in The Wiz
Comparatively, the Tinman is smooth, suave, and streetsmart. Jerome’s voice is like butter, well-oiled and effortlessly gliding through the music in his numbers “Slide Some Oil To Me” and “What Would I Do If I Could Feel.” Keeping the Tinman’s kindness, even without a heart, he brings his own take to the role, including a little sass of his own as he proves his love and protectiveness for Dorothy.
D. Jerome (right) as the Tinman in The Wiz
While the Lion’s fearsome protective instincts may take longer to kick in, Mitchell does it with style (and a fabulous mane, now that he has figured out the right routine for his curl pattern). Turning the original Cowardly Lion sobs into little yelps and hair flips, Mitchell creates a Lion that finds his own kind of courage in loyalty and showing up for your friends even when you’re scared, effectively challenging stereotypical roles of what it means to “man up.” Coupled with the vocal growls he adds to numbers like “Mean Ole Lion,” Mitchell’s Lion is a multidimensional character 100 years in the making.
Wrapping up the production’s leading players are Mingo Jr. as The Wiz and Sheherazade as Glinda. Both are divas in their own right, dressed from head to toe in fabulous sparkles as they exude showmanship and energy.
The technical elements of The Wiz are in a class of their own. Costume designer Sharen Davis gets it right with modernized costumes that include subtle nods to the original counterparts, including a flouncy blue plaid skater skirt for Dororthy, a silver baseball cap and bomber jacket for the Tinman, and every shade of green in the exquisite Emerald City. Elements that would typically require visual effects, such as the tornado, the poppy fields, and the yellow brick road, are all created by the incredible dancers on the stage, bringing a surprising but effective twist, thanks to choreographer Jaquel Knight (who has also included subtle nods to the original, including the little hop step down the yellow brick road).
L-R: Cal Mitchell as the Lion, D. Jerome as the Tinman, Dana Cimone as Dorothy, and Elijah Ahmad Lewis as the Scarecrow in The Wiz
The production also features bold, bright, and colorful scenic design from Hannah Beachler, lighting design from Ryan J. O’Gara, sound design from Jon Weston, video and projection design (that is achingly beautiful and reminiscent of old Disney films) from Daniel Brodie.
The Wiz features haze, smoke, flashing lights, and loud noises. Parental discretion is advised, and the production is not recommended for anyone under eight years old. The Wiz runs the Durham Performing Arts Center through Sunday, August 10, 2025. Tickets can be purchased here.
Additional production photos can be found below. All photo credit to Jeremy Daniel.
