If you’ve been on the fence about buying tickets to see the touring revival of “The Wiz” that opened Tuesday night at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis, go ahead and do so right now. It’s a wildly entertaining, old school Broadway show that’s firing on all cylinders.
Written by musical prodigy Charlie Smalls in the early ’70s, “The Wiz” reimagines L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” as a Black fairy tale with an enchanting collection of songs that lean into jazz, blues and R&B. Two of the numbers, “Ease on Down the Road” and “Home,” crossed over into the mainstream. (A young Whitney Houston covered the latter when she made her television debut in 1983 on “The Merv Griffin Show.”)
Smalls, who studied at the Julliard School, died at the age of 43, but “The Wiz” has lived on, starting with the 1978 big-budget film adaptation (which, to be sure, has its detractors) and numerous revivals around the world, including an NBC live version in 2015.
The current iteration enjoyed a limited run on Broadway in 2024 before hitting the road for the current tour. It’s probably not a coincidence that “The Wiz” re-emerged at a time when Oz is front and center of pop culture thanks to the pair of “Wicked” films that are breaking records (even if the second one isn’t that great).
Thank Amber Ruffin for making this “Wiz” a must-see. The 46-year-old actor, writer and comedian has been on the “Late Night with Seth Meyers” staff for more than a decade and became the first Black woman to host a late-night talk show when she led “The Amber Ruffin Show” on Peacock for three seasons.
Ruffin previously made magic with Matthew López on their new musical take on the film “Some Like it Hot” that hit the Orpheum in October. On “The Wiz” she’s credited for “additional material for the production.” Her work here isn’t a rewrite as much as it is a refresh that replaces some of the extremely ’70s aspects of the original, fleshes out some of the characters and creates something that feels much more timeless.
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This new “Wiz” also incorporates more aspects of the Black experience, from a New Orleans-style parade to hip hop to Ballroom culture. It also boasts a terrific sense of humor, with Ruffin adding a series of gags and knowing nods to the audience. I found myself grinning throughout and I laughed out loud during the final scene featuring Evillene (Kyla Jade, who also plays Aunt Em), aka the Wicked Witch of the West.
There’s not a weak point in the production, with the four leads — Dorothy (Dana Cimone), the Scarecrow (Elijah Ahmad Lewis), the Tinman (D. Jerome) and the Lion (Cal Mitchell) — displaying an instant, believable chemistry. They’re each supremely talented at singing, dancing and selling the storyline. Jerome in particular is truly dazzling and displays a stunning amount of personality from a face covered in silver paint.
The costumes from Sharen Davis are a Technicolor delight and director Schele Williams keeps the action moving at a brisk pace, while also allowing numerous moments for choreographer Jaquel Knight’s work to shine.
If you’re looking for an immersive, entertaining, fun and funny show, look no further than “The Wiz.”
‘The Wiz’
When: Through Sunday
Where: Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis
Tickets: $203.10-$70.45 via hennepinarts.org
Capsule: An inventive, colorful take on a familiar tale.
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