‘The Wiz’ Comes to Denver

After 40 years away from Broadway, The Wiz has returned to the stage and will be in Denver from April 8-20 at the Buell Theater.

The 1975 Broadway production received seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and was an extremely influential example of an all-Black musical. It helped prove that this kind of casting and representation was widely accepted among mainstream audiences. The Wiz is a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of Black American culture. The 1978 film adaptation of the play features several powerful depictions of Black culture and social commentary about the portrayal of Black folks in media.

One of the first things Scarecrow says in the film is the quote, “Do not accept any situation. Question, argue, and explore,” before he and the crows who are holding him down start singing a song about how the scarecrow cannot ever be free. The crows discourage Scarecrow from believing that he could leave the post he was stuck on and forbid him from reading or seeking any knowledge, thus stunting him from growing or thinking that he could be more. His situation mirrors how Black folks face discouragement from the systems around us: making higher education less accessible, offering lower pay than white employees, being made fun of for our culture while also having it stolen from us. These things and more are what Black people in America deal with that can keep us from reaching our goals and potentials. They are attempts to kill our hope so that we never even try to succeed.

But Scarecrow pulls the quote about not accepting any situation from his own body. He is made up of knowledge and uses what he’s learned before Dorothy even helps him off the post. Of course we all know that Scarecrow never needed a brain from the Wizard because his genius was already inside of him.

Even this small part in the beginning of The Wiz has such powerful messages for Black folks that, of course, provide good entertainment, but also have the ability to speak to one’s soul.

And soul is something this production has in abundance. From the musical numbers, to the costumes, The Wiz promises to give its audience plenty of reasons to rejoice! This return to the stage features additional material added by queer, Black comedian Amber Ruffin, new dances from Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” choreographer JaQuel Knight, and work from award-winning scenic and costume artists.

Seek out some wonder this month. Treat yourself to an evening celebrating creativity, fun, and Black joy. Go check out The Wiz if you’re able!

Photos courtesy of the DCPA