
The Wiz
Full Length Musical, Comedy / 6m, 5f, 4m or f
This beloved Broadway musical sets Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz to a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel, and soul music!

The Wiz
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Cast Size
6m, 5f, 4m or fDuration
120 minutes (2 hours)Subgenre
Fantasy, Adaptations (Literature)Accolades
Tony, From BroadwaySuggested Use
- Competition or audition material
Target Audience
- Appropriate for all audiences
Additional Info
A beloved Broadway gem, The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, and soul music. This timeless tale of Dorothy’s adventures through the Land of Oz is a fun, family-friendly, modern musical and one of the most popular shows in the Samuel French catalog.
Adapted into a film version featuring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.
Accolades
WINNER! 7 Tony Awards - Including Best Musical!
WINNER! 5 Drama Desk Awards - Including Outstanding Music & Lyrics!
Reviews
"Radiates so much energy you can hardly sit in your seat...great fun." - The New York Post
"A continuous festival of movement...splendid character songs." - WWD
"A carnival of fun...wickedly amusing show." - Time
"A virtual musical circus...driving rhythms, soaring songs...boisterous, exuberant." -WABC TV
"Unquestionably, the humor and the heartbeat of the piece remain African-American at their source, but the overall effect is pluralistic and inclusive. In the truest and most positive sense of the phrase, [the] show is color-blind." - Variety
Watch Female Inmates at Bedford Correctional Facility Perform a Gut-Wrenching Version of The Wiz here.
RELATED ARTICLES ON BREAKING CHARACTER
Rehabilitation Through the Arts: Performing the THE WIZ Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3
by Courtney Kochuba
July 7, 2016
THE WIZ: A Bold Look at Oz, Dorothy, and the Emerald City
by Marisa Arellano
September 14, 2015
Ease On Down! THE WIZ Will Be NBC’s Next Live Broadcast, And Then Head To Broadway
by Courtney Kochuba
March 30, 2015
So You Wanted To Meet The Wizard?
by Abbie Van Nostrand
February 23, 2015
Videos
Considerations
Performing Groups
- High School/Secondary
- College Theatre / Student
- Community Theatre
- Dinner Theatre
- Professional Theatre
- Large Stage
Cautions
- Animals
License details
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
Production
Details
- Time Period: Present Day, Not Applicable
- Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Setting:
Kansas and the Land of Oz
- Additional Features: Animal spot, Local Celebrity Cameo, Special Effects
- Features / Contains: Elaborate / High Volume Costumes, Fantasy Costumes
Music
- Musical Style: Pop/Rock, Jazz
- Vocal Demands: Difficult
- Orchestra Size: Large
- Chorus Size: Large
Song Samples
Casting
6m, 5f, 4m or fAUNT EM: Female, Late 30's (Range: Mezzo Soprano, G3-C5)
Dorothy's Aunt. Life has not been easy for her and promises little else. Harsh towards Dorothy at times, but acts out of love.
DOROTHY: Female, 13-16 (Range: Mezzo Soprano, G3-B5)
Bright eyed and alive as can be. Would rather remain a child as long as possible instead of accempting the responsibilities of adulthood.
UNCLE HENRY: Male, Late 30's (Range: Non-Singing)
Dorothy's Uncle. Physically run down from years of hard work on the farm. Often acts as the voice of reason towards Aunt Em.
ADDAPERLE: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Mezzo Soprano, F3-C5)
Good Witch of the North. Has magic powers she refers to as "doing tricks." Her magic abilities don't always pan out as well as she would like them to.
YELLOW BRICK ROAD (Four Actors): Male or Female, Age Flexible (Range: Flexible, F4-Db5/F3-Db4)
Four dancing actors combine to create the Yellow Brick Road. Metaphorically represents the road Dorothy travels down, encouraging her along the way.
SCARECROW: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, D3-A4)
Tired of being a scarecrow and the prospect of not going anywhere. Embarks on the journey to see The Wiz in hopes he can provide a brain.
TIN MAN: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Baritone, E3-A4)
Human at one time. Lost all his limbs to a cursed axe. Joins in the journey in hopes the Wiz will provide him a heart because “it isn’t enough to be good looking.”
LION: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Baritone, G2-Bb4)
Travels around the jungle scaring people, but has “a yellow streak a mile wide.” Coward state stems from deeper mother issues and gets regular counseling from an owl. Joins in the journey to see the wiz to gain some courage.
GATEKEEPER: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Non-Singing)
Guards the gate to the Emerald City.
THE WIZ: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, C3-A4)
All powerful leader over the land of Oz. Hides his true nature behind the façade of a temperamental leader. His true identity is an enigma.
EVILLENE: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Alto, Bb3-Db5)
Wicked Witch of the West. Low-down evil. Not a kind bone in her body nor kind thought in her rotten mind.
LORD HIGH UNDERLING: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Non-Singing)
Weak coward. Evillene's number one.
WINGED MONKEY: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Non-Singing)
Servant of the Wicked Witch of the West. Summoned to do her bidding. The mere mention of him brings fear.
GLINDA: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Alto, C4-Eb5)
Good Witch of the South. Prettiest of all the witches. Very wise in the way of show-business.
ENSEMBLE:
TOTO - a dog, PIT SINGERS, TORNADO, MUNCHKINS, CROWS, KALIDAHS, POPPIES, FIELD MICE, EMERAL CITY CITIZENS, SOLDIER MESSENGER
Cast Attributes
- Expandable casting
- Flexible casting
- Local Celebrity Cameo
- Multicultural casting
- Room for Extras
- Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)
Casting Notes
Plus various small parts, singers and dancers
Resources
Rehearsal Resources
Music Material Rental Packages
Full Package
Piano/Conductor Score (includes Synthesizer)
20 Vocal Chorus Books
Reed I (Flute, Alto Saxophone, Piccolo)
Reed II (Flute, Alto Saxophone, Piccolo)
Reed III (Alto Flute, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone) Reed IV (Oboe, Baritone Saxophone, Alto Flute, Clarinet, English Horn)
Trumpet I & II (2 books)
Trumpet III
Horn
Trombone I
Trombone II
Percussion I & II (2 books) (Timpani, Vibraphone, Bell-Tree, Bells,
Tambourine, Xylophone, Triangle, Shaker, Conga/Tumbadora, Bongo Drums,
Gourd, Cow Bell, Sand Block, Woodblock, Ratchet, Marimba, Cuica, Chimes,
Whistle I & II, Cymbal, Timbale, Claves, Vibraslap, Cabasa)
Drums
Violins (2 Books)
Cello
Bass
Guitar
Scripts
Want the full script?
Rent a digital perusalMore
Authors
The Wiz originally opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on January 5, 1974 after only 15 previews. It shortly thereafter moved down the street to the slightly smaller Broadway Theatre. The show finally closed on January 28, 1979 after a grand total of 1,672 performances.
The Wiz also had a brief revival at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, opening on May 24, 1984.
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