THE GROUND-BREAKING, REVOLUTIONARY BROADWAY HIT MUSICAL “THE WIZ” IS COMING TO THE FOX THEATRE

NOVEMBER 14-19

Producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, and Atlanta’s own Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker are thrilled to announce that tickets for the national tour of THE WIZ are now on sale! Eight performances are scheduled at the Fox Theatre from November 14th-19th!

Everybody look around! The Tony Award®-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is back. THE WIZ makes its return to Atlanta at the Fox Theatre as part of the Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2023/2024 season. Ticket prices start at $49. Additional ticket information at Foxtheatre.org/ thewiz and wizmusical.com. Groups of 10 or more should contact sales@ foxtheatre.org. Following its run at the Fox Theatre, the tour will slide into Emerald cities across the country before it begins its limited engagement on Broadway in Spring 2024.

THE WIZ returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Broadwaybound tour, the first one in 40 years. The tour begins in THE WIZ’s original home city of Baltimore, where the show made its world premiere 50 years ago.

This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world.

The extraordinary cast features Alan Mingo Jr. (Kinky Boots) as The Wiz, award-winning recording artist Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody Betts (The Factotum, Lyric Opera of Chicago) as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman (A Strange Loop) as Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson (“Sharper,” A24), and recording artist Avery Wilson (“On Top of the World) as Scarecrow. Nichelle Lewis (Hairspray, National Tour) makes a star turn Broadway debut as Dorothy.

Director Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney’s Aida) and choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies,’ Black is King) conjure an Oz unlike anything seen before. Charlie Smalls’ Tony Award®winning score features iconic hits “Ease on Down the Road,” “Home,” and Luther Vandross’ “Everybody Rejoice,” with new musical moments from Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations, and music arrangements), Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements), and an Emerald Ballet composed by Timothy Graphenreed. Tony® and Emmy®-nominated TV host Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers”) pens additional material for William F. Brown’s trailblazing book. Oz is reimagined with scenic design by Academy Award ®-winning Hannah Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncé’s Black is King and Lemonade), costume design by Emmy Award®-winning and two-time Academy Award®-nominated Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting design by Barrymore Award-winning Ryan J. O’Gara (Thoughts of a Colored Man), sound design by Jon Weston (Parade), projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), and wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical).

A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop brings a whole new groove to easing on down the road. So everybody rejoice! An all-new 21stcentury WIZ is sliding into an Emerald City near you.

THE WIZ ensemble includes Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Anthony Murphy, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Wilson.

THE WIZ premiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation, going on to win seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography (George Faison), and in a Broadway first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). “Ease on Down the Road” became the show’s break-out single, and “Home” has since become a bona fide classic. That original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) – and 1,672 performances – on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne and marked Quincy Jones’ first collaboration with Michael Jackson.

THE WIZ will play for a limited engagement in Atlanta from Nov. 14 –19. The performance schedule is:

Tuesday – Thursday 7:30 p.m.

Friday 8 p.m.

Saturday 2 p.m., 8 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

For more information and a complete tour route, visit: wizmusical.com and follow @thewizbway on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

The John Gore Organization

The John Gore Organization is the leading presenter, distributor, and marketer of Broadway theater worldwide. Under the leadership of 20time Tony-winning theater producer and owner John Gore, its family of companies includes Broadway Across America, Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office, and Broadway Brands. The company presents shows in 48 cities across North America as well as on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, Japan, and China. It has won Tony Awards in every producing category as well as numerous other Drama League, Drama Desk, and Olivier Awards. The John Gore Organization is committed to supporting theater access and education programs that introduce Broadway to the next generation of audiences and theater professionals.

Broadway Across America (BAA)

Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes

Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office, and Broadway Brands. Led by 20-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of firstclass touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. Current and past productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Moulin Rouge! and To Kill A Mockingbird.

CAST INCLUDES:

• NICHELLE LEWIS (Dorothy), the 24-year-old Virginia native, is thrilled to portray Dorothy in The Wiz revival, marking her Broadway debut. The NY-based singer-songwriter has performed in the national tour of  Hairspray (Dynamite/ Cindy Watkins),  Little Shop of

Horrors (Chiffon/Crystal), Bare: A Pop Opera (Ivy), and Labelless, a new musical. Nichelle would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support. @iamnichellelewis

• MELODY A. BETTS (Aunt Em/ Evillene) Broadway: Waitress. Tour: The Sound of Music. Opera: The Factotum and Fiddler on the Roof! at Lyric Opera Chicago. Off-Broadway: Invisible Thread. TV: “Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE,” “Chicago PD/Fire,” “Power.” Text DUMELA to 41444. For the Father, my family, and everyone at Stewart. @melodybettspage

• DEBORAH COX (Glinda) is an awardwinning recording artist, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, and sends his love to family, friends, and GBM! @iamkylefreeman international talent spanning the worlds of music, Broadway, television, film, and fashion. Cox’s stage credits include The Bodyguard, Jekyll & Hyde, and Aida. For more information, visit www.deborahcox. com.

• KYLE RAMAR FREEMAN (Lion) is a Miami, FL native. Broadway: A Strange Loop (Usher). Kyle recently led the Westend production of A Strange Loop in London. Tours:  Once on This Island, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. AMDA Graduate. Kyle

• PHILLIP JOHNSON RICHARDSON (Tinman). Theatre: Dear World/ NY City Center, Goddess/Berkeley Rep, Hamilton/Chicago, Newsies, All Shook Up, Jcss, Aida, The Music Man/MUNY. Film: Sharper (Apple+/ A24), TV: “Little Voice” (Series Regular) “The Last O.G.,” “Chicago PD,” “Proven Innocent,” “The Other Two.” @philsgoodmusic. BFA Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

• AVERY WILSON (Scarecrow), the New Haven, Connecticut native, spent his entire life working towards this moment, singing, acting, & dancing. He dropped a series of independent music releases. Currently, he’s working on releasing a single called Kiss The Sky produced by Claude Kelly & Chuck Harmony. @ AveryWilson

• ALAN MINGO JR. (The Wiz) best known for his Dora Awardwinning performance as “Lola” in the Canadian and Broadway Productions of KINKY BOOTS (Best Leading Actor). TV: “Maura Lee Karupt” in Doom Patrol (MAX), The Deuce (MAX), Tales of the City and Jessica Jones (Netflix), Ray Donovan (Showtime), Frasier and Law & Order (NBC). Films: The Hunter and I’m Not Gay. Broadway: The Little Mermaid and Rent. National Tours: Shrek, Hairspray, and Lion King Countless Regional credits. Proud alumni of UMCP and UCIrvine. @ AlanMingoJr