The show ran 1,672 performances and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The Wiz (Sep 16, 1983 - May 13, 1984) Also Starring: Ella Mitchell [Evillene] Musical Comedy Revival. Martha Swope photographs. ", Fox was interested. The original production, starring Stephanie Mills, opened January 5, 1975 at the Majestic Theatre. Dorothy and the house land in the magical Land of Oz, falling on Evamene the Wicked Witch of the East. I invited all the DJs, the talent coordinators from radio and TV programs, and all the newspaper reporters and freelance feature writers who I thought would like the show. It will be a "concept" album and will sell, Harper hopes, like Tommy and Jesus Christ Superstar. In exchange for first option for film rights, publishing rights, and album rights, they agreed to put up an ante of $650,000 with a 20 percent overcall (extra money the producer’s allowed to spend if the production needs it—and this one sure did). Mitchell is best remembered for playing the comic role as Hattie Mae Pierce in the 2000 comedy film Big Momma's House and Evillene the evil witch in the original Broadway theatre production of the musical The Wiz. Next day, the reviews. The way his intuition has been paying off, Harper may end up making that hundred million dollar dream come true. The production played 15 previews and 1,672 performances before closing January 28, 1979. The Wiz [Broadway] Original Broadway Production, 1975. Performer (Swing) Howard Porter. the replacement cast of the Broadway musical "The Wiz." The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown.It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) in the context of contemporary African-American culture.It opened on October 21, 1974, at the Morris A. That was all it took to encourage Twentieth Century Fox to plunk down another $120,000 for saturation advertising campaign. For the seven weeks it was on the road before opening in NYC, The Wiz had problems. Ken Harper was 32 years old at the time and had just given up a job as a program affairs director of PIX Radio to spend full time time talking up The Wiz. He had a book, written by William Brown, and 13 original songs with lyrics written by Charlie Smalls. Scarecrow John-Ann Washington. "You pick up Billboard or Cashbox" any week," Harper told them, "and what you’ll find is that five of the Top 10 songs on the charts are Black." Mitchell is best remembered for playing the comic role as Hattie Mae Pierce in the 2000 comedy film Big Momma's House and Evillene the evil witch in the original Broadway theatre production of the musical The Wiz. "If I’d met you three years ago," he said to me, "I’d given you the rap and asked if you knew anyone." By Felicia Fitzpatrick, Kerri Kearse | 01/03/2021. The Wiz, Charlie Smalls’ musical adaption of The Wizard of Oz, opened at the Majestic Theatre January 5, 1975. (New York) Names Swope, Martha (Photographer) Collection. He talked to anyone and everyone. Afterwards, a tornado (played by dancers dressed in black) sweeps Dorothy and the farmhouse away while Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and Toto go into hiding. Jul 30, 2019 - Explore Playbill's board "The Wiz", followed by 13532 people on Pinterest. 1937) is a gospel singer and actress who appeared on Sesame Streettwice in season 4. He thought Fox might be interested. Series VI. This is a story of a Broadway phenomenon, a show in so much trouble its closing notice was posted on opening night and which was forcibly turned into Broadway's biggest hit—all in a matter of weeks. These commercials were crammed into a two-week period, during which time word of the The Wiz reached 95 percent of all local TV households 7.7 times. The Wiz Broadway, The Wiz Original Cast List, Original Cast, Current Cast ... Ella Mitchell. Digitized slides and mounted negatives. In 1972, an ex-disc jockey named Ken Harper came up with a notion you could look at in one of two ways: either revoltingly cornball or commercial as hell. Harper was ready. Start Your 2021 Reading List With These 31 Books Broadway Stars Are Currently Recommending, 2020 in Photos: A Look Back at an Unprecedented Year in Theatre History. The original production starred Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, Tiger Haynes as the Tinman, Ted Ross as the Lion, Hinton Battle as the Scarecrow, Clarice Taylor as Addaperle, Mabel King as Evillene, André De Shields as the Wiz, and Dee Dee Bridgewateer as Glinda alongside Tasha Thomas, Phylicia Ayers-Allen, Leettie Battle, Danny Beard, Phillip Bond, Leslie Butler, Pi Douglass, Ronald Dunham, Wendy Edmead,Frank Floyd, Rodney Green, Sam Harkness, Eugene Little, Eleanor McCoy, Frances Morgan, Joni Palmer, John Parks, Howard Porter, Jozella Reed, Kenneth Scott, Evelyn Thomas, Andy Torres, Carl Weaver, and Ralph Wilcox. Ella Mitchell(b. The original production starred Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, and featured Tiger Haynes, Hinton Battle, Ted Ross, Andre de Shields, and Dee Dee Bridgewater in supporting roles. Mitchell appeared in the 1975 film Lord Shango. joined NBC's series of live musical events starring Uzo Aduba as Glinda the good witch, Queen Latifah as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Stephanie Mills as Aunt Em, Mary J. Blige as Evillene, David Alan Grier as The Cowardly Lion, Amber Riley as Addaperle, Ne-Yo as the Tin Man, Elijah Kelley as the Scarecrow, Common as Bouncer, and 18-year-old newcomer Shanice Williams as Dorothy. Broadway Checklist: How Many of These Shows at the Palace Theatre Have You Seen? Revisit this original piece, published in the May 1975 edition of Playbill Magazine, in honor of the musical's 46th Broadway anniversary. Ella Mitchell (15 August 1937) is an African-American soul singer and actress. Ella Mitchell (born August 15, 1937) is an American actress and comedienne, best known for portraying Big Momma in Big Momma's House. The Wiz (Jun 15, 1976 - Jul 07, 1979) Also Starring: Ella Mitchell [Evillene] Musical Comedy Original. In 2015 The Wiz Live! Mitchell is best known for playing the comic role of Hattie Mae Pierce (Big Momma) in the 2000 comedy film Big Momma's House starring Martin Lawrence. Ella Mitchell, Gayle Turner, and cast of The Wiz Martha Swope/©NYPL for the Performing Arts Stephanie Mills, Andre De Shields, and Stu Gilliam in The Wiz Martha Swope He later went to become an understudy for the Cowardly Lion during the original run of The Wiz. 7. But not so in New York. The Wiz [03 June 1984] Broadway Lunt-Fontanne Theatre FINAL BROADWAY PERFORMANCE Stephanie Mills (Dorothy), Carl Hall (The Wiz), Charles Valentino (Scarecrow), Howard Porter (Tinman), Gregg Baker (Lion), Ella Mitchell (Evillene), Ann Duquesnay (Glinda), Juanita Fleming (Addaperle) "I wanted the commercial to appeal to people between the ages of 18 and 35," he said. The Wiz Ella Mitchell. (2015) Fred Nihda built the Tin Man costume for the original Broadway production of The Wiz (1975) Richard Pryor played The Wiz in The Wiz (1978 film) Tinman. Copyright 1991-2020 © Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. Apparently, if handled well, it can work wonders. The original production of the classic musical opened at the New Century Theatre December 30, 1948. Ella Mitchell, Gayle Turner, and cast of The Wiz Martha Swope/©NYPL for the Performing Arts Stephanie Mills, Andre De Shields, and Stu Gilliam in The Wiz Martha Swope Kick start the new year with these musical lyrics for your astrological sign. Broadway Horoscopes: Which Musical Theatre Lyric Will Inspire Your 2021. There were no advance sales, the front money was gone, and things looked so bad a closing notice was posted backstage on opening night. "Stephanie Mills used to sing with the Cornerstone Baptist Church choir," Sandy said, "and I want to tell you, that's a network. Look back at the most recent productions to play over 100 performances at the venue. Trouble was, he needed more money to do it, and what sane backer is going to pour money into a dying show? No amount of money and advertising will sell a piece of shiit.". 1977-01-01. Clarice Taylor, Stephanie Mills, and Dee Dee Bridgewater in, Martha Swope/©NYPL for the Performing Arts, Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, Ted Ross, and Tiger Haynes in, Martha Swope / The New York Public Library, Stephanie Mills, Andre De Shields, and Stu Gilliam in, Tiger Haynes, Andre De Shields, Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, and Ted Ross in, Andre De Shields, Tiger Haynes, Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, and Ted Ross in, Stephanie Mills, Andre De Shields, and Stu Gilliam, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre Will Launch Season With, Theatre Artists Call Out Hypocrisy, Demand Reckoning and Trump Removal After Capitol Building Havoc, Tony Winner Tonya Pinkins to Appear in ABC's, Betty Buckley Will Offer Virtual Song/Monologue Master Class, Alia Jones-Harvey and Stephen Byrd Partner With Columbia University for Front Row Productions Fellowship, Grateful: 37 Broadway Actors Share Who They Were Thankful for in 2020. 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