DECO Entertainment, founded by Lascelles Stephens and Deborah Cox, will join the co-producing team of the all-new revival of “The Wiz.” The production will launch a national tour on Sept. 23, 2023 in Baltimore before returning to Broadway for a limited engagement in the 2023 t0 2024 season.
“We’re thrilled to lend support to a show that celebrates Black excellence which means everything to our culture,” said Stephens and Cox. “We feel a deep sense of pride to be able to bring this reimagined version to a whole new generation on Broadway.”
DECO is joining a producing team that includes Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker. Other producers include Elizabeth Armstrong, James L. Nederlander, Hudson/Mann, Cody Lassen/Matthew D’Arrigo, Independent Presenters Network, Amanda DuBois Productions/Ari Edelson, Dori Berinstein, Spencer Ross/Stephanie Cowan, Terry Schnuck/Gabrielle Palitz, Pippa Lambert/Alissa Norby, Gina Vernaci, Common, MC Lyte, Patty Baker, Marlene & Gary Cohen, Concord Theatricals, The Fabulous Invalid, Fakston Productions, Brian & Nick Ginsberg, Gabrielle Glore, Grove Entertainment, Haffner-Wright Theatricals, House Woods Productions, John Gore Organization, Kawana Entertainment, Willette Klausner, MMC Productions, Lamar Richardson, Runyonland Productions, Erica Lynn Schwartz, The Shubert Organization, Lu-Shawn Thompson, Lana Williams- Woods, The Araca Group, Blakeman-Robinson Entm’t/Ricardo Marques, Robert Tichio/Score 3, Best Yet Entertainment/Branden Grimmett, Dkim Caldwell/Mickalene Thomas, DMQR Productions, Jason Turchin, Epic Theatricals/Jeffrey Grove, Joel Glassman/Westin Hicks, Jamrock Productions/Sonya Houston, Sally Johnston/Ann Scott, Judith Manocherian/Theatre Nerd Productions, and Alan Seales/Gonzalez-Leiba Jr.
The cast will include previously announced Wayne Brady, who is playing the Wiz on Broadway, as well as in the San Francisco and Los Angeles engagements. Alan Mingo Jr. will star in the role of the Wiz in several cities including Baltimore, Cleveland, Chicago and San Diego.
The cast will also feature Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, Deborah Cox as Glinda and Melody A. Betts as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, and Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow.
The show features a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls (and others). Schele Williams directs, JaQuel Knight will handle choreography, and the production will feature additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin.
).
