Dorothy got swept up in a tornado again, but this time, she landed in El Paso for the opening night of the North American tour of the famous Broadway show, “The Wiz”. The cast performed from Feb. 18 to 22 at the Plaza Theater, bringing this modern classic to the border.
The production is directed by Schele Williams, and features performances by acclaimed musical theatre stars, including Alan Mingo Jr., Sheherazade, Kyla Jade and many more. The audience was excited to experience Broadway magic and be transported into the World of Oz.
Chloe Uribe, who had never heard of “The Wiz” before, was in the audience ready to be surprised.
“I am excited because I know absolutely nothing about it, which is what is intriguing to me, especially since this past year we had ‘Wicked’ come out, so that’s really interesting,” Uribe said. “I had this conversation with my mom that apparently, they had made a movie out of this with Michael Jackson, to which I had no idea about. So, I’m excited. I’m coming in without like comparing it to anything, just fully here to see the show.”
For others, it wasn’t their first time easing down the yellow brick road. Celine Hallman, an audience member grew up as a huge fan of “The Wiz,” and was sitting in front row as she reminisced in stories from her childhood.
“So far, everything is good. It reminds me of when I was younger, and I love it,” Hallman said. “It’s very nostalgic.”
“The Wiz” follows the story of Dorothy, a girl who didn’t know where she belonged, but everything changed after she gets swept in a tornado and landed in the World of Oz. In her search to go back home to Kansas, she ends up making friends, killing witches and finding herself.
Beyond being a fun retelling of the original “The Wizard of Oz,” everything from the scenic design, the colorful costumes and dancing styles is also a celebration of African American culture.
“Oh, man, it’s beautiful. I am just in awe. I’m looking at everything, the makeup, the dances. Everything is amazing,” Hallman said.
People in El Paso were excited to welcome Broadway to their city. Luiz and Denise Romero, a couple attending the show, arrived in true Emerald City fashion, dressed in Glinda and Scarecrow costumes. Guests of all ages lined up to take photos with them.
“We rarely get an opportunity to have ‘The Wiz.’ So, we used to go to a lot of concerts. And I thought it would be nice to dress up.” Denise Romero said.
As “The Wiz” continues its North American tour, El Paso audiences hope the Yellow Brick Road leads back to their city again one day.
Vivien Noe C is a staff reporter at The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected]
