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Show Tunes S4 EP 2: The Wiz (1975)

Original Broadway Cast Album Cover - "The Wiz" (1975) by Charlie Smalls
Original Album Artwork
"The Wiz" Original Broadway Cast Album

The soul/funk/disco retelling of "The Wizard of Oz" by Charlie Smalls won a pile of Tony awards in 1975

Young girl Dorothy (Stephanie Mills) is swept up by a tornado to the Wonderful Land of Oz, where she seeks her way home aided by a Scarecrow, a Tin Man and a Cowardly Lion.

Tony Awards (1975):

  • Best Musical
  • Best Original Score (Charlie Smalls)
  • Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross as The Lion)
  • Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater as Glinda)
  • Best Direction of a Musical (Geoffrey Holder)
  • Best Choreography (George Faison)
  • Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder)

Biggest Hits:
"Ease on Down the Road"
"Home"
"If You Believe"
"Everybody Rejoice" (co-written with Luther Vandross!)
"Tornado" (an instrumental disco tornado that hit the Billboard charts!)

Notable:

  • "The Feeling We Once Had" (tearjerker for parents)
  • "Be A Lion" (Stephanie Mills motivational tearjerker)
  • "Soon As I Get Home" (Stephanie Mills is awesome)

Kate Botello is a host and producer at Classical IPR.