Easing On Down the Road: The Wiz Brings Its Magic to Minneapolis - by Malia Berg

The Wiz 2025 Broadway tour demonstrates how a once trailblazing musical can grow with its audience while staying true to itself. When The Wiz debuted in the 1970s, its very presence was radical: a large-scale, joyful Broadway musical created by and for Black artists. Nearly fifty years later, its influence is no longer measured by surprise but by perspective. This production recognizes that contemporary audiences exist in a theatrical landscape The Wiz helped shape, and it responds by centering themes of belonging, self-definition, and shared experience.

At its foundation, The Wiz remains a retelling of The Wizard of Oz powered by soul, gospel, and rhythm. Charlie Smalls’ score continues to anchor the production emotionally. Songs like “Ease On Down the Road” and “Home” still resonate, but their meaning has shifted with time. Where they once felt like bold announcements of cultural presence, they now read as personal reminders of resilience and inner worth. The music radiates warmth and momentum, supported by a live band that gives the score a textured, gritty sound.

Amber Ruffin’s script adaptation is essential to the show’s relevance today. The dialogue flows smoothly and avoids dated phrasing as well as forced attempts to sound current. One of the most effective changes is aging Dorothy to match her companions. In earlier versions, Dorothy often seemed like a child being guided toward maturity. Here, she is seen as older and becomes part of a group navigating uncertainty together. Removing Toto further sharpens the narrative and keeps attention on relationships.

Director Schele Williams balances respect for the musical’s history with a clear awareness of modern audiences. The pacing remains efficient without feeling rushed. JaQuel Knight’s choreography firmly places the production in the present moment. Mixing jazz with hip hop and pop, the movement reflects how Black performance styles have expanded over time while still honoring their roots. The dance numbers feel purposeful rather than decorative, using motion to support storytelling.

Visually, the production adopts a modern design approach that often works against itself. Hannah Beachler’s abstract vision of Oz relies heavily on scrims and projected imagery, to the point that their constant use becomes boring. Instead of enhancing the play, the visuals flatten the space, weakening the sense of place. While the intent is clearly symbolic, the lack of solid scenery makes the show feel less immersive than it should. Sharen Davis’ costumes do much of the heavy lifting, adding character and individuality, but even their impact is dulled at times by the sameness created by the scrims.

Culturally, The Wiz has moved from being a bold breakthrough to a reflection of how far theatre has come. It no longer needs to argue for the value of Black stories on major stages. This production assumes that place with confidence and builds on it. At the Orpheum, The Wiz feels assured and intentional, grounded in its history while clearly aware of the present. It suggests that the search for belonging is ongoing, but it gains depth and meaning when it is experienced collectively.

Alan Mingo Jr as the Wiz in the 2025 North American tour of The Wiz. (Creds-Jeremy Daniel.)