Anyone who knows me knows just how much I love the theater. Anyone who knows me also knows I am a very harsh theater critic. When I leave the theater, I have thoughts about the acting, the costumes, the lighting, the sound, and the overall quality of the production. I even have thoughts about certain theaters and how they maintain temperature control, the size of their seats, and the number of stalls available for women in the restroom as everyone heads there during brief intermission.
I must say, I saw “The Wiz” on Broadway and it did not disappoint.
It is always so nice to see so many African Americans enjoying the theater. I have been to shows on and off Broadway where I am literally counting the number of chocolate chips in the cookie. “The Wiz” was pure joy and packed with inside jokes that welcomed the audience into the fold. Whether it is your first time at the theater or you enjoy a show on a weekly basis, the production made sure you could laugh, move your feet, and—if you are familiar with the previous productions of “The Wiz”—enjoy some classics.
A friend asked if the production was scary. She has three elementary-school–aged daughters and I thought she was inquiring about whether the show would be appropriate for them. I thought the show was appropriate for age 6 and up (my personal opinion). However, she was inquiring because she was scarred by “The Wiz” the movie when she saw it as a child. I reassured her this production was great family fun. There was so much talent on the stage, from the singing and dancing, combination of original and classic songs, and costumes that were a nod to everything from New Orleans and Motown.
I went to the show with a dear friend who is Ghanaian and her sixth-grade daughter who noticed the Afro beats in one of the numbers. It is always a great time at the theater when people can see themselves and various parts of the diaspora in one well-executed production.
Get tickets before they sell out. There might be sticker shock for some, but “The Wiz” is truly an experience for family and friends to enjoy. I smiled and laughed and even teared up during the show. The central cast was stellar. Obviously, Debra Cox and Wayne Brady did not disappoint, and neither did the chorus singers. Black talent and excellence were on full display during the entire two-and-a-half-hour show.
“The Wiz” is playing at the Marquis Theater (210 W. 46th Street) and runs through August 18, 2024.
Christina Greer, PhD, is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio; and a 2023–24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY.