‘The Wiz’ eases on down to Eisenhower
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UNIVERSITY PARK -- The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "The Wiz" will bring its newest national tour to Penn State's Eisenhower Auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.
The production features "American Idol" Season 23 finalist Gabby Samone as Dorothy and "The Voice" Season 25 winner Asher HaVon as the Lion.
Other cast members include international vocalist and actor Bryan DeMond as The Wiz; "The Voice" Season 28 contestant Toni Lorene Baker as Glinda; April Renee Moye as Aunt Em/Evillene; gospel recording artist and "The Voice" Season 20 Live Playoffs contestant Jose E. Figueroa Jr. as Scarecrow; and Jaelen Spellman as Tinman.
"We are so excited to have this extremely talented cast who will bring such a range of life and entertainment backgrounds to the stage," said Kori Prior, executive producer of "The Wiz" for Crossroads Live North America. "I can't wait for audiences across the country to experience them live."
Based on L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," "The Wiz" reimagines the familiar story through the lens of Black culture and features a score drawing from soul, gospel, rock and 1970s funk.
The musical premiered on Broadway in 1975 and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Its songs include "Ease on Down the Road" and "Home."
The original Broadway production ran for four years and 1,672 performances. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor and Lena Horne and marked Quincy Jones' first collaboration with Michael Jackson.
The current production launched its pre-Broadway national tour in Baltimore in 2023, where the musical had its original world premiere in 1974. It returned to Broadway in April 2024 before continuing with a national tour.
Tickets for the Eisenhower Auditorium performance are $89 and $74 for adults; $57 and $52 for University Park students; and $72 and $57 for those 18 and younger.
Tickets may be purchased through the Arts Ticket Center. Tickets purchased by phone at 814-863-0255 or in person at Eisenhower Auditorium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays avoid the $4 online fee.
American Sign Language interpretation will be available for the performance. Those seeking ASL seating accommodations should contact the Ar