I'd never seen the 1979 film The Wiz, thinking nothing could hold a candle to the 1939 classic. After all, since I didn't live through the '70s, I wasn't exactly eager to sit through a bunch of '70s songs.
Well, that's a shame. I was really looking forward to seeing this one.
After being transformed into an unhappy schoolteacher who ends up in Oz in the misguided 1978 movie version of the smash hit Broadway musical, Dorothy has been given another chance on the screen, this time on T.V.
With a stellar cast, you might wonder how this production could be anything but great. Well, it starts off somewhat shakily.
A live stage version of the Tony award winning musical. Basically it's just "The Wizard of OZ' with an all black cast.
This was the annual NBC network live presentation for the Holiday season. "The Wiz" was conceived and presented on stage back in the 1970s as a black re-imagining of the classic "Wizard of Oz" story.
I've just watched it there and I just was so happy that it wasn't like the movie! The songs were absolutely brilliant and well done.
He's the wizard!!! Back in the year 1978 the world was introduced to a new kind of land of OZ, this time with a jazzy soul twist, based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name!
I enjoyed the original Wiz movie....but this play was a complete and utter mess....
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