(Editor’s note: This is the last in a week-long series featuring the lead performers and cast of Tyrone Area School District’s ‘The Wiz.’ The show was held Friday and is scheduled for tonight at the Tyrone High School auditorium.)
Last evening hundreds of area residents filled the Tyrone Area High School auditorium for the opening night of The Wiz.
For those individuals who missed the opportunity to go last evening, there is still one more chance to see the musical. That chance is tonight, beginning at 8 p.m.
Over 50 Tyrone Middle and High School students and countless volunteers spent months of hard work and practice to make the show such a success.
Pictured is the cast of The Wiz, posing for a quick photograph before rehearsals for the musical.
Although based on L. Frank Baum\’s Wizard of Oz in which a little girl named Dorothy is abducted from her home by a Tornado and transported to the Land of Oz, The Wiz takes the classic fairy tale in an all-new direction with an exciting rock score, and a decidedly modern libretto that reframes the story in such a way that it seems somehow more relevant.
The musical first opened at the Majestic Theatre on January 5, 1975 with a cast that featured Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, Hinton Battle as the Scarecrow, Tiger Haynes as the Tin Man, Ted Ross as the Lion and Mabel King as the Witch.
The production enjoyed a run of 1,672 performances and went on to win seven Tony Awards including \”Best Musical\” and \”Best Score.\” The 1978 film version featured Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor.
On the Tyrone High School stage, Stephanie Catich portrays Dorothy; Cory Jones plays the Scarecrow; Cody Jones plays the Lion; Shane Gherrity plays the Tin Man and playing The Wiz is Robbi Dick.
Musical director, Catherine Young; technical director, Ed Kuhstos and drama director, Mark Perehenic lead the spectacular cast.
