Stage and Screen
A new, updated version of the hit stage musical The Wiz is now in previews at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, California, for an October 11 opening and a run through November 12. Directed by La Jolla Artistic Director and two-time Tony Award winner, Des McAnuff , there have been rumors for some time now that this production will wind up on Broadway as a revival, but thus far nothing specific has been announced.
When the play opened originally in 1975, it was an instant hit, picking up 7 Tony Awards, including Best Director and Costume Design honors for Geoffrey Holder, and playing 1,672 performances before closing in 1979. The original cast included Hinton Battle as the Scarecrow, Tiger Haynes as the Tinman, Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, Ted Ross as the Lion, Dee Dee Bridgewater as Glinda, André De Shields as The Wiz, Mabel King as Evillene and Clarice Taylor as Addaperle.
In mounting this new version, McAnuff has teamed up with original Wiz orchestrator Harold Wheeler, but taken a new approach to the story.
"Our production will reflect the shifts that have occurred in the dominant pop culture, in both music and theater, since The Wiz's history-making Broadway debut in the 1970s," McAnuff said. "This is modern Oz, with a modern look and modern sounds."
Few household names make up the cast of the La Jolla production, except for perhaps one. David Alan Grier stars as The Wiz. Now should anyone assume his acting career started on "In Living Color," Grier was a 1982 Tony nominee for his role as Jackie Robinson in The First and was in the original Dreamgirls as a replacement in the role of James Thunder Early. Nikki M. James (All Shook Up, Bernarda Alba) stars as Dorothy, Titus Burgess (Jersey Boys) as Lion, Rashad Naylor (Hairspray) as Scarecrow, Michael Benjamin Washington (Mamma Mia!, La Cage aux Follies) as Tinman, E. Faye Butler (Dinah Was) as Evillene, Heather Lee (Gypsy) as Addaperle, Orville Mendoza (Pacific Overtures) as Uncle Henry, and Valarie Pettiford (Fosse, West Side Story tour) as Aunt Em. Dancer Albert Blaise Cattafi playsToto.
Closer to home, I took in Thursday night's performance of A Love Like Damien's at the WOW Cafe Theatre, in the East Village. "Damien" is the story of a Black gay man whose life spirals out of control after he is rejected by his church. He is saved from total ruin following a visit from Ms. Sophie Divine, a spiritual presence personifying his own vision of God.
The play, written by Andrea E. Davis, a Masters of Divinity Student at Union Theological Seminary, incorporates drama, humor, song and dance in telling an all too realistic tale of bigotry in the name of organized religion and its impact on real people. While a tad predictable and simplistic in resolving major plot points, it was an entertaining evening by a cast of enthusiastic performers. The play closes October 1 and remaining shows are all sold out.
Fashion First Looks
On the small screen, my one and only reality tv diversion, Project Runway, is coming down to the wire and we've got the inside scoop on the final round action.
First this past week, the four remaining contestants, Michael, Jeffrey, Laura and Uli, were challenged to create an outfit that conveyed their artistic points of view, then choose three words to describe who they are as designers and show that through their work. The top three finishers would move on to present an entire line during the Olympus Fashion Week in New York, which concluded two weeks ago.
For some reason all of them seemed to struggle with finding designs that worked and it was reflected by the judges comments. Uli was the ultimate winner and received a spread in Elle magazine as her prize. She did a variation on her signature flora looks by eschewing her typical caftan for a mini-dress. It also didn't hurt that she stole Michael's favorite model Nazri to show it off.
Laura earned her way to Fashion Week with another plunging neckline number, embodying the elegant looks she embraces. It worked but the judges were worried she might come up with an entire line with that same basic look.
The designer we all love to hate, Jeffrey, tried to show that he could do something other than “design for rock stars”--a fact he pointed out in just about every episode--but the judges weren't impressed by his tri-colored halter-top/cumberbund/tulip skirt ensemble. They thought it was dowdy and unsophisticated. Another deserving blow to his overblown ego.
But the designer we all love to love, Michael Knight, surprised everyone too, but not in a good way. Judges thought his outfit was too basic, lacked inspiration and didn't live up to the three words he'd chosen, "Sexiness, Sensuality, and Sultry."
With Michael and Jeffrey left sweating bullets on the runway, the judges surprised them both by selecting them both to continue on. There would be four presenting and competing in New York.
Now remember, I told you Fashion Week is history. The designers have already presented. While we don't know who ultimately won, we can give you a look at what they showed the assembled fashion press. You decide who had the best collection then we'll see what the judges had to say in a few weeks.
Michael Knight LINK
Jeffrey Sebelia LINK
Laura Bennett LINK
Ulrike Herzner LINK
Now for the down and dirty. We also now learn that new creations weren't the only thing that came out of the show. A scandal may have eliminated one of the designers.
Jeffrey was accused of outsourcing the sewing for his final collection. His collection was considered “very ambitious” by Tim Gunn who visited him in California to check on his progress. Producers have done an extensive investigation and won't reveal their findings ahead of the October 18 season finale.
Stay tuned!
Posted by bernie at September 30, 2006 1:59 AMHey, can I get a spoiler alert before you start revealing things? Some people like to experience things as they unfold... waiting is a virtue! (Nah, I ain't bent outta shape, but it was HARD not to click those links, Baby!)
Posted by: Quentin Ergane at September 30, 2006 4:24 AMYou did get a spoiler alert. I just didn't use those words.
Posted by: Bernie at September 30, 2006 9:08 AMLOL *smooches you*
Posted by: Quentin Ergane at October 1, 2006 6:05 PM