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Alan Mingo Jr. first fell in love with “The Wiz” while watching the 1978 film adaptation, a favorite of his mother’s, singing along with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Thirty-five years later, Mingo has become the preeminent representation of The Wizard and is paving the way for a whole new generation of theater lovers.
“The Wiz” is a musical retelling of “The Wizard Oz” through the lens of Black characters and culture performed with an all-Black cast.
Alan Mingo Jr as The Wiz in the North American Tour of THE WIZ. PHOTO: JEREMY DANIEL
The 2025 Broadway tour, directed by Schele Williams, blends the songs and narrative of the 1978 film with that of the original Broadway production. It makes a few tweaks to appeal to a contemporary audience, including keeping the show to a tight two hours. Additional material by Amber Ruffin rounds out the original book by Willliam F. Brown and score by Charlie Smalls and JaQuel Knight of “Single Ladies” fame created the choreography.
The character of The Wiz is unique; he’s both charming and intimidating as well as fickle and devious. In the touring version his character is a bit different from previous iterations. Mingo says the mighty wizard illustrates the disillusionment of childhood.
Cal Mitchell as The Lion, Dana Cimone as Dorothy, D. Jerome as The Tinman, and Elijah Ahmad Lewis as The Scarecrow in the North American Tour of THE WIZ. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.
“Once you get your tribe and you grow up in the world, adults will disappoint you, and outright lie to you. So how do they navigate in that world?” he said.
“The Wiz” is a family show. But Mingo says the long legacy of the story and the production give it a very different feel from other family productions. Mingo has also performed in “The Lion King,” “The Little Mermaid” and others. The actor says audiences are often full of intergenerational families who share a love of the story from grandma to grandchild.
Kyla Jade as Evillene in the North American Tour of THE WIZ. PHOTO: JEREMY DANIEL
“Every time I go to the stage door, someone inevitably tells me their connection to this musical, and I’ve never had that before,” said Mingo. “I’ve been in this business for 35 years. This is my sixth tour. Never have I ever had people have to tell me that. It’s a deeper connection.”
“The Wiz” runs at the Citizens Opera House in Boston August 12-24. Tickets start at $56.
There are lessons to be learned from this age-old story, and Mingo hopes it primarily serves as a welcome escape from the challenges of our current moment.
“We’re always talking about Black pain,” he said. “‘The Wiz’ is just Black joy. Yes, you’re telling a story, and everyone has their own stakes in the story. But it is pure joy. And at a time politically, sometimes we just need that escapism.”
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