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Bianca.

The Wiz

could anyone give me a description of the main characters in the wiz, like who sings what, how much dance is in each role, voice types, and what the characters are like?

Thanks.
Mr_X

Oh jeez, ok.

First of all, if you listen to the OBC, you get a very general sense of how the songs sound. However, the score seems to go faster and doesn't have all these runs that the actors do.

Here we go:

Dorothy-Mezzo/soprano. Biggest part in the show. A very innocent girl who just likes to help people and get home. Much like Judy Garland in the movie.
Songs-"There's a Feeling Here Inside", "Be a Lion", "Home"

Scarecrow-High baritone/tenor. Big physical actor. Performs some gymnastic stuff while trying to regain his ability to walk. Becomes smarter near the end.
Songs-"I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday"

Tin Man-High baritone/tenor. Dancing part. Performs a softshoe after loosening up with some oil. Ironically the most kindhearted person of the group.
Songs-"Slide Some Oil to Me", "What Would I Do if I Could Feel?"

Lion-High baritone/tenor. Probably involved the most acting of the three friends. Can be percieved as comedic at times and dramatic at others. No real major dancing, though he does get serenaded by poppies.
Songs-"I'm a Mean Ole Lion", "Be a Lion"

Addaperle-Alto/mezzo. A more comedic and soulful version of Glinda from the Wizard of Oz. Can definetely play up being the forgotten witch. Nevertheless, she only appears in the beginning and end of the show.
Songs-"He's the Wiz"

The Wiz-Tenor. The title character. Appears at the end of Act 1 and the last half of Act 2. Probably the most acting of all the male roles. Acts very arrogant and mean in Act 1 to having to admit he's a fraud in Act 2. Moderate amount of dancing.
Songs-"So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard", "Believe in Yourself", "Ya'll Got It?"

Evilene-Alto/mezzo. The evilest witch in Oz that only appears in the first half of Act 2. Definetely plays up the evilness and arrogance. Not much to be said except she must have a lot of soul.
Songs-"No Bad News"

Glinda-Mezzo. Great song, though she only appears at the end of Act 2. Nevertheless, she moves the plot along and is a good part for someone who just wants one song of glory.
Songs-"Believe in Yourself (reprise)"

Aunt Em and Uncle Henry-Alto/mezzo and baritone. Only really appear in the very first song. Not that very descriptive. He's a farmer, she's his wife.
Songs-"The Feeling We Once Had"
ALoneWanderer

Mr_X wrote:


The Wiz-Tenor.


Really? The guy I saw play the wiz had played caiaphas just months before hand and it didn't really seem too high for him. I'm not familiar with the music outside of seeing it though so I could be wrong.
Mr_X

I mean the Wiz is hitting high F's and G's in "So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard" and "Believe in Yourself". Not to mention some A's in "Ya'll Got It" and an optional falsetto E (E5) in "So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard".

Also, in addition to my previous post:
All the friends sing in many of the other songs, such as "Everybody Rejoice", "Ease on Down the Road", and "Who Do You Think You Are?", just not as much of a solo.
Bianca.

thanks so much.

perfect, and exactly what I was looking for.

a question.

which is a bigger part,

evillene, or addapearle?

do either dance?
Bianca.

and..

I've seen the scarecrow played by a female..
have any of you?
what would the range be for that?
Mr_X

Addaperle is the bigger part. She appears in 2 scenes of the show, while Evilene appears in only one.

And if the Scarecrow is a female, there's one of 3 options:
1. If she's a low alto, sing it in the original octave.
2. Change the key.
3. Sing it up the octave.
star2ballie

Both Addapearle and Evilene are fantastic roles, though. Our Evilene KILLED the audience...she did some ad-libs here and there and just generally rocked hardcore. Smile Addapearle, though, is also a huge scene-stealer if she's done right.

I played Dorothy, so feel free to PM me with any questions, or whatever...I loved this show!

Oh, and PS --don't watch the movie. Or, if you do, realize the movie is drop-dead awful and nothing like the stage show. Razz
Jman383

Hey, yes, anything you'd EVER wanna know about the Wiz I can also answer. I did it just this year for my Spring Musical. Actually, if you'd like, I put the majority of our songs on youtube for viewing, just look for all of the videos by Jmann383....

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=the%20wiz&search_sort=relevance&search_category=0&page=1

Oh and the original replier to this message forgot to mention that Glinda also sings "A Rested Body" along with the reprise to "If You Believe", and that the Wiz has a third song too, called, "If You Believe", which is a fairly low number compared to his other stuff.

Oh and also note that in my school production, we got the rights for our Crows to do "You Can't Win" by contacting the late Charlie Smalls' son, and asking for permission.

Hope this helped!

P.S. I apologize in advance for our Lion... stupid seniority :p
Salome

star2ballie wrote:
Both Addapearle and Evilene are fantastic roles, though. Our Evilene KILLED the audience...she did some ad-libs here and there and just generally rocked hardcore. Smile Addapearle, though, is also a huge scene-stealer if she's done right.

I played Dorothy, so feel free to PM me with any questions, or whatever...I loved this show!

Oh, and PS --don't watch the movie. Or, if you do, realize the movie is drop-dead awful and nothing like the stage show. Razz


wait..you played dorothy in an all black musical????
Mr_X

Jman383 wrote:
Oh and the original replier to this message forgot to mention that Glinda also sings "A Rested Body" along with the reprise to "If You Believe", and that the Wiz has a third song too, called, "If You Believe", which is a fairly low number compared to his other stuff.


It's true I did forget "A Rested Body", we didn't do that in our Wiz. But it's not "If You Believe", it's "Believe in Yourself", as it is written in the score.
Jman383

Haha, true you have me there, but then again, it isn't "There's a Feeling Here Inside" either, it's "Soon as I Get Home".

And Salome, my high school did it this year as well... it's one of those things that isn't just for black people anymore, although that was its intention.
Bianca.

Jman383 wrote:

P.S. I apologize in advance for our Lion... stupid seniority :p



I really think you need to watch what you say, and where you say it.
Posting such comments on a public forum is NOT wise, because you never know who might read it.

I, infact.. am from your hometown, and recently saw a benefit featuring most of the cast of your production. That was actually what sparked my curiosity. I know Brett personally, and I really think that all of your high school drama needs to be checked at the door. The production was fabulous, and the leads were incredibly compatible with one another. The show was good, but, it's OVER. Save the Drama, and give the kid a break, he did well, and will continue to do well in college. Move on.
ALoneWanderer

Dude, that lion is pretty horrid...I think you're letting biase get into your opinion of his performance.
Jman383

I too know Brett well, and have no qualms posting anything anywhere, for my opinions are not something I tend to enjoy hiding. I also saw the benefit concert, and must say it went very well for the most part. There were some kinks along the road, but in any case, who ever said "The Wiz" wasn't over? I for one am JOYFUL that the show is done, and have been since March (And I assure you I've moved on... saying that someone sang a song poorly is hardly dwelling).

Now, as you see above me (LoneWanderer's Comment I mean, and for the record, just about every comment on Youtube as well), I had every right to apologize for him, and interestingly enough, it's to the point where I really don't feel bad about what I said. If you know Brett so well, at least as I've come to know him in the past two years, you'd understand where I'm coming from. And besides, you're right, it IS over, so why worry about burning bridges with someone who's gone? Brett knows how I felt about his portrayal of the Lion, so it's not like I'm really fearing confrontation.

LoneWanderer however...lmao hahaha :p
WillieWonka

Syrso2yrsAgo wrote:
Jman383 wrote:

P.S. I apologize in advance for our Lion... stupid seniority :p



I really think you need to watch what you say, and where you say it.
Posting such comments on a public forum is NOT wise, because you never know who might read it.

I, infact.. am from your hometown, and recently saw a benefit featuring most of the cast of your production. That was actually what sparked my curiosity. I know Brett personally, and I really think that all of your high school drama needs to be checked at the door. The production was fabulous, and the leads were incredibly compatible with one another. The show was good, but, it's OVER. Save the Drama, and give the kid a break, he did well, and will continue to do well in college. Move on.


The song was terrible and there's no excuse anyone can make for that. That's the bottom line. Good luck to the kid in college b/c he's going to need it. Majoring in something you can't do well is going to be a real tough task.
Jman383

Thank you, I rest my case....
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