“The Wiz” has announced a new principal cast member. Alan Mingo Jr. will take over the title role beginning on June 13 at the Marquis Theatre. Mingo succeeds Wayne Brady, who will play his final performance as the Wiz on June 12.
Mingo previously played the role in the touring production that preceded the Broadway mounting. Mingo played the Wiz from the tour’s opening engagement in Baltimore in September 2023, and remained with the production through its stop in San Diego in January 2024. Brady took over at that point, finishing the tour and opening in the role on the Main Stem.
“I’m thrilled to return to playing the Wiz, a role that I loved playing nightly on the national tour,” Mingo said in a statement. “My mother took me to see this musical when I was a child, and there aren’t many shows you can say that about.”
“‘The Wiz’ is more than a Broadway show, it’s a legacy,” said Brady. “Growing up, I’ve always loved musicals, but seeing ‘The Wiz’ was the first time I saw a cast with people who looked like us. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to work on such an exciting revival with this creative team and cast, and I’m grateful to return to the Broadway community.”
Mingo has been seen on Broadway as Lola in “Kinky Boots,” Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid” and as Tom Collins in “Rent.” His touring credits include tenures as Donkey in “Shrek,” Seaweed J. Stubbs in “Hairspray” and Simba in “The Lion King.”
In addition to Brady, the current principal cast of “The Wiz” includes Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, Deborah Cox as Glinda, Melody A. Betts as Aunt Em and Evillene, Kyle Ramar Freeman as Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as Tinman and Avery Wilson as Scarecrow.
Directed by Schele Williams and choreographed by JaQuel Knight, “The Wiz” began Broadway previews on March 29 and opened on April 17. As previously announced, the production will play a limited run through August 18, and will return to the road in February 2025. A cast album from Immersive/Interscope Records will be released on July 12.
Both Williams and co-producer Kandi Burruss were honored with 2024 special Drama League Awards.
Featuring a score by Charlie Smalls and a book by William F. Brown with additional material by Amber Ruffin, “The Wiz” is an all-Black interpretation of L. Frank Baum’s classic story of Dorothy’s adventures in Oz as she attempts to return home.
“The Wiz” is produced by Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Burruss and Todd Tucker.
