Saturday, November 25 Following Thanksgiving. Bring Your Family And Friends!!!

Baltimore Plays is back!

Following their fun, audacious takes on songs from Schoolhouse Rock in July, Baltimore musicians ease on down to The Wiz, the classic 1970s soulful interpretation of the 1939 musical and 1900 children’s book, The Wizard of Oz. Listen to some of the most talented performers in town perform selections from The Wiz. These selections will be performed in the sequence of the play to let the music tell the timeless story about discovering one’s own heart, intelligence and courage within. Don’t miss local stars Marc Evans & Black Root Underground featuring Ama Chandra, Jonathan Gilmore, J Pope, Shalanda Bond-Hansboro and Wordslave on this heartwarming, toe-tapping night.

About The Wiz

Baltimore Trivia: Did you know The Wiz, the 1975 Tony Award winner of Best Musical, first opened at the Morris Mechanic in downtown Baltimore on October 21, 1974? Ever since, it has been a showcase of some of the very best African-American performers. Written and composed by Charlie Smalls with help from composers like Luther Vandross, the stage musical made singer Stephanie Mills as Dorothy a star.

Directed by Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon, Network), the 1978 Motown-produced movie replaced Mills with Diana Ross, and included comedian Richard Pryor as the Wiz and a young Michael Jackson as Scarecrow. Jackson’s work with producer Quincy Jones in The Wiz led to their collaboration on Jackson’s breakthrough solo album, Off The Wall and Thriller, the current and likely permanent best-selling album of all time. In 2015, The Wiz Live, featuring Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo, David Alan Grier and Common was broadcast on NBC to great ratings and critical success. Now, songs from The Wiz are returning to the city where it all began, performed by local artists sure to turn them inside out.