The Wiz (Aug 04, 1992 - Apr 18, 1993) Also Starring: Ella Mitchell [Evillene] Musical Comedy Revival. Even though she knew the closing notice was up, Alyce Finell, producer of AM New York, agreed to have Dorothy and Tin Man and Scarecrow and Lion on her show next morning. The Wiz made theatre history overnight. Mitchell is best remembered for playing the comic role as Hattie Mae Pierce in the 2000 comedy film Big Momma's House and Evillene the evil witch in the original Broadway theatre production of the musical The Wiz. Scarecrow John-Ann Washington. This is a story of a Broadway phenomenon, a show in so much trouble its closing notice was posted on opening night and which was forcibly turned into Broadway's biggest hit—all in a matter of weeks. Apparently, if handled well, it can work wonders. Dorothy and the house land in the magical Land of Oz, falling on Evamene the Wicked Witch of the East. Afterwards, a tornado (played by dancers dressed in black) sweeps Dorothy and the farmhouse away while Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and Toto go into hiding. The musical earned eight Tony nominations, winning 7 including best musical. Theater (and other show titles) The Wiz. Mitchell appeared in the 1975 film Lord Shango. The Wiz Broadway, The Wiz Original Cast List, Original Cast, Current Cast ... Ella Mitchell. Wiz people describe them as "mixed," but in fact they were the sort that ordinarily would kill so precarious a venture. Actress Ella Mitchell in a publicity shot fr. (New York). Clarice Taylor, Stephanie Mills, and Dee Dee Bridgewater in, Martha Swope/©NYPL for the Performing Arts, Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, Ted Ross, and Tiger Haynes in, Martha Swope / The New York Public Library, Stephanie Mills, Andre De Shields, and Stu Gilliam in, Tiger Haynes, Andre De Shields, Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, and Ted Ross in, Andre De Shields, Tiger Haynes, Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, and Ted Ross in, Stephanie Mills, Andre De Shields, and Stu Gilliam, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre Will Launch Season With, Theatre Artists Call Out Hypocrisy, Demand Reckoning and Trump Removal After Capitol Building Havoc, Tony Winner Tonya Pinkins to Appear in ABC's, Betty Buckley Will Offer Virtual Song/Monologue Master Class, Alia Jones-Harvey and Stephen Byrd Partner With Columbia University for Front Row Productions Fellowship, Grateful: 37 Broadway Actors Share Who They Were Thankful for in 2020. Begin with the idea—or "the concept," as it’s known in the language of producers. Mitchell is best remembered for playing the comic role as Hattie Mae Pierce in the 2000 comedy film Big Momma's House and Evillene the evil witch in the original Broadway theatre production of the musical The Wiz. The Wiz follows Kansas farm girl Dorothy who works to find her way home after being transported in a tornado to a magical land. Evillene Howard Porter. "I had to go to the principals after the curtain came down on opening night and ask them to be at the studio at 8:30 AM," Sandy said. I invited all the DJs, the talent coordinators from radio and TV programs, and all the newspaper reporters and freelance feature writers who I thought would like the show. Lin-Manuel Miranda constantly makes headlines, but what about Leslie Odom, Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and the rest of Broadway’s founding company? The Wiz Ella Mitchell. The Wiz, Charlie Smalls’ musical adaption of The Wizard of Oz, opened at the Majestic Theatre January 5, 1975. While television advertising of films is a highly developed marketing technique, it's only recently begun to be used for Broadway properties. He was pursued by a teacher and his cousin to work in theater. Martha Swope photographs. (In an ironic twist, Atlantic also got to do the cast album because Fox let its option lapse.). "I told them, 'Go to bed tonight or don't go to bed, but please find a way to be there on time.'". He later went to become an understudy for the Cowardly Lion during the original run of The Wiz. Evillene. Clive Barnes clobbered them. Harper was ready. The original production of the classic musical opened at the New Century Theatre December 30, 1948. Before long, they called Harper and asked him to come to the coast with a presentation. Theater (and other show titles) The Wiz. The Wiz (Sep 16, 1983 - May 13, 1984) Also Starring: Ella Mitchell [Evillene] Musical Comedy Revival. Actors Ella Mitchell & Ken Page in a publicity shot fr. Harper had a very clear idea of the kind of audience he believed it was possible to pull in. Sign up for exclusive discounts and save up to 50% on tickets! Copyright 1991-2020 © Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. The message was clear. A version of the following article was originally published in 1975, a few months after The Wiz opened January 5, 1975, at the Majestic Theatre. Ken Harper was 32 years old at the time and had just given up a job as a program affairs director of PIX Radio to spend full time time talking up The Wiz. The way his intuition has been paying off, Harper may end up making that hundred million dollar dream come true. Ella Mitchell, Gayle Turner, and cast of The Wiz Martha Swope/©NYPL for the Performing Arts Stephanie Mills, Andre De Shields, and Stu Gilliam in The Wiz Martha Swope During previews, Sandy Manley (who with several other bright young press agents formed the Merlin Group, Ltd.) persuaded The Wiz management to give her a virtually unlimited number of press tickets to use at her own discretion. In this country, at this time, a certain kind of Black music, the Motown sound, sells, and it sells to everyone, Black and white.". On Broadway, Mitchell took over from Mabel King as Evillene in The Wiz. Next day, the reviews. She sings four songs in Episode 0487where Oscar the Grouchriffs on one of them, and two songs in Episode 0532including "The Gospel Alphabet". Sign up for exclusive discounts and save up to 50% on tickets! "I wanted the commercial to appeal to people between the ages of 18 and 35," he said. (New York). The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown.It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) in the context of contemporary African-American culture.It opened on October 21, 1974, at the Morris A. Tony winners Betty Buckley, André De Shields, Rita Moreno, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Leslie Uggams, and more express their gratitude. Evillene [Replacement] Photos. "If I’d met you three years ago," he said to me, "I’d given you the rap and asked if you knew anyone." See what Ella Mitchell (ellaamitchell) has discovered on Pinterest, the world's biggest collection of ideas. Series VI. 1977) and in the 1984 revival Ne-Yo played the Tin Man in The Wiz Live! And the house land in the magical land, Ken Harper was on his way as a producer singer. Before closing January 28, 1979 Wiz ( Jun 15, 1937 ) is a gospel singer and who! 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