The WIZ @ Pennsauken High School

There was "No Bad News" to bring after seeing Pennsauken High School's funky 70's-esque rendition of The Wiz!

Based on L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wiz is a contemporary musical adaptation which incorporates several African American influences in the music and performance style. The show premiered on October 21, 1974, at the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore, later opening on Broadway's Majestic Theatre on January 5, 1975. The show also had many revivals, as well as the widely known film adaptation starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Typically played by an all-black cast, The Wiz became a symbol of acceptance in Broadway. The Broadway production won a total of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The cast of Pennsauken took a truly wonderful spin on the story with combining the creative use of lighting, impeccable choreography, and emotion to produce imaginative storytelling. Their dynamic stage presence and strong ensemble energy elevated each scene, fully immersing their audience in the world of Oz.

Leading the way down the Yellow Brick Road was Maica Nesmith as Dorothy, grasping her audience's attention and holding it all night. From skilled runs to masterful choreography, Nesmith kept the ball on point with her energetic characterization of Dorothy. Reminiscent of the smooth, jazzy vocals and crisp dance moves of the original Tin Man, Aiden Scott charmed his audience all night, having them singing and dancing along as he delivered a captivating rendition of "Slide Some Oil to Me." Capturing the audience from her introductory "Shut up!" Cymara Williams as Evillene demanded the spotlight each time she appeared on stage. Though brief, her time on stage was incredibly memorable, as she exuded power in her singing voice and fully embodied the pure wickedness of Evillene.

Each transition and progression of the story was masterfully executed by the cast ensemble. The individual members of the ensemble brought their own personality to the stage, perfectly manipulating their costumes and space to convey the story. Being heavily reliant on the choreography to illustrate the scene changes of the storyline, the ensemble did a wonderful job of allowing the audience to clearly interpret the emotion and context of each scene. Notable examples of this were the tornado and Yellow Brick Road ensembles, which colorfully demonstrated the flow of the story.

The world of Oz would not be complete without the magic of Pennsauken's skillful stage crew. Using a well-blended crew to maintain the undisturbed illusion of Oz, Pennsauken's stage crew was nothing short of impressive. Their expressive lighting created a surreal atmosphere that was nearly dreamlike in scenes like the Emerald City and was unique to each character and song. The originality of their costumes and lighting perfectly captured the minimalist steampunk essence that they were aiming for.

Without a doubt, the cast of Pennsauken delivered a top-notch production, combining the essential elements of song, dance, and magical technical execution to create this whirlwind of a performance of The Wiz!