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NEWS RELEASE
Show Information: THE WIZ
The Stranahan, Toledo, OH, presented by The American Theatre Guild
May 26–31, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2026
Contact:
Cathy Long Shelby DuPont
Associate Director, Communications Communications Associate II
The American Theatre Guild The American Theatre Guild
Cell: 515-778-2564 Cell: 940-536-4804
Cathy.Long@ATGuild.org Shelby.DuPont@ATGuild.org
THE ALL-NEW NORTH AMERICAN TOUR OF THE
BROADWAY HIT MUSICAL
THE WIZ
COMES TO THE STRANAHAN
MAY 26–31, 2026
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!
TOLEDO, OH ? Everybody look around! The American Theatre Guild is thrilled to present the Tony Award®-winning Best Musical that took the world by storm, THE WIZ. This production is part of the 25–26 BROADWAY IN TOLEDO Series and will take the stage at The Stranahan for eight performances May 26–31, 2026.
Tickets to THE WIZ are available for purchase at BroadwayInToledo.com and StranahanTheater.com. Group ticket savings for 10+ are available by contacting Groups@ATGuild.org.
ASSETS: https://app.box.com/s/imayxuii391o4wdmneroikb599sglj6z
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 29, 2026 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 30, 2026 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 31, 2026 1:00 & 6:30 p.m.
The Baltimore Sun raves “Powerhouse performances. Stunning choreography. Visionary sets” and the Chicago Sun-Times proclaims THE WIZ is “An eye-popping and high-intensity revival!”
This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world.
The principal cast includes Phoenix Assata LaFreniere, making her national tour debut, as Dorothy, Alan Mingo Jr., returning to the role he originated on the pre-Broadway tour and played on Broadway as The Wiz, also making their national tour debuts Sheherazade as Glinda and Kyla Jade as Aunt Em/Evillene, D. Jerome (MJ the Musical, Hamilton) as the Tinman, Cal Mitchell (The White Rose, The Color Purple) as the Lion and Elijah Ahmad Lewis (Ain't Too Proud, Motown The Musical) as the Scarecrow.
The ensemble features Maati Kheprimeni Angaza, Sai Anthony, Aliyah Caldwell, Robert Crenshaw, Lawrence Dandridge, Cyniah Elise, Amitria Fanae’, Gregory Hamilton, Maya Imani, Jesse Jones, Omar Madden, Micah Jeremiah Mims, Nia Nelson-Williams, Charlotte Odusanya, Moriah Perry, Keyon Pickett, Daja M. Rice, Khi’Shawn A’Quez Robinson, Madison Scott, Kameren Whigham and Chanse Williams.
Featuring a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls (and others), director Schele Williams (The Notebook), award-winning choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Black is King), additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers”), Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements), Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements), and Emmy Award®-winning music director and Grammy Award®-winning writer, Adam Blackstone and Terence Vaughn (Dance Music Arrangers) conjure up an Oz unlike anything ever seen before. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop bring a whole new groove to easing on down the road.
THE WIZ design team includes scenic design by Academy Award-winning Hannah Beachler (Black Panther, Beyoncé’s Black is King and Lemonade), costume design by Emmy Award-winning and two-time Academy Award-nominated Sharen Davis (Ray, Dreamgirls), lighting design by Barrymore Award-winning Ryan J. O’Gara (Thoughts of a Colored Man), sound design by Jon Weston (Parade), video and projection design by Daniel Brodie (Motown the Musical), wig design by Charles LaPointe (MJ the Musical) and make-up design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche (The Piano Lesson). Casting is by TRC Casting Company.
The production also includes ‘Everybody Rejoice’ music and lyrics by Luther Vandross, as well as the ‘Emerald City Ballet’ with music by Timothy Graphenreed.
Based on L. Frank Baum’s children’s book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, THE WIZ takes one of the world’s most enduring (and enduringly white) American fantasies and transforms it into an all-Black musical extravaganza for the ages.
THE WIZ premiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation, going on to win seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography (George Faison), and in a Broadway first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). “Ease on Down the Road” became the show’s break-out single, and “Home” has since become a bona fide classic. That original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) – and 1,672 performances – on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor and Lena Horne, and marked Quincy Jones’ first collaboration with Michael Jackson. The most recent Broadway revival played from March to August 2024 at the Marquis Theater in NYC.
Additional information on tour cities, venues, performance schedules and single ticket on sale dates are available at WizMusical.com and follow THE WIZ on social media channels.
Follow @thewizbway on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
Please note: BroadwayInToledo.com, Etix.com and The Stranahan Box Office are the only official sources for tickets to all shows in the 25–26 BROADWAY IN TOLEDO Series. If you purchase tickets through another source, you may pay inflated prices and your tickets will not be guaranteed.
The 25–26 BROADWAY IN TOLEDO Series is welcomed by The Stranahan and the Courtyard Toledo Maumee.
Become a fan of BROADWAY IN TOLEDO by following us on social media:
• Facebook: @BroadwayInToledo
• Instagram: @BwayToledo
The American Theatre Guild
A 501(c)(3) organization and the largest not-for-profit touring Broadway Presenter in the nation, supports Broadway seasons in 12 markets including: Birmingham, AL; Colorado Springs, CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City, MO; Lubbock, TX; Melbourne, FL; Peoria, IL; Santa Barbara, CA; South Bend, IN; Thousand Oaks, CA; Toledo, OH; and Wichita, KS. The American Theatre Guild is dedicated to providing the experience of live theater to foster passion, inspire creativity and empower youth within each community.
Staging the Future
A program created by The American Theatre Guild to foster passion, inspire creativity and empower underserved members of our communities through access to live theatre and educational opportunities. The program is funded by the generosity of our donors. Giving is now easier than ever: donate to Staging the Future via Venmo mobile app at @STF-ATGuild or online, please visit https://americantheatreguild.com/staging-the-future/.
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