NEWS: The Wiz comes to Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre, and here's the cast that's going to take you there!

Cast announced for Black British retelling of

‘The Wiz’ at Hope Mill Theatre this Christmas

Following its sold-out, critically acclaimed production of ‘Rent’, Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre in association with Ameena Hamid Productions announces the cast for a radical new version of the 70s musical The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.

The Wiz will run from Wednesday 24 November 2021 to Sunday 16  January 2022.

Directed by Matthew Xia (‘Into the Woods’, Royal Exchange), The Wiz is a joyous retelling of

L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ reflecting contemporary African-American culture. Its 1975 Broadway premiere production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Matthew Xia said: “The Wiz is approaching its 50th anniversary, it now exists within the canon of mainstream musicals and it’s due time for some bold reinvention. Originally a funk and soul-based analogy for the African-American experience, in 2021 Manchester we’re offering a contemporary take on the discovery of self-determination and Black joy with this celebration of Black culture across the African diaspora.”

Cast: Cherelle Wiliams is Dorothy; Tarik Frimpong, Scarecrow; Llewellyn Graham, Tin Man;

Jonathan Andre, Lion; Cameron Bernard Jones, The Wiz; Anelisa Lamola, Addaperle; Bree Smith, Aunt Em & Glinda; Kofi Dennis, Lord High; Ashh Blackwood, Evillene. Ensemble: Andile Mabhena, Shayna McPherson, Dylan Gordon-Jones, Samantha Shuma, Marisha Morgan.

The show is produced by Hope Mill Theatre, Ameena Hamid Productions & Chuchu Nwagu Productions.

Creative team: Director Matthew Xia; Musical Supervisor and Orchestrations Sean Green;  Musical

Director Ehsaan Shivarani; Choreographer Leah Hill; Design Simon Kenny; Associate Costume Design Maybelle Laye; Lighting Design Simisola Majekodunmi; Sound Design Tony Gayle; Casting Director Ryan Carter; Casting Mentor Anne Vosser.

Musical Supervisor Sean Green has created new orchestrations. “In thinking about how much the music is loved, I had the thought What if the music was a love letter to black music? I started hearing all sorts of music within the DNA of the score. This exploration has allowed me to incorporate various genres from across the African Diaspora in the new orchestrations which, alongside the funk and soul in the original, really adds depth and colour to the world that we’re creating with this production.”

Jonathan Andre (he/him) was in ‘The Lion King’ (West End) and ‘Fela!’ (Broadway, US Tour, NT).

Kofi Dennis (he/him) joined Creation Theatre’s digital rep company in 2021 appearing as Romeo in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Grimm Tales for Fragile Minds and Broken People’, ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ and ‘Keeping up with Kassandra’.

Tarik Frimpong (he/him) His theatre credits include ‘Aladdin’ (West End), ‘Bring It On’, ‘The Lion King’ (Australia, China), and he was ‘Angus’ in the Disney feature film ‘Mary Poppins Returns’. He is ‘Prince Abdullah’ in ‘Aladdin Live!’ to be released soon on Disney+.

Dylan Gordon-Jones (he/him) was in ‘Grease - The Musical’ (UK Tour).

Llewellyn Graham (he/him) ‘The Wiz’ is his professional debut.

Cameron Bernard Jones (he/him) was in ‘South Pacific’ (Chichester Festival Theatre) and his West End credits include ‘Tina: The Tina Turner Musical’ (Aldwych), ‘Motown the Musical’ (Shaftesbury). Anelisa Lamola (she/her) was Heather in ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (Alexandra Palace Theatre), ‘The Color Purple’ (Curve/Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre) and ‘Some Like It Hip Hop (UK Tour/Peacock).

Shayna McPherson (she/her) ‘The Wiz’ is her professional debut.

Andile Mabhena (he/him) ‘The Wiz’ is his professional debut.

Marisha Morgan (she/her) ‘The Wiz’ is her professional debut.

Samantha Shuma (She/her) ‘The Wiz’ is her professional debut.

Bree Smith (she/her) was in ‘Book of Mormon’ in the West End, 1st Cover Anita in ‘West Side Story’ (Royal Exchange Theatre) and ensemble in ‘Evita’ (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre).

Cherelle Williams (she/her) her West End credits are Young Nala in ‘The Lion King’ (Lyceum) and Mary Wilson/cover Diana Ross in ‘Motown the Musical’ (Shaftesbury)

Matthew Xia (Director) is the Artistic Director of ATC (Actors Touring Company). He was previously

Associate Artistic Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre. His credits include ‘Into the Woods’ and ‘Frankenstein’ (Royal Exchange), ‘846 Live’ (Stratford East), ‘Amsterdam’ (ATC/Orange Tree/Plymouth Theatre Royal), ‘One Night In Miami’ (Nottingham Playhouse); ‘Blue Orange’ (Young Vic).

Sean Green (Orchestrations and Musical Supervisor) is currently Musical Director on the new West

End musical ‘Get Up! Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical’. Other credits include Musical Director of

‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ (UK Tour); ‘Leave To Remain’ (Lyric Hammersmith); ‘Twelfth Night’ (Young Vic); ‘The Wedding Singer’(UK Tour); ‘Murder Ballad’ at Arts Theatre West End; ‘The Buskers Opera’ (Park Theatre); ‘Into the Woods’ (Royal Exchange Theatre).

Simon Kenny (Designer) Musical theatre credits include: Dave Molloy’s ‘Ghost Quartet’ (Boulevard Theatre); and the multi award-winning ‘Sweeney Todd’ in a purpose-built pie shop (West End and Off-Broadway – Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Set Design of a Musical).

Leah Hill (Choreographer) In addition to a plethora of experience on stage and screen as a performer in the West End and internationally, her credits include the Disney live action film ‘Aladdin’ as assistant choreographer.

The Wiz local outreach plans include: an audio described performance; Touch Tour; BSL Performance;  Dance or Singing workshops for schools in our Community Hub with members of the cast; Wiz-themed workshops in schools with our facilitation team; The Hope Mill Theatre School will receive a Wiz workshop and Q and A with members of the cast and crew; a Wiz dance workshop with members of the cast for the general public – also available to join on zoom; a Schools Pack which will be available to schools with extension work for the classroom; careers social media videos featuring interviews with the Wiz creatives about how they got into their chosen career path; careers in the arts webinar with members of the creative team available for school/members of the public; free tickets through our first curtain scheme for local children who haven’t been to the theatre before/or couldn’t access it.