Kokandy gathers gifted team for revival of ‘The Wiz’

Kokandy Productions has gathered some of the busiest and most gifted artists in Chicago for its revival of “The Wiz,” the Tony Award-winning 1974 Broadway musical hit that put an urbanized, African-American spin on L. Frank Baum’s classic novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

Serving as guest director for the show that is set to run March 5 – April 16, 2017 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont, will be Lili-Anne Brown, with Jimmy Morehead as musical director and Breon Arzell (now giving a superb performance in the title role of Pegasus Players’ world premiere production, “Rutherford’s Travels”) as choreographer and ensemble member.

The show will feature Sydney Charles (now in an edgy turn in Jackalope Theatre’s “Octagon”) as Dorothy, Gilbert Domally as Scarecrow, Steven Perkins as Tin Man, Chuckie Benson as Lion, Nicole Michelle Haskins as Aunt Em/Evillene, Dawn Bless as Glinda, Frederick Harris as The Wiz and Angela Alise as Addaperle, and will include Arzell, Kyrie Courter, TJ Crawford, Desmond Gray, Jyreika Evelyn Guest, De’Jah Perkins, Tia Pinson and Michael Rawls.

The production team for “The Wiz,” which its book by William F. Brown and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, will include: Arnel Sancianco (set design), Virginia Varland (costume design), Alexander Ridgers (lighting design), Mike Patrick (sound design), Kirstin Johnson (sound engineer), and Mealah Heidenreich (props design).

Tickets ($25 for previews and $33 – $38 for the regular run) are now on sale. Call (773) 975-8150 or visit http://www.kokandyproductions.com.