The Wiz
at Tuscarora High School

Reviewed on May 7, 2016

Michaela Flemming
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

What happens when you take the classic story of the Wizard of Oz, toss in a little 70s flair and modernize the tale? Tuscarora High School's production of the Wiz! Led by strong performances from the titular Wiz and the Lion and bolstered by gorgeous costuming, the show transported the audience to a fantastical world.

The Wiz first premiered on Broadway in 1975 and was one of the first musicals to have an all African-American cast. In 1978 a film adaptation was released and recently NBC put on a production of the musical live. The story follows The Wizard of Oz closely, after a tornado Dorothy finds herself in Oz and meets several odd characters in her quest to return home; however, the show is distinguished by telling the Wizard of Oz from an African-American context.

Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion, played by Kendall Guntner, Brandon Ballard, Freddy Sane-aka, and Kyle Ebbets were the leads of the show and all had great chemistry with each other. Each of the male principals brought a distinct character to the table, complemented by their physical movements. For example, the Scarecrow's knees would wobble as though they were made of straw throughout the production. Kyle Ebbets' portrayal of the Lion was particularly entertaining. His character came to life through Ebbets' clear character choices. James Smith as the Wiz brought a strong stage presence and acting acumen to his role, peeling back the layers of the Wiz to show the man underneath. His number, Y'all Got It, was a particular highlight of the show, full of energy and sass. Both Natalie Ah Lee and Julianne Sager showed off their beautiful voices as the witches Evillene and Glinda. Ah Lee's bombastic vocals perfectly matched her character and her confidence onstage was apparent as she made a distinct impression despite her short stage time. Sager's voice was graceful and clear, reflecting her elegant character. Overall the first act lacked energy; however, the cast rebounded in the second act with spirited numbers like A Brand New Day.

On the technical side, the costuming and makeup brought the show to life. Makeup, led by Daniella Roberge rose to the challenge of turning a cast of high school students into denizens of a fantasyland remarkably. Each cast member's makeup looked impeccable, especially considering there were 76 makeup changes in the show. Sound was off and on throughout the production, at times feedback and the general poor quality of some microphones was distracting. However, the technicians and actors persevered through the challenges. The costuming of the show, done by Fernanda Estella was incredible in both the detail and breadth of the work. Some particular standouts were the gorgeous Poppies, festooned in red and green jumpsuits, Glinda's glittering gown and shawl, and the Lion's furry ensemble. Each of the costumes reflected the 70s vibe throughout from the Poppies bellbottoms, Glinda's head wrap, to the ruffles on the Lion. In all, the tech was led by strong showings from the makeup and costuming teams, who went all out in incorporating the 70s flair into the performance.

In short, The Wiz was an entertaining show, inviting the audience to "Ease on Down the Road" towards Oz. Bolstered by strong performances from the Lion, the Wiz, Evillene, and Glinda and intricate costuming and makeup, The Wiz was a fun, engaging time.

Sydney Fox
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

The fantastical world of Oz is home to many forms of magic, but none so much as this glitzing, gleaming, glittering dream of a production. Tuscarora High School's production of "The Wiz" was a magical portrayal of the world we all thought we knew, and love even more. Every Ozian on and off the stage created a brightly glowing ambiance that will radiate in the hearts of the audience for long time to come.

Based off of L. Frank Baum's 1900 classic novel "The Wizard of Oz," and later William F. Brown's retelling of the story in his novel of the show's name, "The Wiz" blazed into people's hearts with its Broadway debut in 1975. The production most certainly worked its magic, receiving a whopping 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Since its closing, there have been a plethora of revivals, including a feature-film adaptation released in 1978, and a live television stage show broadcast in December of 2015 on NBC, with an encore performed that very same month.

When young Dorothy gets caught up in a tornado, her lifestyle flashes before her eyes. Transformed from a tiny farm in Kansas to the dazzling city of Oz, her world flips upside down and just happens to land on the Wicked Witch of the West. After celebrating with the munchkins, she begins her quest to find the Wiz, a powerful sorcerer who can bring her back to Kansas. Along the way, she meets a caught-in-a-rut scarecrow, an uptight Tin Man who just wants to relax, and a cowardly lion with mommy issues. Together the four go through a series of tribulations but are eventually able succeed, realizing they simply needed to find the magic within themselves to grant their own wishes.

This glitzing glittering show was the combination of many different bright lights of talent. One such light was the sensitive, sassy lion, played by the beamingly talented Kyle Ebbets. From the moment his tail whipped on that stage, the production went into full gear, racing with accelerating humor and entertainment. His versatility as an actor, ranging from gut-wrenching moments as he relived his devastating past, to the sassy pizazz of the king of the jungle, was showcased flawlessly as the show progressed. One thing's for sure, Ebbets performing ability is most certainly a stranger to the word "cowardice." Another standout was the hip-popping, rock star, the Wiz, played by James Smith. His over-the-top, yet believable performance stunned the crowd, with bold vocals and brilliant acting. After the enchanting performance he gave the audience, it is no surprise the people of Oz believed him to magical.

This glistening world of Oz wouldn't have been nearly as magical without the fantastic Ozians behind the scenes. Each individual costume was able to capture the essence of the fantasy world of Oz, yet also retain the modern spin of the new world. In combination with colorful and intricate make-up, each performer seemed as though they'd walked onto the stage from the hip world of Oz only moments before. Although there were a few lapses in sound, the groovy orchestra and creative, thoughtful lights helped the entire technical support transport the audience with ease.

Tuscarora High School delivered a dazzling performance, the entire cast and crew illuminating the stage brighter with each passing moment. If the audience did not know just how meaningful a home is, one could easily not understand Dorothy's final decision. Once witnessing this fantastical world of Oz, who could ever want to leave?

Katie Bushman
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Loudoun

Everyone knows the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dorothy traipses down the yellow brick road to ask the Wizard to send her home, only to discover that all she must do to return to Kansas is to click the heels of her… silver Converse High Tops? This isn't your mother's Wizard of Oz; this is The Wiz, presented by Tuscarora High School.

The Wiz infuses L. Frank Baum's beloved novel with current African-American culture. The plot is similar to the story as we know it – a tornado transports Dorothy from her small town in Kansas to the magical land of Oz, where she teams up with a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion to see the wizard, defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, and get back to Kansas. However, The Wiz adds jazzy, soulful numbers and modern twists to the timeless classic.

Dorothy is the heart and soul of the show, and Kendall Guntner stepped up to the task of creating a warm, lovable character. In the titular role of the Wiz, James Smith was a standout as he presented his character as a sleazy televangelist with ambition. His strong voice commanded big numbers such as "Y'all Got It," and the overall energy of the show noticeably picked up as soon as he entered the stage. As the Lion, Kyle Ebbets provoked roars of laughter from the audience with sudden switches from cocky bravado to cowardly terror.

Ijsah Byrd brought fun and sass to the role of Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, with her soulful voice and witty one-liners. The Scarecrow and Tin Man, played by Brandon Ballard and Freddy Sane-aka, had great chemistry with the other actors as they joined Dorothy and the Lion to create a ragtag family of travelers.

The show's technical elements helped to add a modern twist to the story. The costumes, designed by Fernanda Estrella, Carrie Zurliene, Natalie Ah Nee, and Sydney Bowman were a high point of the show as the ensemble appeared as poppies with flowery hats and glitzy bell bottoms, Munchkins with dresses crafted out of garbage bags, and citizens of Emerald City with glowing green motifs on their gowns.
Imaginative makeup by Daniella Roberge and Katie O'Sullivan added a whimsical feel to characters such as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, and the Wiz. The lighting and set were ingeniously integrated together with illuminated pieces such as lampposts, colored flames, and a lighted yellow brick road. Mics occasionally gave loud feedback and drowned out un-mic'ed ensemble members, but the actors were able to plow through issues with admirable composure.

The Wiz sings that you can do anything, "if you believe in yourself." Tuscarora High School did more than just believe in themselves Saturday night, as their talented cast and imaginative tech delivered a delightfully fun performance of The Wiz.

Annie Parnell
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

Follow the yellow brick road to the shining lights of Emerald City accompanied by the beat of hip-shaking R&B tracks, and you'll find yourself in The Wiz, performed with aplomb this weekend by Tuscarora High School.

A daunting, unusual choice for a high school cast, this urban revamping of the children's classic The Wizard of Oz opened on Broadway in 1975, going on to win seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show opens on Dorothy, a young woman out of place and longing for a new life away from her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry's Kansas farmhouse. However, Dorothy soon learns to be careful what she wishes for, finding herself lost in the magical world of Oz after a harrowing tornado. Informed of the miraculous powers of a mysterious man called the Wiz, Dorothy embarks on a journey to see if he can return her home, making friends along the way with a scarecrow in search of a brain, a tin man looking for a heart, and a cowardly lion yearning for courage, each seeking the Wiz themselves.

The show's four main characters--Dorothy (Kendall Guntner), The Scarecrow (Brandon Ballard), The Tin Man (Freddy Sane-aka), and The Lion (Kyle Ebbets)--presented the audience with an endearing ragtag group of friends. Their group chemistry and undeniable charisma drove the show forward, investing audiences not only in the story of Dorothy's quest, but of the group's developing dynamic as a whole.

Guntner's vocals were strong throughout her performance as Dorothy, showcased especially in her finale performance of "Home." Ballard and Sane-aka impressed with artful physical characterization of their roles, respectively employing wobbly and stiff movements to emphasize their being made of straw and tin. As The Lion, Ebbets brought a comedically endearing character to the show, adding zest through snappy comebacks and one-liners.

Natalie Ah Nee wowed audiences as Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West and Dorothy's rival. James Smith shone in his role as the titular Wiz, displaying excellent stage presence and range in emotion and character in numbers such as "Y'all Got It." The show's varied ensembles, ranging from personified poppies to green-clad citizens of the Emerald City, showed enthusiasm and spirit throughout the production.

The set's industrial-punk inspiration was innovative and clear, combining with other elements to form a cohesive stage picture. Though faced with intermittent audio issues, both cast and crew continued with skill and grace under pressure. Impressive costumes, largely student-made, emphasized the show's fantasy backbone and seventies-style roots, bringing to life the dazzling world of Oz. The choice to employ a disco ball for "Home" dazzled, illuminating with just the right touch for the closing number of the show.

Combining soulful belting with an imaginative romp through a fantasy world, Tuscarora High School's performance of The Wiz was an impressive take on a cult classic, easing audiences down a fantastical road of magic and excitement.

Hailey Brunson
Rock Ridge High School
Submitted for publication to Husky Headline

Home is where you belong, the place that you can always return to. But every now and then you need to be reminded of that fact. Well, all it takes is a tornado, the courage to ease on down a yellow brick road, and a few friends to join you along the way. "The Wiz", at Tuscarora High School, shared with us all the power of home and the magic of believing in yourself.

"The Wiz" is the soulful, musical, urbanized retelling of "The Wizard of Oz". "The Wiz" first opened in 1974 in Baltimore, Maryland, before making its move to Broadway. There, it won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. More recently, it was made into a magical, live television event that showed on NBC, airing with high regards and critical acclaim. "The Wiz" has a history of success, and Tuscarora High School added to that legacy.

A picturesque friendship formed in front of our eyes as Dorothy journeyed through Oz. Dorothy, played by Kendall Guntner, took us on her wild adventure; we were able to feel the magic of every person she met as she shared her story with us. However, it was the brotherly bond between the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion that was moving to watch scene after scene. The Lion, played by Kyle Ebbets, brought a vitality and persona to stage that brightened up the entire cast. Ebbets displayed a delightful energy that was both endearing and comedic. Ebbets' physical character choices along with the choices of the Tin Man, played by Freddy Sane-aka, and the Scarecrow, played by Brandon Ballard, made lively characters with beautiful lessons to learn. But, perhaps the liveliest of all was the Wiz, played by James Smith. Smith brought a depth to the Wiz that was compelling. He also was a catalyst to the energy on stage. His standout song was "Y'all Got It", and he did.

The featured roles and ensembles also had something special. The three witches in the show played by Ijsah Byrd, Natalie Ah Nee, and Julianne Sager, all had magical voices and characters as big and bright as the world of Oz. The most captivating group were the Poppies. These mystical flowers never sang a single word but I felt every intention. They were in sync as an ensemble and powerful in their dancing. Seductive and charming all at once, the Poppies were the standout of all the wonderful ensembles.

As we entered the Land of Oz the technical aspects of the production brought the dreamlike land to life. The costumes were vibrant and perfectly reflected every characters personality. The costumes also helped tell that story as ensemble after ensemble a new adventured unfolded. The lighting helped to create moods and depth within the production, with a disco ball being the perfect addition to the happy ending.

As Dorothy returned home and everyone was given the chance at happiness, the curtains closed on a transformative journey. Tuscarora High School gave an infectious performance of "The Wiz", one that made us all love home just a little bit more.