The Wiz: Colman Domingo to replace Orlando Jones as 'The Wiz' for show's final week

Colman Domingo is to assume the title role of 'The Wiz' from Orlando Jones from 29 Jun - 5 Jul, the final week of performances of the Encores! Summer Stars production of The Wiz, opening at New York City Center on 18 Jun 2009, following previews from 12 Jun and running through to 5 Jul 2009.

Jones is leaving the show one week early in order to film the new ABC-TV series 'Crash Course.'

Domingo made his Broadway debut in 'Passing Strange' (2008), portraying roles he also played in the musical's Off-Broadway production, whose ensemble received an Obie Award. His other Off-Broadway credits include Henry V (The Public), Bright Ideas (MCC), and American Maul (Reverie). He is a regurlar in the TV Series 'The Big Gay Sketch Show.'

The cast for the The Wiz also includes Ashanti (Dorothy), LaChanze (Glinda), Tichina Arnold (Evillene), Dawnn Lewis (Addaperle), Joshua Henry (Tinman), James Monroe Iglehart (Lion), Christian White (Scarecrow).

The ensemble freature include Raymond Bennett, Tanya Birl, Darlesia Cearcy, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Angela Grovey, Ebony Haswell, Lauren Lim Jackson, Carl Lation, Maurice Lauchner, Jennifer Locke, Amy McClendon, Kenna Morris, John Eric Parker, Herman Payne, Ryan Rankine, Levensky Smith, Ephraim Sykes, Adrienne Warren, Daniel J. Watts, Juson Williams and Will Wingfield.

The Wiz, the 1974 rock and soul musical based on the beloved L. Frank Baum story about Dorothy and her adventures in Oz, will be the third New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars production.

The musical will be directed by Thomas Kail and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, the duo who brought the Tony-Award winning 'In the Heights' to Broadway last season.

The Wiz has a book by William F. Brown, music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and orchestrations by Harold Wheeler. The original production was directed by Geoffrey Holder and choreographed by George Faison. It won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Choreography.

The Wiz is an all-black adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, told from the African-American perspective.

The original Broadway production of The Wiz opened at the Majestic Theatre on 5 Jan 1975, moved to the Broadway Theater on 25 May 1977, running for over four years for a total of 1,672 performances, and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Choreography. It was directed by Geoffrey Holder and choreographed by George Faison, and starred Stephanie Mills, Hinton Battle, Tiger Haynes, Ted Ross, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Andre De Shields starred.

Encores! Summer Stars, now in its third season, is an expanded version of City Center�s acclaimed Encores! series. Summer Stars is dedicated to presenting Broadway classics in staged, limited-run productions. The previous Encores! Summer Stars productions were the critically-acclaimed 'Gypsy' starring Patti LuPone, which was followed by last summer�s 'Damn Yankees' starring Sean Hayes and Jane Krakowski.

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