The Creative Team and Cast of The Wiz
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
Book by William F. Brown
Direction by Kikau Alvaro
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Virginia Rep is thrilled to welcome Mariah Lyttle to Richmond for her November Theatre debut as Dorothy. A recent graduate of Ithaca College, Lyttle holds a BFA in Musical Theatre. Recent credits include Hairspray at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre and Sarah in Ragtime at Park Playhouse in Albany, New York. Also newcomers to the November Theatre, Virginia Rep welcomes Dylan Jackson as Scarecrow and Brandon LaReau as Lion. Jackson is set to graduate from Carnegie Mellon University in 2020 with a degree in Acting and Music Theatre. Recent credits include Miles in Gloria at Hatch Arts Collective. LaReau is a two-time Irene Ryan Award nominated actor, with a BA in Musical Theatre from Christopher Newport University, currently pursuing an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy at VCU. Recent credits include Audrey II in
Little Shop of Horrors at VCU.
Virginia Rep is delighted to welcome back Desiree Roots, who will portray Aunt Em, Addaperle and Evilene. Roots most recently appeared on the November Theatre stage as Effie White in Dreamgirls. Other Virginia Rep credits include Sophia in The Color Purple, Vera in Mame and Caroline in Caroline, or Change. Also a veteran to the Virginia Rep stage, Devonte Jerome Wells joins the company as Tin Man, after most recently appearing in Dreamgirls as Jimmy Early. Rounding out the principal cast, Jerold Solomon (Atlantis; Between Riverside and Crazy) and Jessi Johnson (The Christians; The Little Engine That Could) will portray The Wiz/Uncle Henry and Glinda, respectively.
Virginia Rep Associate Artistic Director Kikau Alvaro will direct and choreograph the production, after most recently choreographing Atlantis and directing Huck and Tom and the Mighty Mississippi at the Children's Theatre at Willow Lawn. Originally from San Jose, California, Alvaro joined Virginia Rep as Associate Artistic Director in September of 2017. He also serves as the Head of Musical Theatre at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Anthony Smith returns to Virginia Rep after musical directing Atlantis, Sister Act, and last summer's smash hit, West Side Story. Smith also associate musical directed last season's holiday spectacular, Mary Poppins, and Cadence Theatre Company's Fun Home in partnership with Virginia Rep. Making their Virginia Rep debuts, Kimberly V. Powers will serve as Scenic Designer and Paul Black will serve as Lighting Designer. Jeanne Nugent (Mr. Popper's Penguins; Mary Poppins) will design costumes. Virginia Rep Audio Visual Supervisor Derek Dumais (Atlantis; Once) will Sound Design.
The full creative team and cast list is below.
Direction & Design
Direction/Choreography Kikau Alvaro
Musical Direction Anthony Smith
Associate Direction & Associate Choreography Jacob Brent
Scenic Design Kimberly V. Powers+
Lighting Design Paul Black
Costume Design Jeanne Nugent
Sound Design Derek Dumais
Dramaturgy Mariah Taghavie-Moghadam
Production Stage Management Kerri J. Lynch*
AEA Asst. Stage Management Jocelyn A. Thompson*
Asst. Stage Management Mason Hemphill, Justin Janke
Cast List
Dorothy Mariah Lyttle
Scarecrow Dylan Jackson*
Tin Man Devonte Jerome Wells*
Lion Brandon LaReau
Aunt Em/Addaperle/Evilene Desiree Roots*
Uncle Henry/The Wiz Jerold Solomon*
Glinda Jessi Johnson
Ensemble William Anderson, Terrence Bennett, Anthony Cosby, Joshua James Crawford, Tevin Davis, Madison Harris, Keaton Hillman, Tyandria Jaaber, Zakiyyah Jackson, Nisa Mercado, Michelle Mercedes*, Rachel Seeholzer, Ira White
Swing Dani Brown
* Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the U.S.A.
+ Member of USA, United Scenic Artists', local 829