The Wiz

Wonderful Wizzard of Musicals, Set to Dazzle at NSA’s Festival of the Arts.

The National School of the Arts is proud to showcase their bright young talented performers during their annual NSA Festival of the Arts, running from Tuesday, 6 March, to Sunday, 11 March 2018 on the various NSA and Joburg Theatre stages.

Featuring a diverse program of youth focused productions, the NSA Festival of the Arts, formerly known as Festival of Fame, is set for a 5-day celebration of art, dance, drama and music that is sure to delight Jozi audiences.

Headlining the impressive festival line-up is the flagship production, The Wiz which will be on the Mandela Stage of the Joburg Theatre complex as from Friday, 9 March, to Sunday, 11 March.

This vibrant, feel good, award-winning Broadway musical is a magical retelling of Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – the modern American fairy tale of Dorothy Gale who finds herself in the mythical Land of Oz following a violent tornado.

Audiences join Dorothy and her travelling friends, the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Lion as they Ease on Down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City to meet the magical WIZ. They all have a problem for the WIZ to solve; Dorothy needs to get home to Kansas, the scarecrow needs a brain, the Tinman a heart, and the cowardly lion courage.

The score is a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, R&B, and soul, and the emerging stars from the NSA will delight from curtain up to the finale.

The production is in the inspiring hands of Director and choreographer Tracey Human. Additional choreography comes from Oscar Buthelezi and Laura Cameron, who recently joined the staff of the NSA’s Dance Department. Musical direction is by Marten Van Wyk. Digital projections are in the hands of award-winning scenic designer Wilhelm Disbergen while Cassandra Parsons brings her flair to the costume designs. THE WIZ will leave the audience with a beat in their feet and a melody in their hearts.

The annual NSA musical allows the triple threat performers, those who can sing, dance and act, to shine. The role of Dorothy is played by Angella Mulaudzi who played Killer Queen in the 2017 production of We Will Rock You.  The roles of the three friends are shared by Vuyo Maboe, Lesedi Masheane (Scarecrow); Nkosikhona Mnisi, Loyiso Gqanabisa (Lion); Tshepo Skosana, Deano Paulsen (Tin Man) ;while the title role of THE WIZ is shared by Tumelo Mogoashoa and Siphelele Siphiwa. Siphelele received a 100% scholarship to attend the Joffrey Ballet summer school for musical theatre in New York following the Musical Theatre Boot Camp which she attended in January courtesy of Duane Alexander and Anton Luitingh of MTW.

NSA Festival of the Arts is made possible through the generous support of the RMB Fund and The National Lotteries Commission.  The production is based on the book by William F. Brown, with lyrics and music by Charlie Smalls.  From the story by L. Frank Baum, The Wiz is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, LTD.

 

THE WIZ
The Mandela @ Joburg Theatre

Performances:

Friday 9th March @ 9:30 & 19:30

Saturday 10th March @ 15:00 & 19:30

Sunday 11th March @ 15:00

Bookings through www.joburgtheatre.com  or www.webtickets.co.za

Tickets: R100 – R120

For group bookings of 10 or more, contact the theatre directly on 011 877 6853/6815.