Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): The Wiz musical national Tour at Paramount Theatre (Broadway at The Paramount / Seattle Theatre Group). Starring Dana Cimone (understudied by Cyniah Elise) as Dorothy. Delightful standout Elijah Ahmad Lewis as Scarecrow. Powerhouse vocals often felt like a hoppin’ Black church service, full of spirit and rhythm. “Ease on down the road” to see this modernized production before closing 2/15/26.
See it, especially if you enjoy Todrick Hall re-enactments on Youtube of iconic movies.
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I’ve seen it 2 times previously.
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Yes
Mainstream Appeal: High
If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes
My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Inspired by the classic tale and reimagined through a vibrant modern Black cultural lens, The Wiz retells the journey to Oz with a soulful score.
Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. With direction by Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney’s Aida), choreography by JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Black Is King) and additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers), this dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop brings a whole new groove to easing on down the road. Everybody rejoice!
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several
Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Dynamic
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You should be remotely familiar with any adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Live Band/Orchestra: Yes
Union Actor(s): All
Total Actor(s): Too many to count
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed
Was there an intermission? Yes
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours
Other Rave(s)
- Scarecrow: Elijah Ahmad Lewis portrayed a colorful and delightfully frenetic Scarecrow. Lewis showcased his breadth of his acting range shifting from high-energy shrieking flamboyance, to comedic impressions of Dorothy, then flipping effortlessly into a swaggering deep voiced persona for a “what-up-girl” punchline effect. Beneath it all, his singing voice was unexpectedly smooth and polished.
- Music:
This vibrant reimagining of The Wizard of Oz fully embraced Black culture, transforming the theatre into something akin to a joyful Sunday church service. From the start, Kyla Jade (as Aunt Em) set the tone with “The Feeling We Once Had,” delivering it with the emotional resonance of a classic church solo, reminiscent of CeCe Winans.
That spirit carried into “Be a Lion,” staged with such fervor that you half expect the audience to rise to their feet, hands lifted, making their way to the front in response to an altar call. Jade later returned as the wicked witch Evillene, bringing the house down with “No Bad News,” backed by gospel choir-style vocals and punctuated with tambourines. The number earned an extended ovation that was cut hilariously short when Evillene told the congregation to shut up.
Glinda’s “Believe in Yourself,” performed by Daja M Rice (understudy to Sheherazade), felt like another affirming church special music number. And in “If I Can Feel,” the Tinman (portrayed by D. Jerome) channeled smooth, contemporary R&B balladry like Brian McKnight. - Poppy Field: The poppy field scene unfolded like a retro 1970s fever dream, complete with the the sultry pulse of a wah-wah guitar. Afrotastic poppy sirens reminiscent of Diana Ross from The Wiz movie seduced the heroes into a hypnotic, beauty-salon fantasia, where resistance dissolved into indulgent, spa-like surrender.
- Closed Captions: This performance included closed captions, which was a rare and welcome touch. I wish musicals embraced this accessibility as consistently as opera.
- Emerald City: The Act 2 opener catapulted us into Emerald City with the visuals like Wizamania from Wicked plus the swagger of hip-hop in an extended, vogue-inspired dance sequence. The production uniquely reimagined Emerald City as a pulsating nightclub, where the bouncers exuded sharp, drag-queen–level attitude. As RuPaul might say, “The library is open!”
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
- Animated Projections: Reminiscent of the recent Spamalot at The 5th Avenue Theatre, this production relied on animation slightly too much as a crutch. The projections usually enhanced the experience like in the second-act opener with its Tokyo neon-green abstractions. But when they depicted literal scenery, the effect felt artificial, gimmicky, and cheap like in the wicked witch’s factory lair with its spinning gears. A simple rule of thumb for theatre: projections work best when they suggest abstractions rather than replicate scenery.
- Comparison to Traditional Productions: Speaking of The 5th Ave Theatre, this production felt markedly different from the more traditional local production that The 5th Ave Theatre staged. The energy in the national tour seemed concentrated in the newer key moments, leaving some scenes feeling unusually subdued. The show opened slowly like starting a karaoke night with a ballad. And throughout the rest of the show, there were more voids than expected, again reminiscent of the recent Spamalot at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Even the vanquishment scene followed by the “Everybody Rejoice” song celebration lacked a full climactic punch. While the production’s efforts to modernize the musical were commendable, I wonder if at an expense they siphoned momentum from the original show’s more classic, beloved moments. Ultimately, while this was an enjoyable performance, I still found myself preferring the traditional rendition from The 5th Avenue Theatre.
Theatre Company: National tour brought by Broadway Across America and Seattle Theatre Group
Venue: Paramount Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
Price Range: $55-190
Ticket Affordability Options: Seattle Theatre Group might partner with an organization you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, I believe UW employees/students are still eligible for an organization discount.
Dates: February 10 – 15, 2026
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Seattle Theatre Group might partner with an organization you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, I believe UW employees/students are still eligible for an organization discount.
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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:
- https://wizmusical.com/
- https://seattle.broadway.com/shows/the-wiz/
- https://www.stgpresents.org/events/the-wiz/
- Program
Photos: See production photos below by Jeremy Daniel.
Cast and Production Team: See after photos below.
