It was 1974. Broadway was, frankly, a bit stale. Then came a burst of color, funk, and soul that changed everything. When people talk about the cast of the original Wiz, they often get caught up in the 1978 movie with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. But the real spark? That happened on the stage at the Majestic Theatre.
The production was a gamble. A massive one. It was an all-Black retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic, set to a score by Charlie Smalls that felt more like a Saturday night at a house party than a traditional pit orchestra. The casting was everything. If these performers didn't land the "Ease on Down the Road" vibe, the whole thing would have collapsed under the weight of its own sequins.
Stephanie Mills and the Voice That Defined Dorothy
Let’s talk about Stephanie Mills. She was just a teenager when she landed the role of Dorothy. Literally 17 years old.
Think about that for a second. Most kids that age are worried about prom or chemistry finals. Mills was carrying a multi-million dollar Broadway production on her back. She didn't have the Hollywood polish of Diana Ross (who eventually played the role in the film version), but she had something better: raw, unadulterated power. Her rendition of "Home" is still the gold standard. It’s a gut-punch of a song.
When the cast of the original Wiz first took the stage, audiences weren't just seeing a girl in silver slippers—they were seeing a vocal powerhouse who could out-sing almost anyone on the Great White Way. It's kinda wild to realize she played that role for years before becoming a massive R&B star in her own right.
The Lion, The Tinman, and the Scarecrow: A Trio of Soul
The chemistry between the three companions wasn't just good acting. It was a masterclass in physical comedy and vocal blending.
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- Hinton Battle (Scarecrow): He was a dancer’s dancer. His movements were fluid, almost liquid. He won a Tony for this, and honestly, he deserved three. He brought a certain vulnerability to the "I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday" number that made you forget he was stuffed with straw.
- Tiger Haynes (Tinman): Tiger brought the grit. Before The Wiz, he was a jazz musician and a boxer. That tough-but-tender energy was perfect for a man looking for a heart. His "Slide Some Oil to Me" was pure funk.
- Ted Ross (Lion): He was the comic relief, but with a roar that could shake the rafters. Ross actually reprised his role in the 1978 film because, frankly, who else could play a "Mean Ole Lion" with that much charisma?
Why the Supporting Players Stole the Show
Most people forget that the cast of the original Wiz featured some of the most formidable Black actresses of the 20th century in the "Witch" roles.
Dee Dee Bridgewater played Glinda. She was ethereal. She was statuesque. She was "A Rested Body is a Rested Mind" personified. Most people know her as a jazz legend now, but her Broadway roots are deep. Then you had Mabel King as Evillene. She was terrifying and hilarious all at once. When she sang "No Bad News," you believed her. You had to believe her.
And we have to mention André De Shields. The Wiz himself.
De Shields is a legend for a reason. He brought a slick, huckster energy to the role that made the "reveal" behind the curtain actually carry some emotional weight. He was flashy. He was mysterious. He wore the hell out of those costumes designed by Geoffrey Holder.
The Cultural Shift Nobody Saw Coming
Initially, the reviews were... not great. Some critics didn't "get" it. They saw a Black version of a white story and couldn't bridge the gap. But the audience? The audience knew. Word of mouth saved the show.
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The cast of the original Wiz represented a shift in who got to tell these stories. It wasn't just about the actors; it was about the representation. Seeing a Black Dorothy who didn't need to change her hair or her dialect to be a hero was revolutionary in 1975. It's easy to take that for granted now in 2026, but back then, it was a seismic event.
The Tragic and Triumphant Legacy of the Cast
Life after Oz wasn't always easy for the original troupe.
Some, like Stephanie Mills, found massive commercial success. Others stayed stalwarts of the theater world. Sadly, we've lost several members of that original core over the decades. Tiger Haynes passed in 2003. Ted Ross in 1989. Most recently, the world mourned Hinton Battle in 2024. Their deaths feel like the closing of a specific chapter in Broadway history, one defined by the "Chitlin' Circuit" transitioning into mainstream global superstardom.
What’s interesting is how the cast of the original Wiz influenced everything that came after. Without their success, you don't get Hamilton. You don't get the 2015 Live! television special. You certainly don't get the recent Broadway revival. They proved that "Black Broadway" wasn't a niche subgenre—it was the engine of the industry.
Fact-Checking the "Lost" Performances
There’s a common misconception that the original Broadway cast is "lost" to time because there isn't a high-definition film of the stage show. While we don't have a Hamilton-style pro-shot, the original cast recording is a masterpiece.
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If you listen closely to the 1975 vinyl, you can hear the tiny imperfections—the breaths, the floorboards creaking—that make it feel alive. It’s a document of a moment when the energy in the theater was so high it felt like the building might actually lift off and land in Munchkinland.
How to Experience the Original Magic Today
If you’re looking to dive deeper into what made this specific group of people special, don't just watch the movie. The movie is a different beast entirely (and, let's be honest, a bit of a bloated mess despite the talent involved).
Step 1: Listen to the 1975 Broadway Cast Recording. Pay attention to the orchestrations. They are vastly different from the film. They’re tighter, punchier, and more "Broadway-meets-Motown."
Step 2: Look up Geoffrey Holder's costume sketches. Holder didn't just direct; he designed. The visual identity he created for the cast of the original Wiz is what gave the show its soul. The "Yellow Brick Road" being played by four men in yellow tuxedos doing a rhythmic strut? Genius.
Step 3: Watch the Tony Awards footage. You can find clips of the cast performing at the 1975 Tonys. Watching Stephanie Mills hit those notes live, without the safety net of modern studio pitch correction, is a spiritual experience.
The reality is that the cast of the original Wiz didn't just perform a show. They broke a ceiling. They took a story that had been told a thousand times and made it feel brand new by simply being themselves. They brought the soul, the strut, and the "Home" that we’re still looking for fifty years later.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit the Soundtrack: Specifically compare Stephanie Mills' "Home" to the 2015 Shanice Williams version or the Diana Ross film version. Notice the phrasing differences; Mills leans into a gospel "shout" that the others often soften.
- Research Geoffrey Holder: His influence on the cast's movement is the "secret sauce" of the show. Understanding his background in dance explains why the Scarecrow and the Tinman move the way they do.
- Support Local Black Theater: The legacy of The Wiz lives on in regional theaters. Finding a production that honors the soul of the original 1975 vision is the best way to keep that "Ease on Down" spirit alive.