(Photo: Courtesy Broadway in Detroit)
The yellow brick road leads straight to the Motor City this month, and for the cast of The Wiz, it’s more than a stop on tour. It’s a homecoming steeped in gospel, soul, and legacy.
Kyla Jade, who plays Aunt Em and Evillene, deeply feels the moment. “Detroit has a rich musical heritage that has defined a sound for generations,” she said. “As a vocal student of Aretha Franklin and a product of the Church of God in Christ, I was able to mix the styles of Franklin and Detroit’s own Clark Sisters. The Clark Sisters were a blueprint for gospel music, and Franklin and other Motown artists taught me soul. The Detroit sound had a profound influence on my life and musical journey.” She added, “Being able to come to a city with such a wide range of unique musical styles excites me. Being able to showcase two roles that marry all of the sounds of my childhood influences is truly an honor.”
Maya Imani, a University of Michigan alum and understudy for Addaperle, shares the same love for the city’s creative spirit. “I feel so grateful to be returning to Detroit on my second National Tour, after performing here in Mean Girls in 2022,” she said. “The Fisher is a stunning gem in a city with such a vibrant theatre scene, second in my heart only to Ann Arbor. My time at the University of Michigan only grew my love for The Wiz, because I learned to recognize it not only for how it made me feel watching it growing up, but also for the legacy of iconic Black performers whose artistry made it such a timeless classic. It is an honor to take this show around the country, but it’s even more special to bring it to my second home.”
Elijah Ahmad Lewis, who plays the Scarecrow, connects the character’s emotional arc to his own experience in entertainment. “Life experiences always prepare you as an actor for any role,” he said. “With The Wiz, I feel I have the same, but this time, it’s from within, and it’s through self-research and introspection.” Lewis said he wanted to humanize the Scarecrow. “The only reason he is the way he is is because he believed what someone told him he was and would be. Even though it is imagined and said that he had his brain taken from him, it was never the brain that was lost. It was the reassurance that what he thought and felt the first time was on point.”
Reflecting on his path, he added, “I reached a point where I had to look within and believe that I was enough, that what I had was uniquely mine, and that only I could produce and give to the world as a vessel. Understanding that I am enough and that my worth is plentiful is a daily project.”
Dana Cimone, who plays Dorothy in her Broadway debut, brings lived truth to her role. “Stepping into Dorothy’s shoes for my very first Broadway role is such an honor, especially because this character mirrors so much of my own journey,” she said. “Like Dorothy, I spent a lot of my youth trying to figure out who I was, where I belonged, and what ‘home’ really meant. That constant search shaped me into the strong, independent woman I am today at 21.” Cimone said the performance is more than acting. “When I play her, I’m not just acting, I’m bringing real memories, emotions, and experiences to the stage. It’s not just about telling Dorothy’s story, it’s about living it, night after night, and sharing a piece of myself with the audience every time.”
Fifty years after its Broadway debut, The Wiz remains a celebration of Black imagination, resilience, and artistry. The Wiz runs at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit from June 17 through June 29. Tickets are available now at BroadwayInDetroit.com, in person at the Fisher Theatre box office, or by calling 800-982-2787.
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