Although based on L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz in which a little girl named Dorothy is abducted from her home by a Tornado and transported to the Land of Oz, The Wiz takes the classic fairy tale in an all-new direction with an all-black cast, an exciting rock score, and a decidedly modern libretto that reframes the story in such a way that it seems somehow more relevant.

The Wiz opened at the Majestic Theatre on January 5, 1975 with a cast that featured Stephanie Mills (Dorothy), Hinton Battle (Scarecrow), Tiger Haynes (Tin Man), Ted Ross (Lion) and Mabel King (Witch). The production enjoyed a run of 1,672 performances and went on to win 7 Tony Awards including "Best Musical" and "Best Score." The 1978 film version featured Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor.