I had just seen the film version starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson a month and a half earlier when it had opened in December 1978. I had liked the film version well enough and was playing the double-LP soundtrack album a lot at home. After seeing the film I started playing the original Broadway cast album a lot, too. And I was now eager to see the stage show which was coming to town to play at Popejoy Hall on the University of New Mexico campus. This is where all the big touring shows and concerts played.
I bought two tickets to the show. I was going to see the matinee by myself, and my mom, sister, and I were going to see the evening performance that night. Somehow I felt a deep connection to the show - even though I had yet to see it
This was the first Broadway tour I'd ever seen and the magic and intensity of the performance were incredible. The brilliance of Geoffrey Holder's making the Tornado a human dancer, the faithfulness to Baum's story, the fact that Dorothy was such a believable little girl . . . well it all uhm . . . utterly blew me away!
I loved the second performance just as much. I had really never seen "magic" happen on stage before. I don't mean tricks, smoke, and flying monkeys; I mean the stage disappeared and I was sucked into the show. Like when reading an Oz book and the words fade away and you're just absorbing the adventure. It was so wonderful and magical that I knew I had to be a part of it and try to make that happen for other people.
So I decided I must work in the theatre, and eventually I did. And that is why seeing a touring production of The Wiz was so influential to me.
I saw the national tour in Philadelphia in September, 1978 - I imagine it would be the same tour, unless there were 2 companies traveling. In my case, Dorothy was played by Gayle Lorene Turner - who I have never heard of before or since! I loved the entire production, but the moment that still stands out for me was the very ending, in the final notes of music after Dorothy has finished singing Home. Toto (who didn't accompany her to Oz) ran onstage to her, showing she had arrived back in Kansas. Very simple, but also a very moving ending!
ReplyDeleteExactly! That's the kind of thing that made it so brilliant.
ReplyDeleteNo show today would be brave enough to have the finale be simply Dorothy singing in front a a blackout drop and have Toto run and jump in her arms! Simple, lovely, perfect!
BTW, I believe there were two bus-and-truck tours running at this point.
Wonderful to hear that you would still remember that performance 31 years later. Of course, Lillias White made it to Broadway two years after you saw her, appearing in Barnum and is now performing in Fela. If you ever want to stop in at Popejoy to say hi, just let me know.
ReplyDeleteTerry Davis
Public Relations
Popejoy Hall
Hi Terry
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Glad to hear Popejoy is still doing well. I drove through Albuquerque briefly last year and when I passed the campus I didn't see Popejoy and worried it had been torn down. Are you in a new facility or did I just miss it?
Thanks for the comment,
David Maxine