| For other versions of the Wizard of Oz, see Wizard of Oz. |
The Wizard is the titular character in The Wiz. He was once a normal man he had string of bad luck until events happened which led him to be caught in a terrible storm where he appeared in Oz and many Ozians mistook him for an all powerful Wizard.
Appearances[]
Broadway[]
In the musical the Wiz is portrayed by actor André De Shields. He appears in a large cloud of smoke and thunder frightening Dorothy and her friends. He reluctantly agrees to grant their wishes, but only after they successfully kill Evillene the Wicked Witch of The West. Once they complete their task, they return only to find the Wiz as a fraud. He explains to them how he was a nobody from Nebraska, whose hot air balloon was caught in a big storm, and landed in the middle of a ladies social in Oz. The women had never seen a hot air balloon before, and proclaimed him the Wizard. Feeling guilty he still grants each traveler their wish. Able to find assortments around his room for the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man, he decided that he himself will take Dorothy home himself to Kansas. On the day they prepare to leave, the Wizard's hot air balloon takes off early and he has no way of returning and disappears into the sky.
Film[]
In the film he is portrayed by comedian Richard Pryor. Herman Smith was a failed politician from New Jersey. Smith had many failed attempts for public office (including an Alderman, Councilman, Assembly leader and even a Dog Catcher) in one finally attempt to run, he was ballooning to promote a campaign for a low office when a windstorm sent him to Oz. He lands in the Emerald City where the citizens were amazed at his balloon and proclaimed him the Wizard. But he soon isolated himself in his room for years. He is too afraid to go out and let people see who he really is. Dorothy encourages him to go out and be with people and see what the world has too offer.
Live[]
Singer and Actress Queen Latifah portrayed the role of the Wizard in the live adaptation of The Wiz on December 3, 2015. This character is very much like the character André De Shields created years ago, but with a more modern twist: The Wizard is actually a woman ( though she pretends to be male when acting as her Wizard persona) She tells them her story, that she was once a magician's assistant from Omaha. By night they'd perform magic, but during the day they would give rides in a hot air balloon. She loved her job, but hated her boss. So in order to teach him a lesson, she left in the balloon without him one day, planning to land back down after he learned not to mistreat her. However, she got caught in a storm, and before she knew it, she was in Oz. When the Emerald City citizens saw her, they thought she was a wizard coming to save them from the Wicked Witches.
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Credit[]
- André De Shields (1976)
- Richard Pryor (1978)
- David Alan Grier (2006)
- Queen Latifah (2015)
- Alan Mingo, Jr. (2023)
- Wayne Brady (2023)