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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1981)
Page 8 Portland Observer March 12,1881 The eginning: ACT ONE Early in 1903, a musical comedy opened in New York City at the old M ajestic Theatre on Columbus Circle called The H izard o f Oz. " It was the first stage adap ta tion o f L. Frank Baum's classic c h ild re n ’ s story. Repeating the success it enjoyed out o f town the previous fa ll, the Grand Opera House in Chicago, it took New York by storm and ran for eighteen months. It became one o f the greatest successes o f the firs t decade o f the century, surpassed only by "F lo ra d o ra " and "T h e M erry W id o w ." Ann Laughlin played Dorothy, Arthur H ill played the Cowardly Lion, but the overnight hits in the show were two minor vaudeville stars, Fred Stone as the Scarecrow, and David M on tgomery as the Tin Woodman. Stone’ s brother Edwin also gained considerable notoriety as Imogene the Cow. Imgone the Cow? Wait a minute! How does that con cept fit into "The Wizard?" Well, in 1902 the director, Julian Mitchell, decided that training a real dog to play Toto was too time-consuming a chore, and that it would be enormously d iffic u lt to have an actor perform as a dog (although that feat was neatly accomplished five years later in "Peter P a n" when Nana was portrayed by a human being.) So D orothy’ s pet dog became a pet spotted calf, and lmogne the Cow worked with much success. Touring companies o f "T h e Wizard o f O z " were still playing to packed houses across the country as late as 1911. ACT TWO Early in 1975, a musical comedy opened in New York City at the new Majestic Theatre on West 44th Street called "The W7j” its the latest adaptation o f L. Frank Baum’ s classic children’s story. Repeating the success it enjoyed out o f town the previous fa ll, in Baltim ore (where it premiered October 21, 1974), D etro it, and Philadelphia, it’s been taking New York by storm and is already one o f the most successful all-Black musical comedies yet produced. All-Black? Wait a minute! How does that concept fit into "T h e W izard?" Well, in 1971, Ken Harper, the producer, intent upon try in g a new version o f the familiar property, hit upon the idea o f an exotic produc tion using an all-Black cast. William F. Brown wrote the book; Charlie Smalls composed the score; Geoffrey- Holder directed; George Faison choreographed, and the result? As Ted Kalem o f Time magazine said: “ The show, with all new music and lyrics, is saucy with Black urban humor. Its talk is jumping jivernacular, its walk a big city strut, its dances have a blowtorch frenzy, and its songs range from a warm gospel glow to the rock beat o f a riveter mining asphalt." Curtain? Not likely. Oz seems to be an institution that will be reborn many times, many ways, in many generations. The Wiz performs at Portland's Paramount NBC critic Leonard Probst stated it very well: "T H E H IZ is cleverly conceived and enormously funny...The best adult/children’ s entertainment to reach Broadway since The Magic Show. THE WIZ is Black magic, sassy, original and a trip worth taking.” THE WIZ is coming Io the P ortland Paramount f o r two performances on Wednesday and Thursday, March ISA 19at 8 PM And what a hit THE W IZ is! The winner o f Seven Tony Awards including Best'Musical Score, THE W iz is playing to standing room audiences on tour everywhere. THE W H IZ is a contemporary musical treatment o f L. Frank Baum’ s “ The W onderful W izard o f Oz. " W illiam Glover, Drama C ritic for the Associated Press stated his enthusiasm in contem porary hyperbole, TH E W IZ is a wow! Even Judy Garland fans can cheer. A giving, colorful, jovial musical.” In contrast to much o f Broadway’ s recent offerings, the music from THE W t7 is hannv and unheat - a compelling reason for capturing the Grammy Award’s coveted Best Album o f the Year Award. The nationally touring stage production appearing here w ill contain a ll o f the p roduction elements so beloved in the Broadway p roduction including the irrepressable dog Toto. Originally written by William F. Brown with musical score by Charlie Smalls, this all new national touring p roduction o f TH E W IZ w ill be produced by Barry Singer o f K im -T o dd , L T D ., in association with Broadway Productions’ Dyke Spear, Executive Producer who will be handling tour direction and promotion. Spear and Singer have become North America’ s most active producers o f touring Broadway a ttractio ns. T heir jo in t e ffo rts have culm inated in national tours o f H A IR , O H ! C A L C U T T A :, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. GODSPELL and GREASE in over one hundred and seventy-five Am erican and Canadian communities during the past five years. y M arline G irault as D orthv - M artine’ s professional career began in the role o f Tuptim in a local production o f "The King and I, ” a role in which she received most favorable reviews from the New York D aily News. In 1979, 15 year old M artine toured Philadelphia, Baltim ore and New York as L illy Mae in "T h e Me Nobody Knows. " In June o f 1979, M artine starred in ’ the first all-Black version o f "The Wizard o f O z" in the role o f Dorothy, originally played on the screen by Judy- G arland. A t the age o f 16, M artine is a thorough professional. Besides singing, dancing and acting, she speaks French fluently. Preston Smith - is the W izard! Previous stage ex perience for Preston Smith includes the portrayal o f Tony in two productions o f West Side Story and the leading role in Rhimes and Times o f Edward Eliscu, a revue which he performed in the summer o f 1978 and Presenting to Some and Introducing to Others Featuring 1979. The 6’ 1 tenor who makes his home in Danbury, Connecticut, did lead vocals w ith " C o a litio n " and "C arism a" from 1971 through 1978. More recently, he has been perform ing with an accompanist in clubs in New Haven and Avon, Connecticut. The Exotic “Cattani Lingerie of California THE WIZ: WHO'S WHO 0 Ray Harris Ray Harris - Scarecrow - M r. Harris is a young dan- cer/actor from Ohio. He has danced w ith the A lvin Ailey Dance Company since 1978 and has performed with the celebrated group in New Y o rk’ s City Center and the Kennedy Center in W ashington, D.C. With the Alvin Ailey W orkshop Company, he toured Trinidad and Barbados earlier this year. Earlier in his career, he was a member o f the Daton C ontem porary Dance Company and the Karamu House Dancers. He was a soloist on the M erv G riffin Show and performed in several Karamu House theatrical productions including the role o f Barnaby in "H ello Dolly. ” n » i « a « pate: Sunday - March 29,1981 Great Time: 5:00 - 9:00 PM Spring Place: "On The Rocks" 15N.W. 6th Larry Brown Larry Brown plays the Lion in this WIZ production. His stage career began while attending North Carolina Central University serving as featured vocalist with the University Touring Chorale. Since then, his stage credits have included fulm inations in " O ff- White, " Nathan D etroit in "G uys and D o lls " and the B illy H oliday Theatre production o f "Tambourines to G lory” in New York C ity. The versatile singer and actor hails from N orth C arolina and dedicates his performance to his family and friends, his main source o f inspiration. Preston Smith Sponsored by The Oregonian Ladies" O °° Admission: $2.50 Single $5.00 Couple & oor p . I Looks • Curls etc. • Design hair cutting and styling • Creative hair relaxing 9 Hennas TONDA LA Y ERA DESIGNER SALON 5401 \ L ( u ll\ H int 2K4 I t ' l l
