The Wiz at Keller Auditorium

Are you keen on having a fun musical experience? Well, here’s a classic that will definitely bring your spirits up! The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a Broadway gem that has taken the 70s by storm! The classic epic was a riveting twist of the iconic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! Based on the fantasy story by L. Frank Baum, The Wiz features African American culture with stunning soul, hip-hop, and jazz as its outstanding score! This 2026, the musical is hitting the road and will be lighting up all the major venues, including the Keller Auditorium in Portland, Oregon! Get set for a magnificent spring season as The Wiz runs from February 3 to 8, complete with matinee and evening shows on the weekends! Yes, this is definitely your chance to witness a Broadway phenomenon! So if you’re up for some 130 minutes of fun, great tunes, and an awesome legendary story, then you should hurry and secure tickets as soon as possible! 

This 2025-2026 season comes banging with a new groove because The Wiz is making its phenomenal return! The Broadway classic is getting a very much revamped revival and it’s bringing terrific soul, jazz, gospel, and hip-hop music to the big stage! It’s a thrilling production indeed packed with astounding songs, a stellar cast, and a beloved storyline! With original book by William F. Brown and additional book by Amber Ruffin. The revival also features stunning choreography from Jaquel Knight and direction by Schele Williams. Moreover, the music and lyrics from legendary Tony Award-winning composer Charlie Smalls with contributions from Luther Vandross, Harold Wheeler, and George Faison. 

The Wiz Tickets

The original musical premiered on Broadway in 1975 following incredibly successful try out runs in Philadelphia and Detroit. The Broadway production delivered a total of 1,672 performances running from 1975 to 1979. During this epic run, the musical also went on a U.S. tour in 1976 followed by a groundbreaking film adaptation in 1978. The Wiz became so popular that it became a wildly beloved cultural phenomenon. Signature songs included the gold certified track “Ease on Down the Road,” “A Brand New Day,” “Home,” “Everybody Rejoice,” and tons more. In 1984, the Wiz was given a grand revival on Broadway. The highly anticipated restaging also went on an international tour in Mexico plus a national outing. 

THE REVIVAL 

Finally, the show is brought to the modern age as the 2024 revival continues to make waves. After its initial run in 2024, the Wiz garnered over $1.5 million gross ticket sales in its first week of sales. During its final run on Broadway, it performed a whopping $2 million in sales, making it the highest and most successful week. The musical’s limited run had fans demanding for more. Hence, the years 2025 to 2026 is the moment that fans across the U.S. can catch this soul bonanza right in their backyard. The Wiz delivers a total of 30 stops in key cities, with an eight-show run from February 3 to 8, 2026 in Portland’s Keller Auditorium. 

“The House of Dorothy never looked better” – Queerty

THE CREATIVE TEAM & CAST

The revival is led by director Schele Williams, an acclaimed creative mind who has spearheaded a number of groundbreaking productions on Broadway. The original choreography by Geoffrey Holder is given a much more modern twist by award-winning choreographer Jaquel Knight. Meanwhile, the new orchestration, music supervision, and arrangements were led by the esteemed Joseph Joubert. Meanwhile, impressive creative minds made this epic a phenomenal success. The team includes Hannah Beachler on scenic design, Sharen Davis on costume, Ryan O. Gara on lighting, and Jon Weston on sound. 

The casting on this revival is a much revered success. The stellar team includes Dana Cimone as Dorothy, Alan Mingo Jr. as The Wiz, and Sheherazade as Glinda. Dorothy’s friends were also given a brillinat casting with the Tinman being played by D. Jerome, Scarecrow by Elijah Ahmad Lewis, and Lion by Cal Mitchell.

THE WIZ’S LEGACY 

The impact from The Wiz became an unprecedented cultural phenomenon. For starters, the initial production ran for a total of four years followed by a successful tour and a stunning film adaption with music legends Diana Ross and Michael Jackson as part of the cast. The musical also won countless awards in 1975, scoring seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and five Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical. In its 2024 revival, The Wiz bagged two Theatre World Awards and a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. 

‘There’s plenty of gold to be found along this yellow brick road.” – The New York Times

REVIEWS

Like the original, the revival of The Wiz was a phenomenal success with theater critics. The production received rave reviews from Broadway authorities and fanatics alike. “Let me start with a confession: I’ve never liked “The Wizard of Oz.” But give me a retelling with, say, a Black Dorothy and Black Oz, and I’m immediately clicking my heels.” wrote The New York Times. The review proceeded to give praise for the outstanding revival, “(The Wiz) showcases creative visuals and some standout performances.” In the end, the New York Times gave this epic their thumbs up, ‘There’s plenty of gold to be found along this yellow brick road.”

“The Wiz wins with modern touches and ties to the past.” – WBUR

Over at the Houston Press, the musical also gained glowing remarks, “A trippy view into the past and great singing.” The article continued to expound how black musicals are making a mark in Broadway but The Wiz remains at the top of the food chain, “The Wiz wiped them all away with its sass, bounce, and snappy tribute to MGM’s beloved film. The Houston Press continued to give props to the cast, “The cast is phenomenal, R&B belters all, and young lead Dana Cimone must be 40 going on 18.”

Meanwhile, WBUR published this headline, “The Wiz wins with modern touches and ties to the past.” The WBUR expounded how difficult it was to bring a classic into the modern age.However, The new production of The Wiz did it just right, “With such a deeply talented production history, this new production still found ways to reimagine the world of Oz while maintaining familiar elements.”

“The House of Dorothy never looked better,” wrote Queerty. “It’s not just Beyoncé having a renaissance. Riffs on The Wizard of Oz continue to captivate new generations.”

“The cast is phenomenal” – Houston Press

KELLER AUDITORIUM

The Keller Auditorium is a large capacity theater in Portland, Oregon. The venue is beloved for its incredible architecture. A new modern style has been remodeled from the original Civic Auditorium that was erected in 1917. Today, the Keller Auditorium is the archetype for modern entertainment. The 3,000 capacity venue features state of the art lights and sound system, plush seating, and incredible acoustics. Moreover, the ambiance by itself is totally worth a visit. If you’re looking to catch The Wiz at an incredible venue, you should book a trip to the Keller Auditorium this spring.

Don’t miss the groundbreaking revival of The Wiz! This roaring Broadway classic is sure to spice things up this spring season! Hurry and hit the Get Tickets link now before the shows sell out! The Wiz is playing at the Keller Auditorium for eight shows from  February 3 to 8, 2026!