Ease on down the road, and right into Memphis.
The Wiz is back in the Bluff City for the first time in 33 years, and not only is it a Broadway revival, but it’s also a celebration of Black culture and Memphis soul. Showing at the Orpheum Theatre through July 27, this showstopper lands in a city whose roots are steeped in the very rhythms that gave The Wiz its spirit.
Mayor Paul Young made it official: July 22 is now The Wiz Day in Memphis. As Demarcus Suggs, the City’s Director of Creative and Cultural Economy, read the proclamation on opening night, the message was clear: The Wiz matters. To Memphis. To culture. To us.
Here’s how to make the most of this moment:
🎭 Step 1: See the Show
The Wiz reimagines The Wizard of Oz through the lens of Black identity, empowerment, and joy. Originally premiering in 1975 at the height of the Black Arts Movement, the show has always been about reclaiming space and rewriting the narrative.
As Ryan Jones from the National Civil Rights Museum shared at a recent cast panel, The Wiz reminds us that “we are the authors of our own stories, and we belong on every stage.”
Get your tickets at orpheum-memphis.com before the final curtain call on July 27.
🍽️ Step 2: “Ease on Downtown” for a Bite Inspired by the Show
Make your night on the town complete with a culinary adventure curated by Downtown Memphis Commission. The Ease on Downtown Dine Around is a walking food tour inspired by The Wiz, featuring menu items from local restaurants like Margie’s 901 Homemade Ice Cream, Amelia Gene’s, and ESCO Restaurant and Tapas (to name a few). Each spot offers a dish or drink themed around the show’s characters and music.
Think “Ruby Slipper” cocktails, “We’re Not in Kansas Anymore” martinis, and more. Grab your foodie friends and stroll through the streets of the Downtown Memphis.
🗣️ Step 3: Hear from the Cast
The Choose901 team sat down with several cast members at the National Civil Rights Museum, where their passion for the show (and Memphis) shone through.
Alan Mingo Jr. (The Wiz)
“This show connects with people in a way I’ve never seen before. Everyone has a Wiz story, whether it was watching it with their grandma or seeing it in their city growing up. That connection runs deep.”
Kyla Jade (Aunt Em & Evillene)
“In 1975, Broadway wasn’t the place for Black stories. The Wiz changed that. And now, 50 years later, we’re still telling it, but with even more truth, more joy, more vulnerability.”
“Memphis is so wide in music ranges, so is the show. You have every style of music, every genre of music, and it allows us to be expressive. I think that’s what Memphis does well. You have every type of music, every styling, every look. Fat girls, skinny girls, old men, young folks. Memphis knows how to present music and music well.”
Cal Mitchell (The Lion)
“Black joy is resistance. To see us shine, to be fully ourselves on that stage, that’s power.”
Sheherazade (Glinda)
“It’s a blessing to be able to be a part of history and to be able to share Black joy and bring our strength to the stage in a time where it’s now needed more than ever, where they’re trying to silence our voices, so it’s pretty big for me.”
💛 Step 4: Reflect on the Legacy
Memphis is part of The Wiz‘s story. From Beale Street to Soulsville, the city’s sound and struggle are the backbone of The Wiz‘s message: that home is where you make it, and joy is your birthright.
As Glinda herself (played by Sheherazade) said, “This moment, this role, this city, it’s bigger than a show. It’s about reminding people, especially our young ones, that they’re magic too.”
🧭 Final Step: Share the Magic
Snap a photo in front of the Orpheum. Tag your dinner stop downtown. Tell your own Wiz story on social media with #Wiz901 and #EaseOnDowntown.
So grab your tickets, call your crew, and make it a night. The Yellow Brick Road has led The Wiz back home. Let’s welcome it the Memphis way.
