The Wiz at Orpheum Theater in Omaha

Roll up, roll up… The Tony Award®-winning Best Musical is returning for a history-making run at Orpheum Theater in Omaha. For the first time in 50 years, The Wiz has made a highly anticipated return to the US stage with a shiny new Broadway-bound revival. Inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, ​the super exciting Pre-Broadway National Tour began right where it started – Baltimore. And now, the “super soul musical” revival of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will be taking to the stage at the world-class.Orpheum Theater. There are dazzling costumes by 2x Academy Award® nominee Sharen Davis and a showstopping ensemble including Avery Wilson (from Scarecrow), Phillip Johnson Richardons (from Tinman), Kyle Ramar Freeman (from Lion), and newcomer Nichelle Lewis (from Dorothy). 

The Wiz revival “reconnects the disco and Motown sounds that were coming out of other, white-led 1970s shows (like Grease and Thank God It’s Friday) back to their Black roots.” The super soul show revels in Black musical styles and choreography by the masterful JaQuel Knight. There’s trap and Afrobeat right through to ballroom. Secure your tickets now and follow the yellow brick road with Dorothy at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha. 

The Wiz Tickets

“Every moment bursts with color and humor” – Vogue

The Wiz at Orpheum Theater in Omaha

The Wiz is playing at Orpheum Theater in Omaha from 18th – 23rd November 2025. The 2,600-seat live performance venue is a former vaudeville house that has hosted the very best in local and national performing arts for almost a century. Opened in 1927, it’s located in Omaha, Nebraska. Orpheum Theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it the perfect venue to showcase this classic show. Known and loved as a world class venue, Orpheum Theater has hosted top shows like Hamilton, Les Miserables, and The Lion King. With a rich history like that, it’s no wonder a cult musical like The Wiz is next on the roster. 

“There’s plenty of gold along this yellow brick road” – The New York Times

Synopsis

The Wiz is a fan (and critic!!) favorite musical centered on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The production features an awesome mix of rock, gospel, and soul music. The Broadway smash hit sees Dorothy Gale, a Kansas farm girl and her pet dog Toto, take on a tornado-fueled journey to the magical land of Oz. 

When she arrives, Dorothy finds out she can only return home by seeking help from the Wizard of Oz in Emerald City. The story follows her as voyages along the Yellow Brick Road, plagued with doubt and fear at what could come (“Soon As I Get Home”). During her journey, she becomes friends with the iconic Scarecrow (“I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday”), Tin Man (“Slide Some Oil To Me”), and Cowardly Lion (“I’m a Mean Ole Lion”). The characters help Dorothy battle the Wicked Witch of the West. In the end, Dorothy and her new buddies find out that there is “no place like home,” and that they already have everything they need – a brain, heart, and courage. 

Creative Team

The touring Broadway revival of The Wiz is led by director Schele Williams, choreographer JaQuel Knight, playwright William F. Brown, music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, additional material by Amber Ruffin, music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Joseph Joubert, vocal and music arrangements by Allen René Louis, dance music arrangements by Adam Blackstone and Terence Vaughn, and music direction by Paul Byssainthe Jr. The creative team also includes scenic designer Hannah Beachler, costume designer Sharen Davis, lighting designer Ryan J. O’Gara, sound designer Jon Weston, video and projections by Daniel Brodie, wigs by Charles G. LaPointe, and makeup by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche.

All the while, the incredible cast includes Avery Wilson (Scarecrow), Phillip Johnson Richardons (Tinman), Kyle Ramar Freeman (Lion), and newcomer Nichelle Lewis (Dorothy). The ensemble includes Lauryn Adams, Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Alan Mingo, Jr., Anthony Murphy, Dustin Praylow, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Wilson.

History and Awards

Based on 1900’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, The Wiz previewed at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit in fall 1974. There was also a run at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia from 11th – 21st December 1974. A commercial was also released that saw the cast singing “Ease On Down the Road.” This was such a hit that the song made its way onto the Billboard Soul Singles chart, skyrocketing to No. 19 and hitting the No. 42 mark in the Hot 100. 

The Wiz featured a large-scale big-budget and an all-Black cast. The production was penned by playwright Charlie Smalls and William F. Brown, and debuted at the Majestic Theatre on the 5th of January 1975. The musical ran for a total of 1,672 performances before wrapping on on the 28th of January 1979, and earned a staggering eight Tony nominations, winning seven categories, including Best Musical. And, for the first time in decades, the musical returned home to the U.S. stage with an all-new Broadway revival in 2024. It opened its curtains in Baltimore – the same place it premiered nearly 50 years ago! 

“GRADE A: Run, don’t ease, on down to this spectacular revival. This is the best iteration yet!” – Entertainment Weekly