THE WIZ tya
June 18 – August 1, 2027
Adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” by L. Frank Baum
Book by William F. Brown
Additional Material by Tina Tippit
Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls
In collaboration with Threads Dance Project
Finding a home for all of us.
Ease on down the road this summer and into the magic of THE WIZ! Join Dorothy as she meets Scarecrow, Lion, and the Tin-Man as they embark on a winding journey through Oz to get to the Wizard, who will grant their wishes. Infusing L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with a dazzling mix of rock and soul music, this family-friendly Broadway musical celebrates imagination, teamwork, and the joy of storytelling.
Recommended for: All Ages
Location: Mainstage Theatre
Show Run Time: 70 Minutes
Resource Guide: Coming soon!
A collaboration with:
Threads Dance Project (Threads) was founded by Karen L. Charles in 2011 when her father passed away, leaving her just enough money to produce one professional performance. Since then, Threads has produced over thirty works including its yearly Tapestries Program which supports emerging choreographers. Threads matinees, classes and workshops have reached over 2000 students in the Twin Cities Metro area. Threads also engages with the community via open rehearsals, panel discussions and movement-based workshops at their Twin Cities home – Threads Dance Nexus.
@ Copyright 1975, 1979, 2006, 2010
THE WIZ tya was developed by First Stage – Milwaukee, WI.
Jeff Frank, Artistic Director; Rob Goodman, Managing Director.
Show Calendar
Single Ticket Prices
- Ages 2-17: $20
- Ages 60+: $22
- Adults: $24
- Lap pass age 3 and under: $5
*All listed pricing includes processing fees.
Save with season tickets
A variety of ticket packages to fit everyone’s budget and lifestyle!
Accessibility
We believe that every individual should be able to access the joy, wonder, and benefits of participation in the theatre arts.
Videos
Learn more about the show
Photos
Publicity Photos by Amy Rondeau Photography
Music
Preview songs from the show!
The Creative Team
- PLAYWRIGHT – William F. Brown
- ADDITIONAL MATERIAL – Tina Tippit
- MUSIC & LYRICS – Charlie Smalls
- CO-DIRECTOR – Sandy Boren-Barrett
- CO-DIRECTOR – Karen Charles
- COLLABORATOR – Threads Dance Project
Check back closer to Opening Night for a complete list!
Creative Team Bios
William F. Brown
Playwright
William F. Brown – William (1928-2019) won a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Award for writing the book of The Wiz, one of the most successful musicals ever to come to Broadway and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical of the Year. Other Broadway credits include The Girl in the Freudian Slip (author); New Faces of 1968 (head writer); and A Broadway Musical (book). Off-Broadway and in regional theatre, Bill wrote the books for other critically-acclaimed musicals, including How to Steal an Election, Damon’s Song, Twist and The Nutley Papers. He was head writer for A Salute to Those Who Served, a two-hour musical event with a cast of over 200, held in Washington, D.C. at the dedication of the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Tina Tippit
Additional Material
Christina “Tina” Tippit Brown – Tina, writer, photographer, performer and longtime wife and collaborator of The Wiz librettist William F. Brown. In the theatre, Tina Tippit has been a bookwriter for THE WIZ (with Bill Brown) and TWIST; the bookwriter of the musical GRINGO; co-bookwriter of a musical HAVE A NICE DAY; also of a musical revue, COLE; co-sketch writer for NEW FACES OF 1991; co-author of two comedies: MIXED DOUBLES, and STOLEN BY THE GYPSIES; co-creator of a television pilot, ON THE ROCKS, and writer for the TV soap opera AS THE WORLD TURNS.
Charlie Smalls
Music & Lyrics
Charlie Smalls – Charlie (1943-1987), a musical prodigy, began playing piano at age three. After graduating from The Juilliard School in 1961, he began a varied performing and composing career. He was a pianist with the New York Jazz Repertory Company and toured with Harry Belafonte, Hugh Masekela and others. Smalls began working on The Wiz in 1970, dedicating three years to completing the score. The Wiz opened on Broadway in 1975 and Smalls won two Tony Awards, for music and lyrics. He also wrote the score for the 1976 film Drum.
Sandy Boren-Barrett
Co-Director
Sandy Boren-Barrett – Sandy has been with Stages Theatre Company (STC) since 1990, allowing her to pursue her passion for theatre production and education, along with community building theatre serving young audiences. During her time in leadership STC has been awarded National recognition with the 2017 Harold Oaks Award for Innovative Contributions to the Field of Theatre for Young Audiences, as well as the 2018 – 50/50 Applause Award for promoting gender equity with playwrights. STC’s 2019-2020 season selection was highlighted in TYA Today Magazine as an example of “a promising increase in representation specifically in works that feature the stories of contemporary young people of color”. Sandy led an international performance tour and artistic exchange with “the egg Theatre, the Young Peoples Theatre of Theatre Royal” in Bath England. Collaboration is at the core of her work, and as an accomplished director has directed over 75 productions at STC which include many new works, dance-inspired productions, and world premieres. She directed the local premier, mainstage production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the musical which remains the highest attended production at Stages Theatre Company. Sandy remains on the Executive Committee, as former chair of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) and worked with Racially Conscious Collaboration (RCC) to gain her certification in racial equity organizational leadership.
Karen Charles
Co-Director
Karen Charles – Karen is a versatile, multi-talented choreographer, educator, and founder of Threads Dance Project.
Karen’s passion for dance began at the age of five in Atlanta, GA at Jacob’s Dance Academy, Atlanta Ballet, and summer study at North Carolina School of the Arts. Karen graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Christian University with dual degrees in Ballet and Computer Science. Karen also earned her M.Ed. in Administration from Georgia State University.
Karen’s worked as a computer programmer at Westinghouse Credit Corporate (Pittsburgh, PA) and Hallmark Cards (Kansas City, MO). Karen left the corporate world and danced professionally with the Pittsburgh Choreography Continuum, Susan Warden Dance Company (Kansas City), and Room to Move Dance Company (Atlanta). She traveled to NYC as a Fellowship Recipient at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She opened her own dance school – Discovering Dance, and taught dance, computer science, and mathematics in the Atlanta Public School System for nine years.
Karen founded Threads Dance Project after the passing of her father from cancer in 2010. Her father’s death and a small bequeath from him prompted Karen to take a risk and create the dance company she had planned on paper years earlier – Threads Dance Project. In 2011, Karen founded Threads Dance Project with the mission to examine, expose and celebrate the Threads that connect us.
Karen has created over 40+ works that have been performed locally and nationally. Her work,
The Secrets of Slave Songs, was nominated for MN SAGE Dance Award (2015 ) and her company was selected to host the McKnight International Choreographic Fellow (2017). Threads has been twice featured in Dance Magazine’s What to Watch. Karen has been featured on TPT MN Originals and has been recognized for her contribution to the Black Arts community – receiving the Archousa of the Year Award from Omicron Boule (2017) and the 2020 Celebrating the Sistas Award recognizes the excellence and contributions of Black women in the Twin Cities. Charles’s dance film,
Out of the Ashes won the New York City Film & Television Best Performance Award (2022), and Best Dance Feature Film at the Experimental Film Festival (2023). Karen opened Threads Dance Nexus (2021) to serve a community dance space where people can create, learn, and experience dance.
Threads Dance Project
Collaborator
Threads Dance Company – Threads Dance is a Contemporary Dance Company & Studio in the Heart of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Threads Dance Project was founded by Karen L. Charles with the mission to examine, expose and celebrate the threads that connect us. We achieve our mission through our youth and kids dance classes for ages 4-16, our modern dance and contemporary ballet performances, our opportunities for female and BIPOC choreographers, and by providing space for arts and community building at the Threads Dance Nexus.
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Have questions about auditions, volunteer roles, or job openings? Reach out to our team—we’re here to help you find your perfect fit at Stages Theatre Company.