The Wiz

WILLIAM F. BROWN (1928-2019) (Book) is a Tony Award nominated and Drama Desk Award winner of The Wiz, one of the most successful musicals ever to come to Broadway and a 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/ regional credits include Twist, How to Steal an Election, Damon’s Song, and The Nutley Papers. He has written and illustrated five books, as well as illustrating six others. Former President of the Theatre Artists Workshop of Connecticut.

CHARLIE  SMALLS  (1943-1987)  (Music  & Lyrics) began playing music at the age of 5 and by age 6 had earned a music scholarship to what is now the Henry Street Settlement. He went to Julliard at age 11, staying until he graduated in 1961. Mr. Smalls first adapted The Wizard of Oz musical into The Wiz, setting the tone for this iconic show, and winning him two Tony Awards and a Drama Desk Award in 1975 as well as a Grammy Award for Best Theater Album in 1976. He also composed for film scores for Drum and The Wiz. Mr. Smalls earned another Grammy in 1981 for his song “That’s What Miracles Are All About” on the Grammy Award- winning album to the Broadway show Lena Horne: The Lady & Her Music. He contributed two songs to the Grammy Award-winning album Lena Horne: The Lady & Her Music on Broadway. His legacy lives on as he remains an important and influential African-American voice.

Amber Ruffin is a writer, executive producer, and host of the Emmy and WGA Award-nominated series The Amber Ruffin Show on Peacock. She is also an Emmy and WGA Award-nominated writer and performer for NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers. Ruffin was the first African American female to write for a late-night network talk show in the U.S. She wrote and performed on Comedy Central’s Detroiters and was a regular narrator on the network’s Drunk History. Next up, Amber is set to supervise and executive produce on the NBC put pilot Aunties created by Shantira Jackson. Ruffin was previously a performer at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, the iO Theater and the Second City in Chicago. In addition, she was a writer/performer for the 2018 and 2019 Golden Globe Awards and has written for the series A Black Lady Sketch Show. Ruffin is a New York Times bestselling author, along with her sister Lacey Lamar, of You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories of Racism, published by Grand Central Publishing. Recently, Ruffin was named to the 2021 TIME100 Next List, TIME’s list of the next 100 most influential people in the world. Amber has collaborated on campaigns with the CDC, Hologic, and more.

Schele Williams is a director committed to cultivating new musicals and devised work with authentic representation on stage and off. Profiled in Variety’s Top 10 Broadway to Watch, she is currently directing the upcoming Broadway revivals of Aida (Disney Theatrical Group) and co-directing the Broadway-bound production of The Notebook. She will also be helming Hidden Figures, currently in development (Disney Theatrical Group). Schele has directed at regional theaters and festivals across the country and has a long history of work on Broadway in Rent, Aida, and Motown: The Musical. Passionate about pairing social justice with the arts, Schele is a founding member of Black Theatre United, an organization committed to dismantling systemic racism on our streets and stages. She has been a member of Broadway Inspirational Voices for over two decades and serves as Chairperson of the Board, and also serves on the board of Broadway Care Equity Fights AIDS. Schele is the author of the children’s book Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History, recipient of a 2022 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor.

JaQuel Knight is a director, creative director, entrepreneur and critically acclaimed, award-winning choreographer known for creating some of the most memorable moments in dance and entertainment history. His rise to global recognition came at the age of 18, when he created the choreography for Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).” As a choreographer, JaQuel has lent his creative expertise to projects such as Beyoncé’s Black Is King film and Homecoming documentary for Netflix; the Shakira Super Bowl Halftime performance with Jennifer Lopez; and Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” video. Additionally, he has worked with artists like Marshmello, Cher, Britney Spears, The Chicks, Miley Cyrus, Pink, Zara Larsson, Victoria Monét, Ben Platt, Kanye West, Pharrell, Diddy, N*E*R*D, and Big Sean. As a director, JaQuel has worked on projects for Megan Thee Stallion, Pharrell, Chance the Rapper, Zara Larsson, Muni Long, and more. JaQuel served as creative director and choreographer for all things Megan Thee Stallion in 2020, and Diddy this past year, and is gearing up to direct his first feature film. In 2013, JaQuel launched his own production company, J.K. Creatives, Inc, which oversees artists, songwriters, and producers, and produces music videos & short films. J.K. Creatives houses its own media department, where JaQuel creates and develops content for TV, film, and digital, from scripted features to non-scripted competitions and series. He also operates his eponymous non-profit organization, The JaQuel Knight Foundation, targeting community focused initiatives aimed to build, uplift and inspire the next generation of artists. He is recognized as the first pop/hip-hop commercial choreographer to copyright his choreography with “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” and has launched Knight Choreography and Music Publishing where he and his manager work to ensure that choreographers and songwriters receive royalties for their compositions.

JOSEPH JOUBERT (Music Supervision, Orchestrations, & Music Arrangements). Grammy and Emmy Award nominee. Credits include Broadway’s The Color Purple; Caroline, or Change (Roundabout); Motown The Musical (music director); Disaster; Leap of Faith. Off-Broadway: Carmen Jones, Violet, Hercules (Paper Mill). TV: “Smash.” Film: Respect, Nights in Rodanthe. Recording: Patti Labelle, Ashford & Simpson, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Jennifer Holiday, Norm Lewis, Tom Kitt, Fantasia, Stephanie Mills.

Broadway: Parade, Paradise Square; Prince of Broadway; She Loves Me; American in Paris; On the 20th Century; You Can’t Take It with You; Bridges of Madison County; How to Succeed; 13; The Color Purple; Caroline, or Change; Nine; Thoroughly Modern Millie. Off-Broadway and West End credits.

Kirk Cambridge Del-Pesche (Makeup Design): Multiculturated Vincentian born Naturalized American. Make-up designfor Broadway: Trouble In Mind, Clyde’s, Skelton Crew, Birthday Candles, Skin Of Our Teeth, For Colored Girls, Strange Loop, POTUS, Into The Woods, The Piano Lesson, Ain’t No Mo & Camelot.Off-Broadway: Merry Wives, Sand Blasted, Confederates, Into The Woods and Melissa Etheridge – My Window. Regional: Disney’s Hercules. Opera: This Little Light Of Mine. National Tour: Into The Woods.

EMILY MADIGAN (Associate Director). Regional Choreography credits: Park Square Theatre: A Raisin in the Sun; Minneapolis Musical Theatre: Leap Of Faith, Toxic Avenger; Rathaus Presents: Cabarave #sexuality, MadHaus, Love.

Trumps.Hate, Light the World, Love Languages. Associate Choreographer credits: The Notebook, Broadway. Regional: Children’s Theatre Company: An American Tail; Ford’s Theatre: Shout Sister Shout; Chicago Shakespeare Theater: The Notebook: Olney Theatre Center: AD 16; Marriott Theatre: Grease, Footloose; Seattle Rep: Shout Sister Shout.

ASHLEY SELDON (Associate Choreographer), a Washington, D.C. native and University of the Arts alumna, is a dynamic, classically trained dancer who has toured with legends like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher, Pharell, and Megan Thee Stallion. She assisted choreography for The Wiz on Broadway and continues to shine across TV and stage. Most recently, she co-choreographed Mariah Carey’s Vegas residency, The Celebration of MiMi, and her latest Christmas tour.

THE TRC COMPANY (Casting). Broadway: Dead Outlaw, BOOP! The Musical, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Left on Tenth, The Outsiders, SIX, Aladdin. National Tours: The Phantom Of The Opera, Water for Elephants, Beauty & The Beast, Back To The Future, Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables. The TRC Company is proud to continue the casting legacy of Tara Rubin Casting and Johnson-Liff Casting.

ALLEN RENÉ LOUIS (Vocal Arrangements, Music Arrangements) is a Grammy nominated Haitian-American producer, arranger, composer, and creative director. His artistry is deeply rooted in his cultural background and church upbringing. He has recently collaborated with Yale Repertory Theatre, National Theatre of Parramatta, Australia and The American Theatre Wing. Louis is currently the Artistic Director of the Grammy Award-nominated and Tony Award Honors recipient Broadway Inspirational Voices. 

ADAM BLACKSTONE (Dance Music Arranger). Multifaceted musician, Tony nominated, Emmy- winning music director, and CEO of BASSic Black Entertainment. His Legacy albums received 2023 and 2024 Grammy nominations. His credits as MD include “The Super Bowl Halftime Show”, Oscars and NBC’s “That’s My Jam.” For this project, Blackstone partnered with musician and super producer Terence Vaughn (Hamilton, Grammy’s, SuperBowl).

MICHAEL AARONS (Music Coordinator). Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Broadway: The Heart of Rock and Roll, & Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, Hamilton, Aladdin. Upcoming Broadway: Sunset Blvd., Tammy Faye, Boop!, Smash, The Devil Wears Prada. Off-Broadway: Little Shop Of Horrors. Current tours: Hamilton, Aladdin, Frozen, Company, Mamma Mia!, Moulin Rouge!, Jagged Little Pill. www.m2music.nyc.

VICTOR SIMONSON (Music Director). Tours: MJ The Musical, Hamilton (And Peggy), Lion King (Rafiki), Color Purple (1st National). Regional: West Side Story; Wicked (Kennedy Center); Shout, Sister, Shout (Ford’s Theater). CD: “Victory, Introducing Victor Simonson”. Composer of the Groundbreaking HipHopera Stomping Grounds. All Praise to God for my wife, Ciara and two children, Victoria and Immanuel!

BOND THEATRICAL (Tour Marketing & Publicity) is an independently-owned theatrical booking, marketing and publicity company representing award-winning Broadway shows and live entertainment properties. Current shows include: & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, Annie, Champions of Magic, Clue, Dear Evan Hansen, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Elf, Hell’s Kitchen, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Little Shop of Horrors, Maybe Happy Ending, MJ, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Old Friends, Peter Pan, Sailor Moon, Shucked, SIX, Spamalot, Stereophonic, Swept Away, The Heart of Rock and Roll, The Phantom of the Opera, The Who’s Tommy, The Wiz, Tina — The Tina Turner Musical and Water for Elephants. BondTheatrical.com

THE BOOKING GROUP (Tour Booking Agency) has represented 28 Tony Award winning Best Musicals and Plays. Current tours include The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Funny Girl, Hadestown, Hamilton, Mamma Mia!, Mean Girls, MJ The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, Parade, Pretty Woman, Six, Some Like It Hot, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, and The Wiz. Future tours include: A Wonderful World, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Karate Kid, The Notebook, and Suffs.

B SCENE (Sponsorship Agency) creates authentic alliances for some of the world’s most dynamic brands, including PGA, U.S. Figure Skating & Broadway. Led by Tim Birch, Randy Domain, Joe Hamlin & Gina Vernaci, they bring the best practices of fan-driven approaches from pro sports to live performances and cultural partnerships. Bscene.net

GENTRY & ASSOCIATES (General Manager) has managed nearly 250 national and international touring theatrical productions over the past 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, The Great Gatsby Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mark Twain Tonight!, Cameron Mackintosh presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, Water for Elephants, and The Wiz.

NICOLE McCLENDON OSBALDESTON (Company Manager) (she/her) Nicole has been helping entertain audiences around the world for over 20 years.  Selected projects include Promise of a Love Song, Tap Dogs, 42^nd Street Asia, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, School of Rock, Beautiful the Carole King Musical. Love to Jonathan, Bella, Juju & Evie, her favorite adventures of all.

RL CAMPBELL (Production Stage Manager). Broadway: A Wonderful World, Bring It On. National Tours: A Soldier’s Play, Pretty Woman, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, Bring it On. Off- Off Broadway: The Choking Game. Regional: CTG/Ahmanson, Alliance Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, Theatre Emory, Horizon Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Theatre in the Square, The Wallis, Utah Festival Opera, Freddie Hendricks YEA. Thank you, Ancestors.

NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS (Producer) is an industry-leading producer of touring theatrical productions, committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide for more than 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, The Great Gatsby Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mark Twain Tonight!, Cameron Mackintosh presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, Water for Elephants, and The Wiz.

JOI HENRY (Assistant Company Manager) has been a theater enthusiast her entire life and thanks God for every opportunity she is granted. Past credits include Jaja’s African Hair Braiding Regional Tour (u/s), Pete the Cat’s Hollywood Adventure (Stage, Production and Tour Manager), and Gas South Theater (Production Coordinator & Tech Supervisor).

HOLLIS  DUGGANS-QUEENSS  ( Stage  Manager). New York: Fairycakes, Space Dogs, 2021 Tony Awards. National Tour: Les Misérables, To Kill a Mockingbird, Warriors Don’t Cry (TheaterWorks USA). Regional: The Producers, My Three Angels, and You Can’t Take It with You at Barnstormers Theater.

KYRAH MICHAEL (Assistant Stage Manager). Received her BFA from Montclair State University where she studied Stage Management. She is excited to be joining The Wiz! Her previous touring experience includes: The Book of Mormon & Mean Girls. Her other previous works includes being a Production Assistant during the Pre-Broadway Workshop of Some Like it Hot, and for The Book of Mormon Broadway post pandemic in 2021.