google-site-verification=cXrcMGa94PjI5BEhkIFIyc9eZiIwZzNJc4mTXSXtGRM ‘The Wiz’ returns to Broadway! Come for the nostalgia, fall in love with the new - 360WISE MEDIA
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‘The Wiz’ returns to Broadway! Come for the nostalgia, fall in love with the new

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Director Schele Williams talks about respiratory new, “unabashedly black” life into the Broadway classic “The Wiz.”

I promise: you will not miss Toto. Outstanding New Broadway Revival”Wizard”, as director Schele Williams said, “it feels like we are hugging you.” A treasured history of Black America from the 1978 film version starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, itself inspired by on Broadway in 1975 hit starring Stephanie Mills and directed by Geoffrey Holder, the stage version of “The Wiz” transforms L. Frank Baum’s children’s classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (and its acclaimed 1939 film adaptation) into an Afrofuturistic fantasy that transcends generations in its lessons in self-confidence, facing fears and taking risks. Starring Wayne Brady (as the Wizard), Deborah Cox (as “The Good Witch” Glinda) and influential newcomer Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, this latest adaptation is electrifying.

Wiza’s stellar creative team includes Oscar-winning production designer Hannah Beachler (both “Black Panther”), choreographer JaQuel Knight (known for Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on)”), costume designer Sharen Davis (“Ray,” “Dreamgirls”) and Oscar-winning wig designer Mia Neal – suggest that there is a wizard-like leader behind it all, and that leader is theater director Schele Williams.

The director of “The Notebook” on Broadway and former co-director of “Motown: The Musical,” Williams saw the original version of “The Wiz” at age 7. TheGrio spoke with her over the phone from Long Island, just before her death, on a well-deserved vacation where she discussed the Blackness-Blackness of her vision for “The Wiz,” the challenges of remixing all the previous versions of the story, and more.

Tell us in detail how you took on directorial duties for the new version of “The Wiz.”

In August 2020, I got a call offering me the opportunity to direct the series. I was surprised because I didn’t even know there was a (new) version of “The Wiz”. It was truly the most amazing conversation I’ve ever had. The first thing I said when I talked to the producers was, “I would like a couple of months,” because I really wanted to put in the effort: read the books (and) review the material. I thought, “Please send me every version of the scripts you possibly can get your hands on,” (and) I actually looked through the L. Frank Baum documentary. You know, all the stuff.

Then I came back with lots of cards; many things I moved to wherever I felt like it, these are the moments when I wanted to learn more; here are the songs that I think serve this moment in a new place; that’s what I want from “The Wiz” right now, and that’s the overall message that I think might be important for this generation – that’s a little bit different than the message that I think we needed in the ’70s. I came back with these things and said, ” This is the direction I need to take this story,” and everybody agreed.

In addition to standards comparable to “He’s the Wiz”, “Ease on Down the Road” and “Home”, there was even new music comparable to the song “Poppies” and pop. Are there plans for a soundtrack?

Oh, it’s, yes. We are recording it at the end of April. I do know they try to get it out as quickly as possible.

Wayne Brady as The Wizard (Photo: Jeremy-Daniel for “The Wiz” on Broadway)

Was there any concern that the show can be too black for white audiences?

There were no worries. It was a mandate. I believed to myself, “This show is going to be unapologetically black.”

What was your rule of thumb when remixing previous versions of “The Wiz” and “The Wizard of Oz”?

Interviews were held with all creators. It was about where is the best time to nod to whatever piece of mental property we wish to nod to and feel like, “This is the organic place to do it.” In fact, there was no motion plan at the starting. But once we began, we thought, “Wow, this would be a great time to put a book out there; that will best serve the moment.

We knew it was very important for me to create some touchstones for whatever version of this story you knew and loved. We wanted to verify this. The starting point for “The Wiz” might have been the book; it may very well be “The Wizard of Oz”; it may very well be “The Wiz” on Broadway; it may very well be the movie “The Wiz”. We wanted to say, “We love all these versions and we love your memories of them, and we want to honor that. We also want to take you on this journey and hope you can embrace and love it too.

My favorite scene was their entrance into the No Sleep club in Emerald City – all forms of dance, from “Soul Train” vibes to Afrobeat and club music.

It was so funny because in the movie (during the Emerald City sequence) it’s obvious that “I wouldn’t be caught dead (in) red”, right? They did it with colors and fashion. We had to make fashion. But we are not a movie. You can’t snap your fingers and suddenly everything (turns) red, everything (turns) blue. Magic can happen in the cinema. In (theater) we deal with different types of magic. One of the questions we asked ourselves was: “We want to give a nod to the film at this point. How do we do it?” Then JaQuel (Knight) said, “We do it in dance. We do three different types of dance. It’s the same with dance and music. We switch. Instead of going from red to gold to green, we use three different styles of dance. It’s our nod to the film in its own way.

The Wiz, The Wiz revival, The Wiz on Broadway, Wayne Brady, Deborah Cox, Schele Williams, Nichelle Lewis, Black theater, Black Broadway, Broadway, Black theater, Broadway Theater, The Wizard of Oz, theGrio.com
The Emerald City from “The Wiz”. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel for “The Wiz” on Broadway)

Narratively speaking, why connect the Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Dorothy to Evillene in a way that makes them want to take her down?

This story got here into my world in 2020, which was a difficult time because I used to be having a variety of conversations with a variety of people about the existence of Black people. And I had these conversations; that is what made me want to change into a director. Do we elevate our stories, tell them with dignity, and represent on stage the responsibility that rests with us as storytellers? Because what we represent Black people on stage leads to our streets. If we proceed to reinforce stereotypes, we are usually not helping the lives of Black people on the other side of the theater.

What I believed of the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow were all individuals who got here into Dorothy’s life, and their stories were about what had happened to them – but they didn’t include that folks loved them, that they loved someone. they belonged, that they were rooted in the community and that they were loved. I believed, “I’m not putting a black person on stage without amplifying these ideas.”

The curses that befell them were things they might overcome, and for the Scarecrow, the profession he worked for and loved was returning; Lion, his family; and the Tin Man, his family whom he loved and missed a lot. It isn’t any coincidence that the themes of excellence, care, legacy and belonging run through this show.

What is the significance of the numbers 227 and 701 in the addresses when Dorothy first crashes in New Orleans?

227 has two meanings. 227 is an angel number. It means confidence and a reminder that you simply are on the right path. This is the famous meaning of the number 227. For Black people, it’s (beloved TV show) “227.” (laughter) We built on it in two ways, which may be very funny. We have that “Maaara” moment where (the good witch) Addaperle says, “Gliiinda!” It’s 100% like “Maaary!” We are 100% sure that everybody will see it.

Glinda’s address is 701. This is Louis Armstrong’s address, 701 North Rampart Street. This was our tribute to New Orleans. Specifically, in the French Quarter in Storyville, where he played in the streets as a toddler. Now it’s Louis Armstrong Park. The arch (in the scene) is a nod to the arch in the park. And since we put it on Tremé, we wanted there to be one address where it may very well be confirmed. We very intentionally just wanted to proceed to showcase Black excellence and its impact on culture, to acknowledge our ancestors and our heritage throughout the piece. And there’s loads of it.


Miles Marshall Lewis (@MMLunlimited) is a Harlem-based author and cultural critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Rolling Stone, and plenty of other magazines. Lewis is currently completing a cultural biography of comedian Dave Chappelle, the sequel to Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar.

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Tyra Banks, 50, talks graciously about hot flashes, beauty secrets and aging

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She broke barriers, taught us to “smile” and, for higher or for worse, made the not-always-pretty side of the modeling industry a must-see on TV for twenty-four seasons of “America’s Next Top Model,” on which she also co-created and produced . Her famous joke: “We were all rooting for you!” stays timeless, but at 50, Tyra Banks also advocates for a brand new perspective on aging.

“What my life is now is completely different from what I thought it would be like when I was 50 when I was a little girl,” Banks said. People Magazine for “The Beautiful Issue”, which, as a part of the magazine’s fiftieth anniversary celebration, highlights celebrities over 50. The supermodel, who made history as the primary Black woman to seem on the quilt of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue in 1999, is currently celebrating latest milestones including a lifetime of entrepreneurship, a successful relationship, and being a “mom” to an 8-year-old son York (whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Eric Asla), and will reach her half-century mark in December 2023.

Tyra Banks, 50, talks graciously about hot flashes, beauty secrets and aging. (Photo by Ian Tuttle/Getty Images for the Breakthrough Prize)

“Pops up. I’m not insecure. I don’t trip,” Banks said. “I often say, ‘Baby, (I’m) 50!’ before I say anything. This statement gives me permission to say regardless of the hell I need to say.

“I couldn’t wait to turn 50 because I felt like it was a rite of passage so I could be my true self,” she later added.

That doesn’t suggest the supermodel is proof against the changes that include middle age, specifically a number of the more infamous symptoms of perimenopause like hot flashes. Reflecting on her own experience, Banks assured women her age that “it’s not the end of the world.” In fact, it may possibly provide much-needed “me time,” she says.

“Use that point whenever you get up in the course of the night to simply do a number of things because it’s going to wake you up. Read this book; do that crossword. Watch the top of this system that amazed you a lot,” she advised. “Don’t worry about it. Don’t be ashamed of it, because (we) will all undergo it, and now we will do it together and talk about it, which is absolutely cool and significantly better than what our parents needed to do: Just hold on and pretend it doesn’t I’m crazy. -Isn’t that the sun? Without children. It’s you and there’s nothing improper with that, baby.

Banks in an analogous approach to the aesthetics of aging; although she hasn’t fully entered her “gray era” yet, she is open-minded and inspired by other celebrities who’ve embraced gray.

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“I remember gray hair used to be like, oh, you just hid it. You didn’t show it; it was a no, no,” he recalls. “Now I see women saying it. “I’m grey. And not only is it OK, it’s amazing, it’s beautiful. …And I find it amazing.”

“I’m very, very lucky that I had a mom who wasn’t obsessed with aging in a negative way,” Banks added. “She has gray hair, she loves her gray hair. She would like to have more gray hair. I think it taught me not to be afraid of getting older. I’m not afraid of it. I consider it a privilege and I think it’s because of my mom.”

Another thing Banks gets from his former “mom” Karolina London? A proven and extremely accessible beauty secret. “She was also very fond of Vaseline; she was rubbing Vaseline all over her eyes,” Banks recalled. “And I used to be a Vaseline girl too. Now I’ve switched to other things, but now and again I take Vaseline and think: “Maybe that’s why I don’t have wrinkles.”

At 50 years old, Banks apparently not only looks great, but in addition looks to the long run with less fear.

“I bit my tongue, said the right thing (and tried) to please everyone my whole life,” she admitted. “And now I’m telling the reality. I demand respect. And that is good. I am unable to wait until I’m 60 because I’ll probably curse everyone.



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John Legend and Chrissy Teigen want to feed your dog

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John Legend and Chrissy Teigen love animals a lot that they want to provide them with access to the best quality food.

The couple, who’re proud owners of 4 dogs, announced that they’re teaming up professionally for the primary time to start a pet food company, Kismet. The legend has been told People Magazine in an exclusive interview that this latest enterprise couldn’t be a greater fit for the couple.

“We’ve been pet parents for so long and it’s so central to who we are and what our home is and who we are as people, and we felt like, ‘Let’s do this together,'” the “All of Me” singer said.

Legend explains how their love for dogs began with the primary dog Teigen adopted in 2008, an English bulldog named Puddy.

(L-R) Chrissy Teigen and John Legend attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones on the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

“Obviously we love dogs, we love food, we love the culture and community around dogs and being a pet parent. And we thought: why not? Let’s create our own dog food and create a brand that celebrates dog culture and community and connects pet parents across the country,” the dog dad explained.

Kismet, officially launched on May 1, is available online. The brand offers two varieties of dog food, 4 several types of treats and high-quality gadgets for dog lovers. The brand’s products, prepared with the assistance of certified veterinarians, are characterised by high-quality ingredients, animal by-products and pre and probiotics.

The brand also prides itself on accessibility. Currently, the dog food is accessible in two different sizes: a 9-pound bag for $44 and a 19-pound bag for $79.99, which is comparable to the highest brands on mainstream food market shelves. Consumers may subscribe to the brand and receive a partial discount. According to the Kismet website, proceeds from each purchase go to support Kismet Cares and its beneficiaries: Project Street Vet and Paws for Life.

The list of Black-owned or partially Black-owned pet businesses remains to be short, although inclusive Ava’s animal palace, Trill Paws, and others. Kismet will join Pet plate in the marketplace as one among the few dog food brands with a Black founder.

Legend and Teigen emphasized to People how much their love for their very own canine children led them to launch the brand. Together they own a basset hound named Pearl, a French bulldog named Penny, a poodle named Petey, and their newest addition, Pebbles. Legend has it that the dogs accompanied the couple “at every celebration and every tragedy.”

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“We also had to mourn the dogs together,” he continued. “Our first two dogs are not any longer with us and this was the primary time we truly mourned the lack of Puddy together. When you undergo these experiences together, it is going to help construct the character of your relationship.

As we all know, pets and their owners often share similar characteristics. While Teigen stated that she most resembles their dog Pearl, Legend stated that she most resembles Petey the poodle.

“He’s our only boy. But I also behave in a different way when I’m going to the hairdresser,” he joked.

Legend has it that he and Teigen selected the name “Kismet” to evoke the otherworldly “bond” that pet owners often have with their pets.

He described the bond as “That feeling of, ‘Oh, I’m so glad we found each other and we’re made for each other’ – and we feel like a lot of pets and their parents feel the same way about each other.”



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Kerry Washington almost canceled her memories when she learned the truth about her father

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Kerry Washington, Kerry Washington father, Kerry Washington memoir, Kerry Washington Thicker Than Water, Kerry Washington book, Earl Washington, Who is Kerry Washington

An fast bestseller upon publication in September 2023, “Kerry Washington’s.” first memoryThicker than water” was filled with intimate revelations from the actress and producer, including information about her past abortion, struggles with childhood anxiety and early sexual assault. However, perhaps the most groundbreaking revelation was that the “Scandal” star had only recently discovered that her father, Earl Washington, was not her biological parent. As Washington explained to moderator Erica D. Smith at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival on April 20, the revelation almost forced her to back out of the book deal.

“I found out that my dad, who raised me, is not my biological father,” said Washington, per People Magazine. “And it was something my parents had every intention of never telling me, but they were forced to.”

Explaining that the book’s original premise was to concentrate on the lessons learned while portraying popular anti-heroine Olivia Pope, she added: “I felt that if I was going to write about myself, I had to write about deeper truths… I had to include much larger, life-changing information.”

Nevertheless, the decision to proceed the project was difficult; struggling to share his family secret with the world, Washington considered scrapping the project altogether.

“I tried (to pay) the money back and everything, but I finally decided to write this book, even if it was just for me and my kids and not to share it with anyone else,” she told Smith.

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Ultimately, Washington said the discovery deepened her bond with her parents, whilst she processed life-changing and painful recent information.

“My love for him… my love and my intimacy with my parents has deepened through this exchange because I think when we keep secrets, especially family secrets, it is usually because we are so afraid that if the truth comes out , we will win “we will no longer be loved, that we will not be loved, that there will be resentment and anger because of the secret that was kept,” she said. “So I think once the burden of that secret was gone, my parents and I had a lot more space to be who we really are with each other.”



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