The Unstoppable Legacy: 7 Surprising Facts About The Wiz With Stephanie Mills And Its 2025 Revival

The enduring magic of *The Wiz*, a groundbreaking musical that reimagined L. Frank Baum's classic with a vibrant Black cultural lens, continues to captivate audiences, proving its status as a timeless piece of American theatre. As of late 2024 and heading into the 2025 season, the musical is experiencing a major resurgence, with a celebrated Broadway revival and a subsequent national tour that is energizing a new generation of fans. This latest iteration, however, is impossible to discuss without honoring the woman who first brought Dorothy Gale's journey to life on the Great White Way: the incomparable Stephanie Mills.

The original production of *The Wiz* launched a phenomenon, earning seven Tony Awards and cementing Stephanie Mills’s place in theatrical history. While she is not reprising the role of Dorothy in the current 2024 Broadway revival—a role now played by a new star—Mills remains inextricably linked to the musical's soul. Her recent career moves and the show's renewed success offer a perfect moment to explore the deep impact of her performance and the latest updates on the show that changed Broadway forever.

Stephanie Mills: A Brief Biography and Her Iconic Role in The Wiz

Stephanie Mills is an American singer and actress whose career spans over five decades, marked by her powerful voice and significant contributions to R&B and Broadway.

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• Full Name: Stephanie Dorthea Mills
• Date of Birth: March 22, 1957
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
• Career Start: Began singing in church and performing on Broadway at age nine in the musical *Maggie Flynn*.
• The Wiz Debut: She originated the role of Dorothy Gale in the 1974 Broadway production of *The Wiz* at the age of 17.
• Broadway History: Mills reprised the role of Dorothy in a 1984 revival of *The Wiz*. She also played the role of Aunt Em in the 2015 NBC television special, *The Wiz Live!*.
• Music Career Highlights: A Grammy Award winner, her hit singles include "Never Knew Love Like This Before," "Home," and "I Feel Good All Over."
• Recent News (2024): In a major career development, Stephanie Mills joined the Broadway cast of *Hadestown* in May 2024, taking on the role of Hermes, the messenger of the gods.
• Awards: Her work on *The Wiz* helped the show win seven Tony Awards in 1975, including Best Musical.

The 2024 Broadway Revival and The 2025 National Tour: A New Chapter

The legacy of *The Wiz* is not confined to the past. The musical has returned to the forefront of American theatre with a major Broadway revival that began its run in 2024, marking a significant cultural event.

The Broadway Run and Ticket Updates

The 2024 Broadway production of *The Wiz* is currently running at the Marquis Theatre in New York City. The production has proven to be a success, prompting an extension of its ticket sales.

• Venue: Marquis Theatre, New York City.
• Extension: Tickets for the revival have been extended and are currently on sale through April 27, 2025, indicating strong audience demand.
• New Dorothy: The current revival features a new actress in the role of Dorothy, continuing the tradition of finding fresh talent for the iconic part.

The 2025 First National Tour

Following its Broadway engagement, *The Wiz* is hitting the road with a First National Tour scheduled for the 2025 season. This tour is crucial for bringing the reimagined production to cities across the United States.

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The touring production largely recreates the successful 2024 Broadway staging, allowing regional audiences to experience the show's updated design and choreography.

The 2025 touring cast features a mix of new and returning performers, including Alan Mingo Jr. as The Wiz.

Reviews of the tour have highlighted the new life and energy brought to the classic, emphasizing the vibrant staging and the enduring power of the score, which includes beloved songs like "Ease On Down The Road" and "Home."

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7 Surprising Facts About Stephanie Mills and The Wiz

Stephanie Mills’s journey with *The Wiz* is full of fascinating details that highlight the show's challenging start and its eventual triumph.

1. The Show Was Initially Met With Vicious Criticism

Despite its eventual success, the initial 1974 run of *The Wiz* in Detroit received poor reviews, with some critics being particularly harsh.

Stephanie Mills, a teenager at the time, recalls the criticism being "vicious," a difficult experience for the young actress.

The show underwent significant changes before moving to Broadway, where it found its audience and critical acclaim. This resilience is a key part of its legendary status.

2. She Didn't Play Dorothy in the 1978 Film

One of the most persistent questions about *The Wiz* is why Stephanie Mills did not star in the 1978 film adaptation, a role that went to Diana Ross.

Mills has explained that the film's producers, including Motown's Berry Gordy, felt she was too old for the role by the time the film was made.

This decision remains a point of historical debate among fans, but it ultimately allowed Mills to maintain her definitive theatrical legacy.

3. Mills Returned as Aunt Em in *The Wiz Live!*

In a powerful nod to her history with the show, Stephanie Mills returned to the world of Oz for the 2015 NBC television event, *The Wiz Live!*.

In this production, she took on the role of Aunt Em, Dorothy’s loving and protective maternal figure. This casting choice bridged the show's past and present, celebrating her foundational contribution.

4. Her 2024 Broadway Role is a Complete Genre Shift

In a major career pivot that highlights her versatility, Mills joined the cast of the Tony-winning musical *Hadestown* in May 2024.

She is playing the role of Hermes, a narrator and guide figure in the show, a role traditionally played by a male actor. This move demonstrates her continued relevance and ability to tackle complex, non-traditional roles on Broadway.

5. The Song "Home" is Her Signature Anthem

The song "Home," Dorothy's powerful Act II ballad from *The Wiz*, is synonymous with Stephanie Mills. Her rendition is widely considered the definitive version.

This song has not only become a staple of R&B and gospel music but has also been performed by countless artists, including Cynthia Erivo, who paid homage to Mills's version at the 2024 Oscars.

6. *The Wiz* Was a Cultural Milestone for Black Theatre

The original 1974 production was a landmark moment, being one of the first major Broadway musicals to feature an all-Black cast and a score infused with R&B, soul, and gospel music.

The show's success, driven by Mills’s performance, proved the commercial viability and artistic brilliance of Black storytelling on the mainstream stage, paving the way for future productions.

7. The Show’s Lifeline Was a Last-Minute Ad Campaign

After the initial negative reviews and poor box office performance, *The Wiz* was on the verge of closing. A last-minute television advertising campaign, funded by a desperate producer, saved the show. This campaign focused on the music and the spectacle, leading to a surge in ticket sales and its eventual Tony sweep. Without this Hail Mary pass, Stephanie Mills's legendary role might have been a short-lived footnote.

The Enduring Entities of The Wiz and Stephanie Mills

The story of Stephanie Mills and *The Wiz* is a rich tapestry woven with numerous cultural and theatrical entities that continue to be relevant today. The continued success of the 2024 Broadway revival and the upcoming 2025 National Tour reinforces the musical's place in the pantheon of American art.

From the infectious energy of "Ease On Down The Road" to the emotional depth of "Home," the score remains a masterpiece. The show's themes—the search for courage, heart, and brains, and the understanding that "Home" is a state of self-knowledge—resonate as strongly today as they did in 1974. Stephanie Mills, whether as the original Dorothy, the maternal Aunt Em, or the guiding Hermes in *Hadestown*, remains the foundational figure of this enduring, evolving legacy.

The current theatrical landscape, with new stars like Dana Cimone and Kyla Jade taking on the roles of Dorothy and Aunt Em in the tour, is a testament to the show's ability to refresh itself while honoring its past. The spirit of Stephanie Mills's original, defiant, and triumphant Dorothy is the true heart that keeps the yellow brick road alive.