"The Giz"
By Crystal Goodwin
Copa Style Magazine Theater/Arts Correspondent
Storm Clouds blew droves of Washingtonians and die hard Go Go fans the official music of the DMV to the historic Lincoln Theatre on U Street in NW, Washington DC, to see DC Black Broadway’s “The Giz The Go-Go Musical” is The Black Broadway's latest production of "The Giz." The production had a sold out performance a few years ago at the MGM Theater at National Harbor.
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“The Wizard of OZ” The Wonderful Wizard of OZ is a 1900 children’s novel written by American author L. Frank Baum. Since the first publication in a series of books 1900, it has been adapted in many different ways for film, television, theater, books, games and other media. "The Giz" is a direct adaptation from the Broadway play entitled "The Wiz" which was a runaway hit with an all-African American cast that featured newcomer Stephanie Mills cast as Dorothy from 1974 thru 1979. This was the vehicle that launched her stellar career that continues to this day.
"The Wizard of Oz" 1939 movie poster
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The Broadway production of the "Wiz in 1974 featuring Stephanie Mills as Dorothy.
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My first trip down the Yellow Brick Road started when I was 6 years old, my Maternal Grandmother introduced me to the 1939 musical film adaption that was broadcast on television starring Judy Garland as the innocent naive farm girl from Kansas City Dorothy and I’ve been hooked on all things OZ since then. "The Wizard of OZ" has been a part of American Pop Culture for over 80 years. Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is a clear homage to the Wizard of OZ, the hugely successful 2003 Broadway musical “Wicked” based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel “Wicked” The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West to name a few.
"The Giz" was written and directed by native Washingtonian Dr. Lovail Long and his wife Angelique. From the very moment the curtain rose the excitement could be felt from the audience in the standing room only crowd in Washington, DC's historic Lincoln theater.
Actress Hilary Daniel who played the lead as Dorothy the sweet innocent girl from North Carolina who dreams of going to Howard University but her Grandma played by actress Kimise Lee who does double duty as the Good Witch of Georgetown tries to convince her to stay home where it safe and attend college at North Carolina A&T, Washington, DC, the big city is not safe for a young innocent girl. The storm comes and Dorothy is whisked off to the big scary city, her first stop is in Candy Land where her house falls on the Wicked Witch of the North, there she is met by the Good Witch of Georgetown and the Munchkins, at the beginning, "The Giz" sticks close to the original film starring Judy Garland, then as Scene One progress the fun starts and next is a hilarious joy ride through Washington’s familiar streets and landmarks. After a celebration and party after Dorothy is given the Ruby Nike’s from the deceased Evil Witch and told that she must travel down the Yellow Brick Road to the land of OZ and meet with the Giz who will help her return home.
Dorothy lands at the Landover Road Metro Station, while waiting at the Metro Bus Stop feeling sad and depressed she meets DW, a colorful street wise character who feels sorry for Dorothy and generously gives his assistance as her Chaperone through the scary and dangerous streets of DC, DW coaches Dorothy on DC street dialect and gives her a makeover and a name change because “You cannot walk through SE dressed like a country bumpkin with the name of Dorothy or you will get jumped” so DW tells her they Yellow Brick Road travels past Good Hope Road, Wheeler Road, and Stanton Road so he gives her the nickname Dottie, with a new look dressed in jeans and a jean jacket and spiffy red Nikes they begin their journey.
Next stop Uptown Northwest where they meet the Scarecrow played by actor Rayshun LaMarr who is being held captive on the block by the Body Snatcher Crows who are always high on weed, the Scarecrow just wants some weed and a hot dog from the famous Ben’s Chilli Bowl.
After rescuing the Scarecrow from the Body Snatcher Crows they Ease On Down The Road and come across Tin Ma, who was abandoned somewhere in Northeast near HubCap Heaven by her man, Tin Ma played by Prema Smith is fantastic as the jilted woman who has cried so many tears she has rusted and is stuck in a pile of metal, singing the classic mega hit by R&B 70’s band Rose Royce “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” after Dottie, DW and the Scarecrow rescue Tin Ma they continue their journey to the classic son from the movie The Wiz “Ease On Down The Road” I love that the Giz not only incorporated classic music from the original The Wizard of OZ but also music from the Wiz, R&B classics, original music and classic Go-Go oldies that had the audience rocking and dancing to old time favorites from Chuck Brown the Father of DC Go-Go to 80’s classics like Salt-n-Pepa’s “My Mike Sounds Nice”
After rescuing the Scarecrow from the Body Snatcher Crows they Ease On Down The Road and come across Tin Ma, who was abandoned somewhere in Northeast near HubCap Heaven by her man, Tin Ma played by Prema Smith is fantastic as the jilted woman who has cried so many tears she has rusted and is stuck in a pile of metal, singing the classic mega hit by R&B 70’s band Rose Royce “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” after Dottie, DW and the Scarecrow rescue Tin Ma they continue their journey to the classic son from the movie The Wiz “Ease On Down The Road” I love that the Giz not only incorporated classic music from the original The Wizard of OZ but also music from the Wiz, R&B classics, original music and classic Go-Go oldies that had the audience rocking and dancing to old time favorites from Chuck Brown the Father of DC Go-Go to 80’s classics like Salt-n-Pepa’s “My Mike Sounds Nice”
The entire production is also HILARIOUSLY funny, almost every line the actors delivered was quite humorous, when the motley crew reached Southwest, they end up at the Wharf near Captain White's Seafood Boat where they are ambushed by the Cowardly Lion played by actor Frank Marshall, now this is when it really get funny, a nerdy tourist couple played by actors Cara Schaefer and Dominique Fox walk through the scene making veiled racist remarks about the area, they seem to show up in different scenes with gut busting hilarious remarks as they scurry on their way out of unforeseen dangers.
Tin Ma
I arrived at the play tired and feeling a little unwell, by the time I left I couldn’t get the songs “Ease On Down The Road,” “You Can’t Win” and “Home” out of my head, I was re-energized and feeling like I was home with my family. I can’t give enough praise to Lugman Salim the Costume Designer for the Giz the creations were OUTSTANDING!!! The choreographer Saudia Jenkins and Music Director Frank Marshall’s music was fantastic.
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While following the Yellow Brick Road they end up in Anacostia Southeast at the Big Chair, with the Wicked Witch of Waldorf and her evil Body Snatching Crows in hot pursuit, while in Southeast they are detained by a cop who handcuffs DW and hauls him away as a suspect in the shooting of a junkie crow, they finally get to the Emerald City and meet the Giz, played by actor Miles Rawls sporting a 20 inch afro, beard and dark sunshades.
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Actress Hilary Daniel’s Dottie's delivery of the classic song “Home," Prema Smith’s “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” and Actress Kim G. as the Wicked Witch of Waldorf vocal ranges and downright talent shock the rafters of the Lincoln Theater that would truly send chills down your spine. If you missed this second presentation of “The Giz” then you missed out on a evening of fun, nostalgia and everything Washington. We look forward to DC's Black Broadway's next presentation.
(Layout by Rodney Wayne Branche)