THE WIZ

ACTOR PACKET
Contents
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz..............................2
Populism in The Gilded Age...............................3
The Great Migration...........................................4
Civil Rights Era.....................................................5
Musical Styles......................................................6
Terms and References.........................................7

Note from the dramaturg:

I have compiled a ton of information over the last couple of months, and this packet
contains the best of the best. But this means I still have a ton of info on standby that
might potentially be helpful, so if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask me
at any point (this is what Im here for!)
Also, this show has a blog! You can nd it at thewizcmu.weebly.com. On it,
you will nd an electronic copy of the actor packet. I will also be posting additional
information and inspiration periodically, so you can peruse it at any time during the
rehearsal process.
Ive listed my contact info below. Feel free to contact me anytime. There are so many
really interesting topics to explore related to this show. Im always willing to send
you more material, help you locate resources, or just be a springboard for
conversation about the show.
I hope youre all as excited as I am!

Vanessa Frank
724.880.8111
[email protected]

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

By L. Frank Baum, 1900

To my mind a good book of this sort is just as necessary to the proper promotion of
a childs welfare as baths, exercise or wholesome food.
From L. Frank Baums Modern Fairy Tales
When L. Frank Baum published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, he knew he had created
something special. He believed that writing for children should cater specically to
the attentions and desires of young readers, unlike some classic fairy tales we know
as staples in childrens literature. When he
set out to write his contemporary
American fairy tale, he created a work that
spoke to the attentions of children. His
writing was full of actions without droning
descriptive paragraphs. His ecient use of
words, combined with the whimsical
illustrations by W.W. Denslow captured
the imaginations of readers of all ages.

Baum was already an established author when The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was
published. He released several childrens books under various pseudonyms. He was
also a journalist, and worked as an editor for a South Dakota Newspaper. He
published editorials supporting populists and womens surage activists. He
believed in the power of the common man, which inspired much speculation about
the political undertones of his work.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz became wildly popular.
By 1920 there were 14 books in the Oz series. Since
then the original story has been adapted time and
time again because of its structured journey and
relatable values.

Populism in the Gilded Age

The Gilded Age- period of economic and industrial growth in America from 1860-1890
Populism- political philosophy supporting the right of the powerless majority to
control their government, rather than a small group of elites.
Populism was initially represented by
agricultural workers of the National
Farmers Alliance and the Colored
Farmers Alliance.
Race relations were deteriorating during
the 1890s. Political discussions often
became framed in terms of race.
The black populism movement was not
entirely separate from the national
populist movement, but their goals were
oriented to equality as well as agency.
Map of Oz, a country divided by race and color. Black populism was the biggest African
During the Gilded Age America was
American movement until the Civil Rights
experiencing a time of separatism and racial
Era.
tension
Because of his known political voice,
there has been much speculation about Baums intentions behind writing The
Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Many think of it as a populist allegory professing the power
of the common American people to rise against the government in the pursuit of
their dreams.
Commonly interpreted symbols in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:
The Scarecrow - the wise, but naive western farmers
The Tin Woodman - the dehumanized, Eastern factory workers
The Wicked Witch of the East - the Eastern industrialists and

bankers who controlled the people (the Munchkins)
The Wizard - faceless, seemingly omnipotent politician
The Cowardly Lion - Democratic-Populist Presidential candidate

William Jennings Bryan
Dorothy - the good-natured and naive American people
Dorothy's silver shoes - represents the 'silver standard'
Toto - the 'teetotaling' Prohibitionists
The Yellow Brick road - the 'gold standard'
The land of Oz - oz. is the standard abbreviation for ounce
Emerald City - Washington DC, green representing wealth

The Great Migration

Between 1915 and 1970, 6 million African Americans dispersed from the South to
urban areas in the rest of the country.
Cities such as New York City, Philadelphia,
Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh
received a huge inux of migrants during
this time. This aected the culture of the
regions, giving way to new musical styles
as well. African Americans also began to
occupy voting districts, putting increasing
pressure on the need for civil rights.
African Americans began to occupy
industrial jobs in unprecedented
numbers. Many also enlisted in the
military and contributed to our success in
WWII.

During World War I there was a

great migration north by Jacob
Lawrence

Families travelled by train to their new destinations. Often individuals would have to
leave alone until they could aord to send the rest of the family.

How could such a diverse family come together in the world of The Wiz?
After 1890 the number of interracial relationships began to rise. Kansas was a state that
supported the union in the civil war. While racial tensions have been high, it is possible that
an interracial family could have prospered in the midwest.
Orphan Trains
In the rst half of the 20th century, there were few welfare or social programs to support
children in need. Over 200,000 children were sent from cities to the midwest on orphan
trains. In the world of our production, it is likely that this diverse family could have come
together after Dorothy arrives in Kansas on a train from another city.

Civil Rights Era

In the 1950s to the 1960s there was increasing movements in protest of racial
segregation in the United States. After the Great Migration, cities in the North and
West obtained unprecedented African American populations.
They had played a major role in our success in WWII, occupied voting districts, and
contributed to the economy. By the lead of icons such as Martin Luther King Jr. and
Malcom X, blacks began to demand equal treatment and opportunities.
Similar to the Populist movement, the Civil Rights movement relied on the common
man working to take control of the oppressive system.

Martin Luther King Jr. leads the March on

Washington in 1963.

Notable events and legislative achievements:

1954- Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka desegregated public schools and
rid of the separate but equal policy of the South.
1955-1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott protesting discrimination in public transportation
1963- March on Washington saw 200,000 Americans of all races protested on the centennial of the
Emancipation Proclamation.
1964- the Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination in employment and public accommodations.
1965- The Voting Rights Act of 1965 makes it easier for Southern black to register to vote and President
Johnson issues an Executive Order for armative action toward minority employees.

1968- The Civil Rights Act of 1968 prohibited discrimination in sale and nancing of housing.

Musical Styles
What made The Wiz surprisingly moving the rst time around was that its creators found a connection
between Baum's Kansas fantasy and the pride of urban black Americans. When Glinda, the good witch,
musically instructed Dorothy to 'believe in herself,' she seemed to be delivering a broader inspirational
message. -Frank Rich

The Wiz was born out of this massive cultural moment in American history. As African
Americans took leaps and bounds to civil rights, the mainstream media was seeing
more and more inclusion of black culture.
When William F. Brown had the idea to adapt
The Wizard of Oz from the black perspective, it
was natural to incorporate the R&B and soul
music into the score. The music of Motown
was a staple in American music by the time The
Wiz was produced, which largely contributed
to its overwhelming popularity. It went on to
win 7 Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best
Original Score, and Best Choreography.
The styles of Motown were hugely popular
when The Wiz was produced. Soul was the umbrella term for popular black music in
the 70s. This style showed blackness as a state of consciousness and a positive ideal.
It gave a sense of community pride that could be enjoyed by everyone. Artists such
as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and James Brown retained a gospel or R&B style such
as short, repetitive phrases, call and response, horns, and emotional intensity
through vocalizations. The artists also used
more secular and general lyrics than those
from the gospel roots of soul.
Motown Records produced much of the iconic
music that we know as Motown. This record
company, owned by famous producer Barry
Gordy, also produced the 1977 lm version of
The Wiz. starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson,
Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, and Richard Pryor, all
of whom contributed to the advancement of
black culture in the mainstream in their own
way.

Terms and References

The devil you know is always better than the devil you dont (Addaperle, Act I Scene 1)

Idiom implying that an undesirable situation youre familiar with is better than
an unfamiliar one you dont.

crisco (Tinman, Act I Scene 3)

greasy, solid vegetable shortening produced by Proctor and Gamble since 1870.
Poppies

Dorothy is warned of the sedative powers of the poppy eld. This owers scarlet
color has been associated with sleep and death since ancient times. It produces
seeds that are the source of opium, from which many medicinal and recreation drugs
are created. Before the 20th century, opium was a common ingredient in painkillers
and also
Coca-Cola.

A pox on your house (Evillene, Act II Scene 1)

A wish of plague or illness (a pox is any viral diseases producing severe

rashes.) The idiom is a common misquote of Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet.

(A plague on both your houses)
Charlatan (Scarecrow Act II Scene 4)

A person who falsely claims to have special power or skill

Richard the Lionheart (Wiz, Act II Scene 4)

King of England from 1157-1199, known for his military reputation
Veranda Rights (Lion, Act II Scene 4)

Play on Miranda Rights, a list of warnings that must be read to a citizen upon arrest
to inform them of their rights in the following criminal proceedings.