Theodore Ross Roberts (June 30, 1934 – September 3, 2002) was an American actor best known for his role as the Lion in The Wiz, an all-African American reinterpretation of The Wizard of Oz.

Who played in the black version of Wizard of Oz?

The resulting film version of The Wiz also starred former Motown star Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man, Richard Pryor as the Wizard, jazz singer Thelma Carpenter as Miss One (the name "Addapearle" was not used for this production) and Lena Horne as Glinda.

Did Michael Jackson play in The Wizard of Oz?

Michael portrayed the Scarecrow in the 1978 movie version of The Wiz. He was 20 years of age when he portrayed the scarecrow.

Who was the original Wiz on Broadway?

The original production starred Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, Tiger Haynes as the Tinman, Ted Ross as the Lion, Hinton Battle as the Scarecrow, Clarice Taylor as Addaperle, Mabel King as Evillene, André De Shields as the Wiz, and Dee Dee Bridgewateer as Glinda alongside Tasha Thomas, Phylicia Ayers-Allen, Leettie Battle, ...

What did Richard Pryor play in The Wiz?

The Wiz (1978) - Richard Pryor as The Wiz (Herman Smith) - IMDb.

The Wiz (4/8) Movie CLIP - I'm a Mean Old Lion (1978) HD

What character did Richard Pryor play in The Wizard of Oz?

Pryor portrayed The Wizard in the film version of The Wiz. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets.

What condition did Richard Pryor have?

In 1986, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 1990, Pryor had a second heart attack while in Australia. He underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 1991.

Who will play Dorothy in The Wiz 2023?

Nichelle Lewis will play Dorothy in the upcoming touring production of "The Wiz." Photo courtesy of Nichelle Lewis/Instagram. Stephanie Mills played Dorothy when “The Wiz” had its world premiere in Baltimore in 1974. Diana Ross had the role in the 1978 movie.

What was the meaning behind The Wiz?

Both the film and stage productions of The Wiz have one common theme – they highlight the perseverance of Black people in adversity and they're a rallying call for racial liberation. Aside from the contextual underpinnings of the plot, The Wiz stands out for its take and celebration of African dressing and hairstyles.

Who played the gold piano in The Wiz?

Quincy Jones: Emerald City Gold Pianist

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Who played the most roles in Wizard of Oz?

Morgan is best remembered for his performance in The Wizard of Oz (1939), in which picture he played a total of six roles, most notably the Wizard, which included the carnival huckster "Professor Marvel", the gatekeeper at the Emerald City, the coachman of the carriage drawn by "The Horse of a Different Color", the ...

Was Robert De Niro in The Wizard of Oz?

Robert De Niro was born in New York City and grew up in Little Italy, the son of painters. He made his stage debut at the age of 10 playing the Cowardly Lion in a school production of The Wizard of Oz. By age 16, he had quit school and turned his attention to acting, studying under Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg.

Who was supposed to play the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz?

The Scarecrow Was Meant To Be The Tin Man

Bolger was originally cast as the Tin Man, and Buddy Ebsen would have been the Scarecrow. Bolger was able to persuade Louis B. Mayer to switch the roles, so not only did he get to sing "If I Only Had a Brain," but he also dodged that aluminum bullet!

Who played the Tin Man and the Lion in The Wizard of Oz?

“The Wizard of Oz” - musical film

…search of a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) looking for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) in need of some courage. They are tormented by the witch on their journey but manage to reach the Emerald City.

Why is there a black version of Wizard of Oz?

The Locations

Iconically, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz is from a farm in rural Kansas. In The Wiz, Dorothy is instead from Harlem, New York City, what could be considered a polar opposite of the character's original home. This change was done to represent urban Black communities that audiences could better relate to.

Was the original Wizard of Oz done in black and white?

All the Oz sequences were filmed in three-strip Technicolor. The opening and closing credits, and the Kansas sequences, were filmed in black and white and colored in a sepia-tone process. Sepia-tone film was also used in the scene where Aunt Em appears in the Wicked Witch's crystal ball.

Why did people not like The Wiz?

The film was not well-received by critics. Many critics found the film to be too different from the original Wizard of Oz, and criticized the casting of Diana Ross as Dorothy. The film was expensive to make. The Wiz had a budget of $24 million, which was a lot of money for a film at the time.

What do the crows in The Wiz represent?

The crows taunt Jackson's character, who longs to get down from the post and just “walk.” The crows assert that he can't get down because “there ain't nothing to get down for.” His existence is parallel to that of Black people in America under Jim Crow law: separate, but equal.

Why was The Wiz controversial?

Prior to its debut and certainly much after, The Wiz was criticized for having an all black cast. It was deemed racists by majority of the white audience.

How old is Dorothy supposed to be?

In the 1900 book, the character of Dorothy is no older than 10 years old, yet Judy Garland was 16 when she portrayed Dorothy in the 1939 film. In the film, Dorothy is supposed to be 12 years old. Dorothy does not sing in the Oz books. In the Oz books, the fate of Dorothy's parents is never revealed.

Who will Dorothy miss the most?

9. "I think I'll miss you most of all." Thus Dorothy says goodbye to the Scarecrow. Why the strange partiality? Because, in an earlier draft of the script, Dorothy and the Kansas counterpart of the Scarecrow are sweet on each other.

Did Ariana Grande play Dorothy?

Ariana Grande played the role of Dorothy in the Little Palm Family Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz at Crest Theatre from June 1st to July 26th, 2003. Joan Grande produced the show which was an adaptation of the original story including the classic songs and some new additions.

How long did Richard Pryor have MS before he died?

The cause of Pryor's death was multiple sclerosis, which he had been battling for nearly 20 years. In 1994, at Richard's urging, Jennifer moved from New York to Los Angeles to help him straighten out his business and personal affairs, and to oversee his caregiving needs.

Who did Richard Pryor leave his money to?

Afterward the marriage, Pryor amended his trust, naming Jennifer as the primary beneficiary and the person with the right to control all of his intellectual property — including his name and image rights, and royalties from his comedy albums and performances.

How old was Richard Pryor when he died and what he died of?

He was 65. Mr. Pryor, who had been ill with multiple sclerosis, suffered a heart attack and died at a hospital in Los Angeles, his wife, Jennifer Lee Pryor, told CNN.