In 6th grade, I was in Theatre A, and I would get so annoyed that theatre never got a field trip; while the other electives got to go to waterparks, malls, and competitions. I heard rumors that we would get a field trip in Theatre C, but that was years away. Now, I’m in Theatre B, and I experienced the opportunity of a lifetime—an opportunity that would normally cost hundreds of dollars.
History of The Wiz
The Wiz is an adaptation of the famous The Wizard of Oz from 1939. This musical is set in a New York City–style world, where color and street art rule. It tells the original story from a Black-culture view. It highlights the importance of courage and friendship in an amusing way.
This play was first performed in 1974, just a few years after the Civil Rights Movement, so having an all-Black cast, after centuries of being overlooked, was a big deal for many. There were multiple celebrities acting in the original film, such as Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. The Wiz has won the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Tony Award for Best Original Score—and it definitely deserves it. The music, the energy, the choreography, the acting… it was such a joyful and colorful experience.
The News
It was a normal day in Dallas, Texas. I went to Theatre for 3rd period, excited as always, because it was one of my favorite classes. While writing our daily Shakespeare quotes, my theatre teacher began to speak. She told us about how Broadway Dallas performs for Dallas ISD, but this year, they were opening to Dallas County schools—and Broadway Dallas was covering ALL the fees for the schools to go on September 11.
After hearing that news, the entire class went crazy. We were so excited, and we got the first field trip of the school year! It wasn’t a little bowling alley or park; it was downtown Dallas, and the tickets were usually over $300. For such a long time, we had been practicing serious theatre etiquette. Now, our teacher—who had been teaching theatre in our school for 28 years, dedicating her life to making sure we learned acting—was going to make sure we were the best group there.
Broadway Dallas
The moment we entered, I could feel “theater air.” The type of feeling you get when stepping into an exclusive, elegant museum. We went through security, and a great hall we approached. There was an area to take photos and buy merch. Everyone took pictures, and we walked into the massive theater, covered in elegant red, with The Wiz displayed on a set screen in the front. I sat with my group and ate lunch. After 30 minutes, we were signaled for all devices to be turned completely off.
Lights went dark. The actors came on, set up, and the first set was a house in Harlem instead of Kansas. It was a musical, so they sang for a while—and the notes were very impressive. After a few minutes, we were teleported into the fantastical world of Oz, yet it was brighter and more urban than as portrayed in the original film. I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing the choreography was; it completely changed the vibe of a problem to seem like a blessing. The costumes were stunning too, and they glittered in the stage lights. I was so immersed in the show, I felt like I was a literal character in Oz.
After the first half was intermission, and everyone seemed like they were waking up from a dream—yet it was real. My friends and I walked out of the theater and explored the building. It was everything I imagined a theater to look like, maybe even more.
We went back to the theatre after a while, but I still had a little bit of time before the show began, so I read the playbill. I was so impressed to read that Dorothy’s actor was making her FIRST debut on this show, and the choreographer had worked with celebrities such as Shakira for the Super Bowl. That explained how the dance numbers were incredible.
The show continued, and it was even more enjoyable than the first half. Again, I was immersed in the world of Oz, and the actors were more energetic and playful. During all the songs, we clapped along to the beat, which made everything feel even more alive.
After the Show
My mind was literally blown away by everything. It was so much… and in the best way. We went outside to go to the buses immediately, and the actor for the Scarecrow was outside, so we gave him a high five. I personally think that his character was amazing—the development and excitement he added was unmatchable. We went back on the bus and arrived just on time for 7th period.
I learned a lot of things that will benefit my acting in the future. First of all, stage presence is so important. To act like a character, you have to feel like them. Your actions have to take up the whole stage without outshining your peers. Also, I learned some cool things about theatre in general. During the show, there was a camera at the top, where a person was doing some gestures, and we didn’t know why. It turns out that he was the director, signaling the actors when music was about to play, when to stop a note, or when to get off the stage.
I am so grateful for this opportunity, and am excited to implement my new skills into Theatre B this year. I am thankful for my teacher for teaching us theatre etiquette, because we were definitely the most prepared group there, and for encouraging us to do better. And finally, thank you, Broadway Dallas, for opening up to Dallas County schools, because I will never forget this experience.
