The document discusses the lasting cultural impact of the Broadway musical The Wiz. It provides background that The Wiz was an all-black adaptation of The Wizard of Oz that premiered on Broadway in 1975. The musical effectively encapsulated the African American experience and used the Yellow Brick Road as a symbol of cultural aspiration. One of The Wiz's most lasting impacts was its funky musical arrangement with soulful harmonies, still associated with the stars of the 1978 film version, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

1. THE LASTING CULTURAL
IMPACT OF THE WIZ
Thomas Edison Kelly

2. Introduction
Based in New York, Thomas Edison Kelly guides Aegis Capital as managing
director, and has past experience with National Securities. A community-focused
individual, Thomas Edison Kelly supports the Moving Mountains Foundation, a New
York nonprofit that supports the artistic aspirations of young actors, musicians,
writers, and dancers.

3. A Moving Mountains theatrical production for early 2020 has been In Search of
the Wiz, a “modern-day spin on an old favorite.” A classic Broadway musical, The
Wiz dates back to a concept by Producer Ken Harper in 1972 to create an all-
African American ensemble version of The Wizard of Oz, which had by then
entered the public domain.

4. After premiering in Baltimore in 1974, The Wiz moved to the Majestic Theater on
Broadway in early 1975, where it attracted a standing-room-only crowd that was
unusual for the era in its cultural diversity. Effectively encapsulating the African
American experience, the musical used the Yellow Brick Road motif as a symbol of
cultural aspiration and self-empowerment.

5. Perhaps the most lasting impact of the musical is its funky musical
arrangement, imbued with soulful harmonies that many still associate with the
stars of the film version, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.