In celebration of friendship, community, and cultural pride, Menlo Drama partners with the Black Student Union to bring The Wiz to Spieker stage for the first time.

The musical is a groundbreaking twist on the classic The Wizard of Oz, reimagined with a predominantly Black cast and an iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and funk. While the show debuted on Broadway in 1975—winning seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical—the search for home, identity, and belonging resonates as deeply today as ever.

Directed by drama teacher Steven Minning and assistant director, Noelle ’25, Menlo’s theatrically-staged concert adaptation of the show embraces the themes of courage, self-discovery, and community. “Our goal with The Wiz is to create an uplifting and empowering experience for both our performers and audience. It’s a story about resilience and joy, told in a way that celebrates the diverse voices of our community,” says Minning.

Menlo Drama’s partnership with the Black Student Union adds a unique dimension, celebrating the rich cultural significance of The Wiz and showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our students. “The collaboration…has been energizing,” says Matthew ’27. “We’ve got kids from choir, basketball, mock trial, water polo, and even the middle school! It’s a huge cast, and everybody’s bringing the show to life with authenticity and heart.”

Noelle acknowledges that the theater world can feel foreign to people who are not involved. “But in working with the BSU, we’ve been able to see a wealth of new faces in our community and that’s been really a beautiful thing: to see athletes, dancers, and academics—who have never tried theater before—light up the stage with charisma and skill.”

One of the newbies to the stage is Academic Support Coordinator and Black Student Union Advisor, John Norris. He is excited for Black and Brown students at Menlo to get “validation, visibility, recognition for their hard work, respect, and appreciation for the investment of time and energy, for showing up, and for putting together something awesome.” 

Ultimately, The Wiz is an empowering journey of self-expression, delivered through soulful music, heartfelt storytelling, and cultural pride. “Playing Dorothy has been so rewarding,” says Taj ’30 of her lead role. “This amazing young woman is not just trying to get back home—she’s discovering her own strength along the way.”