‘The Wiz’ Director Schele Williams on How She Honors Show’s Legacy and Layers in Black Culture in Broadway’s Latest Revival
variety.comJazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Actor, producer and director Schele Williams was a young girl when she saw a touring production of “The Wiz.” It was 1978 and she was living in Dayton, Ohio. “It was my introduction to theater, I had seen other shows, but I had never seen Black folks,” Williams says speaking with Variety over Zoom. “It opened up a world of possibility.
I listened to that cast album and soundtrack so many times. I watched the movie, and it was part of the culture for me.” Williams heard there were plans for a revival, but it never came to fruition.
And then, she got the call asking if she wanted to direct “The Wiz,” and she accepted. “I had to wrap my head around the idea.
I’m going to have the privilege of directing the show that changed my life. It’s a legacy.” Not only is Williams taking on a show with a legacy, but she’s also making her mark on Broadway.
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