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The Wiz is a 1978 American musical fantasy adventure film directed by Sidney Lumet. Adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name, the film reimagines the classic 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum with an African-American cast. Dorothy, a 24-year old teacher from Harlem, finds herself magically transported to the urban fantasy Land of Oz. On her travels seeking help from the mysterious Wiz, Dorothy befriends a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion.
"A Brand New Day", also known as "Everybody Rejoice", is a song from the 1974 Broadway musical The Wiz written by American R&B singer and songwriter Luther Vandross. In the play, the song is sung to celebrate after Dorothy has killed Evillene, the tyrannical Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow sing the song with the newly freed Winkies, who were ruled and enslaved by Evillene. It was later featured in the 1978 film version, sung by cast members Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, and Ted Ross. Given the all-Black cast of The Wiz, the song's many references to freedom and new possibilities certainly invoked the struggles and history of Blacks in America. In the onscreen version of the song, Nipsey Russell can even be heard exclaiming "Free at last!"—a reference to civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. The song's opening line is sung by Luther Vandross, the song's composer.
References
- 1 2 "LEONARD LOPATE AT THE NEWARK MUSEUM". WNYC. March 29, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ↑ Rich, Frank (May 25, 1984). "STAGE: 'THE WIZ' BACK ON BROADWAY". The New York Times . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ↑ Simon, John (June 4, 1984). "The Wiz is as slapdash and soporific as ever. Miss Firecracker is formula Henley—some wit among the bizarreness". New York . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ↑ Nelson, Nels (October 22, 1992). "Moving Down The Road Again 'The Wiz' Comes To Town For Another Visit That's All Too Brief". Philadelphia Daily News . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ↑ Williams, Albert (October 1, 1992). "The Wiz". Chicago Reader . Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ↑ Newman, Melinda (September 16, 2000). "The Beat". Billboard . p. 18. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
