When Hope is Not Enough
TPB | Friday, July 3, 2009 at 10:30PM You know theater is one of my favorite forms of entertainment. Been to a lot over the years... attending since childhood. Just went to see the The Wiz 
Actor, Dawnn Lewis at City Center performance of The Wiz 2009at NY City Center. What a joy to see the young vets such as Dawnn Lewis (A Different World) and Tichina Arnold (Martin) do their thing. Both of them have fabulously strong voices and fantastic stage presence. Overall, I think this is a great revival of the original Broadway production, with a few weak links. Below is my original Playbill from 1978 with autographs and all! (I know I’m crazy to still have it AND actually be able to put my hands on it).
Despite the top notch stage design, music and choreography, the show has not received good reviews, namely because of the star name playing Dorothy, R & B singer, Ashanti. On my way to the theater, I was pulling for her though. I was HOPEFUL that the media was being overly critical and that what she lacked in acting ability would be made up with her vocals. Nope and nope. She was actually worse than imaginable. In 95% of the scenes, she stood like a deer in headlights while others acted around her. Yes, that bad. She was a fish out of water. We stayed for a talkback session after the show and she answered a question or two briefly. Her demeanor presented as unenthused and very insecure. She admitted “theater is different… on film you can yell ‘cut’ and start again… in theater all there is [is] raw talent.” BUT, in Ashanti’s defense, as a newcomer to theater, they only had 3 and a half weeks of rehearsal including tech. This is half the standard time in theater. Seasoned professionals and natural talents can pull this off, novice's can not.
Bravo to Encores! for supporting this production. If it’s going to make it two blocks west, from 56th & 6th to Broadway, which I hope it does, Ashanti will have to play the “WAZ” (as in was re-casted for a real powerhouse actor). Where’s Stephanie Mills?
Ashanti, Dawnn Lewis, The Wiz, Tichina Arnold | in Arts and Entertainment, Theater Industry
Reader Comments (6)
I agree with you 1000%. Ashanti seemed unenthused throughout the play. I enjoyed everyone else's performance, but hers. Hopefully, she will take some acting lessons and will become a better performer. I've been taking acting lessons for a year now and I think I could have played a better Dorothy. Which would have been a stretch since I'm a man. Lol.
Ashanti actually HAS been acting for years now, Tuesday. She's been acting like she has TALENT. Murder Inc. was able to blow smoke and strategically place mirrors to refract her lack of singing skills. Cute young girl; a bunch of 'oooh baby' lines on an audio track and the audience fell for her. Never held a note longer than 1.25 seconds. She's been exposed on numerous occasions on stage with other talented women. Now, she's being blown up on an acting stage. Who's in charge of casting anyway?
I was disappointed in Ashanti as well. She was out of her league from the get-go and just couldn't make it happen. We all take our lumps, so it's not the worst thing that could happen to her. Although, if she plans to stay in the industry, let's hope she learned some valuable lessons - it can only get better! Otherwise, I loved the dancing, the singing and the catchy lines[script]. Oh, can't forget that I absolutely LOVED paying TEN DOLLARS!
Very appropriate review. I concur 1000%
As a trained singer, meaning... I spent four years learning how to project, hold a note, switch from a head voice to a chest voice, etc... I went in NOT pulling for Ashanti cuz I know she's not a singer. She's a cute kid who could hold a tune and got lucky. I think my fellow M&A alumni (Dawnn Lewis and Tichina Arnold) sang rings around her. But... she's a trooper, and at the question/answer panel after the performance I saw, she was gracious and properly respectful.
I saw the original production with Stephani Mills in 1977 when I had first returned to the U.S. from Jamaica. I never forgot it. Dawnn Lewis told the story about how she'd seen it and it's what inspired her to follow her path.
I don't think this production was as good as the original... but it had it's moments. Dawnn Lewis was good. Tichina Arnold was a showstopper. The score was well done and I LOVED the "house singers". My favorite number was "Brand New Day".
But I wish my kid was exposed to greatness, rather than "passable..."
I say they cast YOU. Wanna get a petition going?!