They were ready to meet the Wizard.
Less than a week before The Wiz begins performances on Broadway, titular star Wayne Brady visited The Notebook, stopping backstage to greet the cast of the new musical and the musical's co-director, Schele Williams, who is Brady's The Wiz director as well.
Wayne Brady and Dorian Harewood
Wayne Brady and Happy McPartlin
Wayne Brady and Jerome Harmann-Hardeman
Wayne Brady and Yassmin Alers
Wayne Brady and company of The Notebook
Wayne Brady and cast of The Notebook
The Broadway musical adaptation of The Notebook officially opened March 14 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The production, co-directed by Michael Greif and Williams, began previews February 10.
Based on the best-selling Nicholas Sparks novel, the new musical features music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, with a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter.
The musical follows Allie and Noah, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. The core creative team members from the Chicago Shakespeare Theater run returned for the Broadway production—with direction by Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Rent) and Williams (Aida, Motown the Musical) and choreography by Katie Spelman.
The cast is led by Jordan Tyson as Younger Allie, Joy Woods as Middle Allie, and Tony Award-winner Maryann Plunkett as Older Allie; and John Cardoza as Younger Noah, Ryan Vasquez as Middle Noah, and Dorian Harewood as Older Noah.
They are joined by Andréa Burns as Mother and Nurse Lori, Yassmin Alers as Nurse Joanna, Chase Del Rey as Lon, Hillary Fisher as Sarah, Dorcas Leung as Georgie, Carson Stewart as Johnny and Fin, Charles E. Wallace as Father and Son. Rounding at the company as swings are Alex Benoit, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, Happy McPartlin, Juliette Ojeda, Kim Onah, and Charlie Webb.
WATCH: Ingrid Michaelson Performs 'If This Is Love' From The Notebook
The Wiz begins previews at the Marquis Theatre March 29. Check out photos of Brady in the title role below.
Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady
Wayne Brady
Kyle Ramar Freeman, Nichelle Lewis, Wayne Brady, Phillip Johnson Richardson, and Avery Wilson
