Descriptions of Characters for The Wiz
Adults
AUNT EM: Female, Late 30's (Range: Mezzo Soprano, G3-C5)
UNCLE HENRY: Male, Late 30's (Non-Singing)
Dorothy's Uncle. Physically run-down from years of hard work on the farm. Often acts as the voice of reason towards Aunt Em.
ADDAPERLE: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Mezzo Soprano, F3-C5)
Good Witch of the North. Has magic powers she refers to as "doing tricks." Her magic abilities don't always pan out as well as she would like them to.
GATEKEEPER: Male, Age Flexible (Non-Singing)
Guards the gate to the Emerald City.
THE WIZ: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, C3-A4)
All-powerful leader over the land of Oz. Hides his true nature behind the façade of a temperamental leader. His true identity is an enigma.
EVILLENE: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Alto, Bb3-Db5)
Wicked Witch of the West. Low-down evil. Not a kind bone in her body nor kind thought in her rotten mind.
GLINDA: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Alto, C4-Eb5)
Good Witch of the South. Prettiest of all the witches. Very wise in the way of show-business.
Kids/Teens
DOROTHY: Female, 13-16 (Range: Mezzo Soprano, G3-B5)
Bright eyed and alive as can be. Would rather remain a child as long as possible instead of accempting the responsibilities of adulthood.
YELLOW BRICK ROAD (Four Actors): Male or Female, Age Flexible (Range: Flexible, F4-Db5/F3-Db4)
Four dancing actors combine to create the Yellow Brick Road. Metaphorically represents the road Dorothy travels down, encouraging her along the way.
SCARECROW: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, D3-A4)
Tired of being a scarecrow and the prospect of not going anywhere. Embarks on the journey to see The Wiz in hopes he can provide a brain.
TIN MAN: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Baritone, E3-A4)
Human at one time. Lost all his limbs to a cursed axe. Joins in the journey in hopes the Wiz will provide him a heart because “it isn’t enough to be good looking.”
LION: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Baritone, G2-Bb4)
Travels around the jungle scaring people, but has “a yellow streak a mile wide.” Coward state stems from deeper mother issues and gets regular counseling from an owl. Joins in the journey to see the wiz to gain some courage.
LORD HIGH UNDERLING: Male, Age Flexible (Non-Singing)
Weak coward. Evillene's number one.
WINGED MONKEY: Male, Age Flexible (Non-Singing)
Servant of the Wicked Witch of the West. Summoned to do her bidding. The mere mention of him brings fear.
The Ensemble can be adult or youth.
ENSEMBLE: TOTO - a dog, PIT SINGERS, TORNADO, MUNCHKINS, CROWS, KALIDAHS, POPPIES, FIELD MICE, EMERALD CITY CITIZENS, SOLDIER, MESSENGER
AUNT EM: Female, Late 30's (Range: Mezzo Soprano, G3-C5)
UNCLE HENRY: Male, Late 30's (Non-Singing)
Dorothy's Uncle. Physically run-down from years of hard work on the farm. Often acts as the voice of reason towards Aunt Em.
ADDAPERLE: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Mezzo Soprano, F3-C5)
Good Witch of the North. Has magic powers she refers to as "doing tricks." Her magic abilities don't always pan out as well as she would like them to.
GATEKEEPER: Male, Age Flexible (Non-Singing)
Guards the gate to the Emerald City.
THE WIZ: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, C3-A4)
All-powerful leader over the land of Oz. Hides his true nature behind the façade of a temperamental leader. His true identity is an enigma.
EVILLENE: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Alto, Bb3-Db5)
Wicked Witch of the West. Low-down evil. Not a kind bone in her body nor kind thought in her rotten mind.
GLINDA: Female, Age Flexible (Range: Alto, C4-Eb5)
Good Witch of the South. Prettiest of all the witches. Very wise in the way of show-business.
Kids/Teens
DOROTHY: Female, 13-16 (Range: Mezzo Soprano, G3-B5)
Bright eyed and alive as can be. Would rather remain a child as long as possible instead of accempting the responsibilities of adulthood.
YELLOW BRICK ROAD (Four Actors): Male or Female, Age Flexible (Range: Flexible, F4-Db5/F3-Db4)
Four dancing actors combine to create the Yellow Brick Road. Metaphorically represents the road Dorothy travels down, encouraging her along the way.
SCARECROW: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Tenor, D3-A4)
Tired of being a scarecrow and the prospect of not going anywhere. Embarks on the journey to see The Wiz in hopes he can provide a brain.
TIN MAN: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Baritone, E3-A4)
Human at one time. Lost all his limbs to a cursed axe. Joins in the journey in hopes the Wiz will provide him a heart because “it isn’t enough to be good looking.”
LION: Male, Age Flexible (Range: Baritone, G2-Bb4)
Travels around the jungle scaring people, but has “a yellow streak a mile wide.” Coward state stems from deeper mother issues and gets regular counseling from an owl. Joins in the journey to see the wiz to gain some courage.
LORD HIGH UNDERLING: Male, Age Flexible (Non-Singing)
Weak coward. Evillene's number one.
WINGED MONKEY: Male, Age Flexible (Non-Singing)
Servant of the Wicked Witch of the West. Summoned to do her bidding. The mere mention of him brings fear.
The Ensemble can be adult or youth.
ENSEMBLE: TOTO - a dog, PIT SINGERS, TORNADO, MUNCHKINS, CROWS, KALIDAHS, POPPIES, FIELD MICE, EMERALD CITY CITIZENS, SOLDIER, MESSENGER