A Timeless Legacy: Alan Mingo Jr. on Bringing ‘The Wiz’ to a New Generation
Through Sunday, February 15, a special 50th-anniversary production of “The Wiz” is taking over the Paramount Theatre, featuring veteran performer Alan Mingo Jr. in the titular role. On a recent “The Day With Trae” special, Mingo sat down with host Trae Holiday to discuss how taking the stage as the Wiz is the culmination of a lifelong journey of artistic inspiration that he hopes to pass down to the next generation of performers.
Mingo cited “The Wiz” as the show that solidified his pursuit of theatre at an early age. From performing in various productions of the show since college to now touring the country as the Wiz, his story has come full circle.
"I will be the Wiz for that next generation and it means so much because the show meant so much to me,” he said.
Refining a Classic
Running at the Paramount through Sunday, February 15, this anniversary production is what Mingo described as a "refined version" of the original 1974 Broadway show and the 1978 film that carefully blends elements from both while introducing new creative choices. The creative process involved experimenting with new harmonies and turning traditional solos into duets or quartets to keep the production fresh for modern audiences.
"We were purposeful in everything we've done," Mingo said. "We had audiences from the movie and then some who’ve seen the Broadway show. And so we had to put them both together.”
A central part of this evolution was the Director Schele Williams’ expertise. Though initially a purist about the original material, Mingo embraced Williams’ changes after understanding her vision to make the story resonate with today’s teenagers. He noted that the process "made me have to now create my own Wiz,” igniting his own creative freedom.
The Power of Black Joy and Escapism
Beyond the music and the costumes, Mingo emphasized the cultural necessity of a show like “The Wiz” in the current social landscape. He observed that entertainment for underrepresented communities often focuses solely on historical trauma.
"As Black and brown people, [we] very rarely get entertainment that is just entertainment in the commercial world," he said. "We have to relive our pain... sometimes we want just entertainment, escapism.”
He likened the production to a form of Afrofuturism and a celebration of Black joy, noting its ability to draw all people into a shared moment.
"We’re giving it to you from the Black perspective unapologetically," he said.
A Symbiotic Exchange
For Mingo, the magic of the production is incomplete without the audience, whom he described as "the next character in the show.” He explained he views live theater as a "symbiotic exchange of energy," where the performers and the viewers react to one another in real-time, comparing this exchange to his experience in a Black church.
As the tour continues, Mingo remains committed to giving his full self to every performance. His philosophy is simple: "Show up when you can, but when you show up, show up with all of yourself.”
“The Wiz” is running at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre through Sunday, February 15. Click here to get your tickets today.
Catch “The Day With Trae” Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on all Converge streaming platforms starting February 16, 2026.
