Easing on Down the Road: ‘The Wiz’ Electrifies Seattle’s Paramount Theatre on Opening Night
The Big O (left), Trae Holiday (center), and Takiyah “TDUB” Ward” pose outside the Paramount Theatre on the opening night of “The Wiz.” (Photo: Jordan Somers)
By Omari Salisbury
The Emerald City shined bright last night when the national tour of “The Wiz” made its long-awaited landing at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre. This isn’t your grandmother’s trip to Oz; it’s a 21st-century reimagining that keeps its soul firmly rooted in the 1975 original while injecting a fresh, modern energy that had the opening night crowd on its feet.
Last night was opening night, and I was joined by my Converge Media family—Trae Holiday, Takiyah "TDUB" Ward, Ashleigh McCurdy, and La’Keith "G Prez" Asphy—to witness this super soul Musical firsthand. Here is the breakdown of why you need to catch this show before it eases out of town in just a few days.
A Modern Masterpiece with Culture
The consensus was clear: the modernization of the show is its greatest strength. Holiday noted how the production used reimagined songs to enhance the timeless story, while McCurdy praised the contemporary soundtrack.
For La’Keith "G Prez" Asphy, the production brought the culture and kept the vibe current while honoring the classics. Ward echoed this, pointing out how the show "peppered in the modernism" with New Orleans bounce and Afrobeats without losing the essence of the past.
Takiyah “TDUB” Ward (left), Trae Holiday (center), and Ashleigh McCurdy (right) pose in the Paramount Theatre at the opening night of “The Wiz.” (Photo: Jordan Somers)
Performance Highlights: Taking it to Church
The cast delivered jaw dropping vocal performances that reached the rafters.
Evillene (Kyla Jade): McCurdy remarked that her performance "felt like we went to church," and Holiday dubbed her the "powerhouse of the whole show".
The Tin Man (D. Jerome): Ward was moved to tears by his solo about the power of feeling, noting he took the character to a "whole other level.”
The Scarecrow (Elijah Ahmad Lewis): G Prez called Lewis’ performance the standout of the night.
Dorothy (Dana Cimone): Making her national tour debut, Cimone brought an authentic adolescent sweetness and spice to the role, culminating in a soul-stirring rendition of the classic ballad "Home.”
Visuals and Human Effects
Technically, this production is a marvel. Rather than relying solely on static sets, director Schele Williams and production designer Hannah Beachler utilized high-caliber digital projections that brought everything from a grayscale Kansas to a psychedelic poppy field to life.
Perhaps the most inventive moment was the tornado. Praising the dancers who were performing the tornado scene, Ward was blown away by the choreography, noting that the storm added a visceral, human element to the chaos.
"Go show these performers how important live theater is in this day and age,” she said. “It gives me hope for the future.”
“The Wiz” is playing at the Paramount Theatre through Sunday, February 15, 2026. Click here to get your tickets today.
