(MURFREESBORO) The Wiz, a soul-filled version of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, is a joyous retelling of Frank Baum's classic children's story grounded in contemporary African-American culture.It runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30PM along with matinees at 2:00PM Sundays from July 5-21, 2019.

The Wiz is an explosion of music, dance, magic, and heart to delight audience members of all ages.

Choreographer Patriq James said, "It beautifully provides social commentary while remaining consistent with the central themes of family, self-love & home. It was an influential work of art that informed me about the potential of creativity... the importance of knowledge. This spirited & gifted cast ranges from 1st-timers to highly regarded artists in the industry and they have made it their business to knock your socks off!"

After Dorothy (Zakiyah Lamb) gets swept up in a tornado, she finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz. There, she makes new friends with the Lion (Terrell Hunt), Scarecrow (Drew Castle) and Tin Man (Terrance McBride); battles the evil witch Evillene (Rachael Gray); and seeks the aid of the all-powerful and mysterious Wiz (Shonka Dukureh). Ultimately, Dorothy finds that, if you believe with all your heart, you can always find your way home.

The Wiz features numerous musical numbers including the song Home, which has been a pop hit since 1977 and covered by artists including Diana Ross, Barbara Streisand, and Whitney Houston.

The Wiz is sponsored by Redstone Federal Credit Union.

Tickets start at $14 and are currently on sale at boroarts.org, by calling 615-904-ARTS (2787), or at the Center for the Arts Box Office, 110 West College Street, in downtown Murfreesboro.

This production is rated G.