I will one day, it hasn't quite had a revival in Chicago yet but I know it will soon!

I get that and honestly I agree! Loved the Tin man too!

I definitely understand your thoughts, and honestly I agree in a lot of ways! I never saw the original Wiz, I was too young but I would have loved to see some of the OG choreography incorporated too - even though this choreographer I thought was pretty great. My only concern is that the production is just all right but not absolutely amazing, I just hope it does really well on Broadway this spring. I'd hate to have it close too early.

I've actually heard about it, and I really do want to get down there because I do take trips to New York often. If I do see it I'm definitely going to do a video, I'm sure to love it!

I'm glad you like Jelly's Last Jam ( I love a good tap dance number too!). However, that's sad that you don't want to think critically about media or understand history/historical accuracy. I believe being critical and challenging ourselves allows us to understand the world and each other on a deeper and true level!

@ae Hi there...let me clarify...I DO think critically about the situation, our situation, the mess of a situation, etc. ie there's no escape from that if there is any consciousness in your body!....heck, I critically think and encourage others to do so, for a living!!.....folks get sick of me challenging the status quo and I'm a staunch believer that you MUST know your history AND pass it on, the good, the bad, the ugly....but, DURING the show, I just like to sit back and enjoy the amazing talent...the least that I owe them for all of the hard work that they have put in to make it an outstanding performance, is to give my full attention and focus...the NY City Center did The Tap Dance Kid 2 years ago this month and I was there...afterwards, the cast came out and did a little Q and A....some ignorant person tried to start some controversy because the role of the overweight sister was played by a really small young lady....she ripped him another one and used historical context and common sense to do so.. I was sooo proud of her not only because of her knowledge, but because she had clearly learned the lessons of her elders; know your history, know how the same has impacted your community, and know how YOU are to inspire and lift your people up with dignity, integrity, and awe...

The show though has very little to do with the actual "Jelly roll" Morton's life - it takes a lot of fictional liberties which is why I said that. Personally it didn't make me feel deeply and that's ok - Art is also about being critiqued for the good and the bad.

@@Cina-nae Just FYI though, the musical is not a documentary. That would destroy its beauty. Its poetry. This is an artistic work inspired by Jelly's life, not a representation of it. In fact, the issue of subjectivity in creative work is pretty interesting in terms of anyone's ability to objectively paint another's life in any format, including biography. This is very important to know if you want to critique with authority. Your reader expects you to consider that argument. I say this as someone who admires your work and subscribes.

@@cerealkiillar ok, I was explaining why I said what you asked.... Of course, no musical needs to be 100% factual but when you change or flub MAJOR parts of someone's life I think it's valid to critique that. And the fact that when this musical came out they really tried to portray it like it was very accurate. What does that mean for exploitation of this Black man's life being used for a mainly white audience's POV because this musical certainly was made without black audiences in mind regardless of if you connected with it?? I stand firm on the fact that this musical treats black women in a way that I find disturbing with no real conclusion or thought behind their intentions which is why I described my issues in the video. There are other comments that talk about how much they like this musical, you can respond to them if you'd like. Sometimes I have changed my mind about certain art or shows as I grow but this is one that I'm just not a fan of for those reasons. It's controversial because of that, some love it and some do not and again that's ok. Also I'm not sure you watched the full video...because I never invalidated tap or it's origins (I'm a big fan). Lastly, I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say, this show tries to validate and invalidate Jelly rolls Blackness as a light skinned man when in fact he WAS black (as you said) but it really doesn't make any complex statements about race or colorism in America or even about Jellys rolls anti-blackness and I think that's an overarching problem, especially when Jazz and tap have come out of black peoples deep oppression. Black people made beautiful art out of deeply rooted complex issues like racism and it's a shame that (to me) this musical doesn't dig deep because it's afraid certain non black people might be alienated.

@@Cina-nae Thanks for all the effort you put into this response! But I was simply asking you to consider the issue of subjectivity in examining, deconstructing, and illuminating an art work of any kind--but especially one that is not meant to be biography. As for Tap, I was responding to your claim that it is somehow tainted by association with minstrelsy. At any rate, it's definitely tough to submit an authoritative editorial on a work of art, but my response was meant to help strengthen the lens and question you're providing: Is Jelly's Last Jam a Black show/work/musical? As for "Who is this made for?" Authorial Intentionalism was soundly defeated, in fact back in the sixties thanks to Cleaneth Brooks and New Criticism. We cannot know the intention of the artist, and it is no longer relevant. I tell you this because you stike me as a serious person who is trying to present an interesting argument. To wrestle with it. I doubted that you were merely waiting for a pat on the head.

I don't know why they did, I think it had to do with the movies run time and the world building choices they made but regardless it's nice to see the OG music back!

Ah, that makes sense, thanks! - I think certain productions had it and sometimes they didn't which is sometimes why The Wiz and Broadway shows in general can be hard to track. I'll take a listen to the video on your channel curious to hear how it originally sounded! would love to hear a different arrangement.

That's interesting, in all the research I've done I've never noticed the brick road being actual dancers but I'm into it!! I understand but I'm still allowed to critique what doesn't work and to me, the costumes and set did not work - since im not on the team, I don't know what they will be changing, especially something as big as the set. Most shows that tour and do pre Broadway can change small things or change the book of the show but it's rare that they will completely change the set. Regardless I'm, discussing these things as part of my review since I have to be honest. Overall thought the things that I didn't enjoy really had nothing to do with the director and only to do with the two designers. They probably were given limitations but it could be better. Other than that, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

@@Cina-nae ok I get that, but I’m trying to give you information and your not at least trying to receive what I’m saying which is completely fine. It’s ok to critique but you can’t critique on something you have no knowledge of or don’t understand. It’s on tour, it’s going to go through changes. I hope your yellow brick road is bright 💛

@@davonlampley7626I did acknowledge your points and others will see your comments! I'm not sure what else I can give you, nor do I understand how you would jump to the conclusion that I don't understand The Wiz. If you want to share that's totally fine but please don't mistake my kind reply with the need to be disrespectful to me...I can and others are allowed to have different opinions whether they have seen the OG show or not. However, I did make a well acknowledged video about The Wiz on this very channel that the OG team approves of, including Stephanie Mills. Not everyone will be able to see the Broadway version that is coming in the spring, which is why I'm making my critiques. As I was saying before, thiz Chicago show and tour in general, on a design standpoint, lacked a wow feeling and whether or not it changes I'm going to talk about that. Harping on it doesn't make sense to me - considering I said so many more things that I enjoyed.

Yes! I pinned a comment about it but they did re-arrange the composition on all of the songs so they sound different as well.

ah, thanks for letting me know! It sounded very different but it's not in The Wiz movie, right?

Naw is not in the movie... I remember seeing somewhere that Richard Pryor didn't want to sing, so they cut all 3 of his songs​ @Cina-nae

@@bryanmitchell6473 ah that's interesting (and sounds like some Richard Pryor would do lol) - I pinned your comment so others will see that it's always been in the show!

Thank you so much! More videos to be coming soon!!

I doubt that anyone creates a broadway show for only one race. In fact, even The Cotton Club shows of the Harlem Renaissance, although largely attended by wealthy white audiences, were not fashioned for white people's tastes or pleasure. Those shows were created from the souls of Black artists and aimed at no exclusive group. The beauty of any successful art form is simply available to humanity (more today than in the past, sadly) and with any luck will enlarge the capacity of that audience to appreciate its source.

Yes, this is the video!! Hope you enjoyed. It's important to note that it's not racism within a race. It's more complex than that. What Once on this Island discusses is the topic of how colorism, colonization, and social-economic class can effect Black communities and how this causes a rift. This happens because of white supremacy and anti-blackness, which all comes from colonization.

@@Cina-nae I absolutely agree that it is more complex. The line “They despise us for are blackness” reads self hatred as well as racist views because of the difference in shades of skin and believing that they are like their oppressors in these views. I was in an equity production in “92, during scene and character breakdown of the grands hommes , this is how we identified them.

Yes, I love Once on this island!! Thanks for watching this and the other video.

So far I don't know how, which is sad.... Really, it would be someone who had bootleg version of the show on Broadway. I also know they have some recordings in the national archives which are open to the public but you'd have to go and schedule an appointment.

Thanks, I really need to check out the film! I've heard similar comments about it but I need to know.

Thank you, glad you like the channel and videos! I'm going to be a bit blunt with my next paragraph but please read all the way though. I really want people to take their own "personal" surface level feelings out when it comes to Caroline or change. Whenever people dismiss valid criticism with "you just didn't understand it", it's such a frustrating take as a black reviewer. This channel is about dissecting black themes and seeing things from our/my own perspective. I understand what Kushner is doing...I really enjoy Kushner as a playwright. I just don't think this production is as poignant as most non black people think it is. There are other better shows that tackle the themes and connections of Black and Jewish people during the civil rights era. The JKF Assassination song, is beautiful and haunting but it doesn't really follow throughout the show and we don't get to see how or why this moment was difficult for black Americans at the time. It's also not really mentioned again. Historically, JKF promised hope, he was supposed to be the president that truly cared about black Americans and black Americans believed he would bring about change..until it was all shattered. Not to mention that a few years later, MLK would have the same fate. This not only angered black Americans but made them justifiably upset, tired, angry, and seeking for vengeance. It lead to a boom of creative, innovative, and dangerous movements in the 70s. That's powerful, but Kushner poses Caroline as weak, mean, the "villain", for those very same emotions. I have a problem with that, especially as a white male writer. The music in the show while beautiful, has no grounding point for its black characters beyond themes that make its characters feel less like humans and more like vague themes. I know the history. In this video I try to tackle if the themes of blackness work in this musical, not if Kushner is problematic (although he can be) and to me: a certain type of black viewer, they do not. As a cynical and often anarchist (I don't care about the typical classical theatre) black viewer and theatre go-er ,the same goes for Brecht...I know the history and I understand it, I just don't care about it. Also even though the musical takes place in 1963, it did not get written then. But you know what/who was writing poignant still relevant black plays then: Langston Hughes, Leslie Lee, Lorraine Hansberry, and even Amiri Baraka. I'd love for you to continue watching the channel as I'm excited to share these productions that often fall to the wayside but I want to make it clear that this channel may make statements that are bold and from the perspective of my experiences.

Wow, you're lucky to have seen both! Thank you so much for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed. This was a fun video to make and I still even have lingering questions on to what Caroline's ending is supposed to be and what the story is trying to say with it.

I think we really need to stop centering whiteness in POC Narratives. Of course anyone can watch and enjoy The Wiz, that's no debate! Yet what I love about it is that it's firmly rooted in Black American culture. It's a story everyone can watch and sing along to but it was made to serve black audiences which is rare. Same, The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite stories but The Wiz just hits me on a whole other level. And yes, the Wiz live is so good!

Thank you so much, more videos to come!! Someone mentioned the film adaptation to me as well and I'll definitely have to check it out! I was so shocked to have never heard anything about it. Agreed, It's interesting how loose Broadway and theatre is with giving credit, especially when it's such a collaborative process. Storytellers, especially the ones for this show, need so many people for cultural and historical input. Yet it's so hard to even get information from designers on their process. Not to mention how certain shows tend to get more documentation than others. Sadly, Jennifer holiday doesn't really work on Broadway at all anymore and she definitely deserved more roles on just her talent alone. I imagine it's because she had a lot to say about the unfair nature of who gets praised for what.

Ah, the awards just keep coming! Thanks for letting me know!

I think I mentioned that, sorry if I wasn't clear! I definitely get why she won!

I totally understand, I actually do think Dreamgirls, The Wiz, Once on This Island and The Lion king are Black musicals! Really any musical can be a black musical if a Black person finds representation in it! Now that we've progressed from the limitations of seeing very little Black people on stage (although it could be much better), I'm trying to differentiate musicals that have black people in it or black themes from an actual Black musical. I want to get people to think critically with how they engage with representation and what it means for our own future. What do you think makes Rent a Black musical??

Ha Thank you! I try to assess show in what all different people might like, some shows just are not for me but they might be really good still!

Totally agree, that's why I didn't want to bring her name up because none of this was her fault. The writing just caused the show's own downfall. She has a really nice voice and this was supposed to be her big show. Hopefully she gets something else (one that doesn't have British accents)!