DanceNOW [NYC] presents nicholas leichter dance’s THE WHIZ

Show Description

“A nonstop binge of attitude, high-energy stepping, & freewheeling virtuosity.”
–Deborah Jowitt, The Village Voice


DanceNOW [NYC] presents nicholas leichter dance’s new THE WHIZ: EMERALD CITY, the Wizard of Oz for the Obama generation, as a part of the Spring 2010 Dancemopolitan series. After the inspired debut of You Can't Win Brand New Day Medley at the 2009 Dancemopolitan Modern [Dance] Musical series, DanceNOW invited Nicholas Leichter and Monstah Black to expand their piece into a full-evening work. Using music reconstructed from The Wiz and some added selections, THE WHIZ reimagines New York’s underground communities through song, dance, and Prince-esque extravaganzardry. Leichter will choreograph and perform with his company of eight dancers, while Black reconstructs and performs the score live.

The Oz of Leichter and Black references the film characters, but is a reflection on 21st-century New York in movement and melody rather than musical-theater homage. Various themes appear throughout the 70-minute work with an array of different styles—house, funk, postmodern, drag, hip-hop, contemporary, and psychedelic—which traverse a landscape of hopes, fears, and dreams.


DanceNOW is presenting the full-evening cabaret version of THE WHIZ: EMERALD CITY before the project moves downtown to the larger, proscenium space at Abrons Arts Center June 17-19 for the world premiere of THE WHIZ: OBAMALAND.