>> hello, hello. >> now the queen was walked in herself now that the queen has walked in herself. >> day day day. >> we're here to celebrate the the wiz you all say that with me the wiz. >> my name is rodney el mar jackson junior born and raised proud black artist and owner of the theatre company and proud to be here side the wiz coming to san francisco 2024 amen, amen. >> the the wiz um, (clapping.) and a special place in my heater i think a lot of off the have come here and without that we wouldn't be the artist we are

today and can't believe that is the very, very first, you know this is the first relief of the the wiz? >> those trail blafrz like diana ross from the movie stephanie millions in the musical we're doing everything we can at sf jazz to simplify and theatre i'm going to introduce (laughter) the incredible producers without producers how do we do this work? let's have bryan a moorland come on up (clapping.) mr. bryan. >> thank you rodney thank you, thank you really. thank you. >> good afternoon, everyone how are you? [off mic.] >> i just got off a plane

waiting to be be here on a san francisco i'm going to ask you one time how are you? that good afternoon [off mic.] >> thank you, san francisco thank you so much san francisco i'm thrilled to be here thank you for having us rodney has said in the the wiz for whatever reason diana ross and michael jackson. >> but goes back further it goes back back to 1974 in oakland an unknown show called the the wiz an unknown girl starring stephanie mills and others and showcasing the broadway critically panned. by the oakland's press threatening to shut down the theatre and it

went obtain to win tony awards the first time a black choreographer one george the first time is a black dprishg one a tony award and the first time a black designer one for costumes so many first came out of the the wiz and a production opened after 45 years the first rival in 45 years and incredible; right? around that? >> (clapping) and this particular production has a couple of unknown people art is agree the unknown girl straight in schizophrenia virginia 24 years old a voice of an angel and have dominican republic are cox and deborah

plays a really pretty sure by lena horn and jazz artist we have deborah cox and get the very, very fairs talent a wonderful man named wayne grady our the wiz and a lot of you have the square crow and making placing the line and others and so in first and the list goes on and on. >> if you are is fan of the let's see - coachella or lemonade a around the world well, you're a big fan of the co-sponsor graphic we have xhooikt choreographing the the wiz (clapping.) if you are a fan of the black

panther and looking at this and we are pleased to know we're the first having a black history month to win an award for this; right? the first african-american woman to win a oscar she's designed the set of the wiz we have here and say ray arrest drama girls or jingle a worker was sharon davis designed all the costumes in the the wiz we can't wait to come to san francisco thank you for your opening your hearts and minds and bringing people to the theater presidio is a show about families and about friends. it is about finding your place in the world and about being something like that you are

welcomed and you are wanted and desired and needed. and who does need that right now not to mention filled with enjoy so much joy in the the wiz two hours two hours or fun unadulterated fun and enjoy and laughter all being director by the first blame woman in 45 years her name is shelly williams (clapping.) so there's many, many people surrounding it this production to make that the best and we have others along with me and common and we have a lot of people a lot of people i want to say to all of you thank you, thank you fewer having us we can't wait for you to see the show when you come bring a friend and had you go home go back and tell your inwards you

guys will be your 11 city only the board one more city after you guys we're sold-out and people are saying i don't know. i don't know. >> so get our tickets any for the the wiz. thank you very much for being here. >> thank you. >> you entice don't know that mr. producer but shelly williams was my society director traveling around the country with those stories that's where she and i got our first interaction she's a trooper there is a motion and a second for ms. shelly williams. >> all right. a special, special equities our mayor london breed will give a word london breed.

>> (clapping) so first of all, bryan you talked about all those incredible up and running stars but didn't recognize our own iep star rodney jackson junior who let me tell you something not only in motown but also in across the bay this guy is incredible star and inspiration in the arts and i am so proud born and raised in san francisco in the fillmore community and i just like to see him grow and thrive that's why we're here today and why the the wiz is so important to san francisco let me dully i'm sfrurp excited because people forgot our relevant history of what things

used to be like especially for african-american we going to to the shows and weren't a lot of things for us to see in fact, not the social media and all those other digital things we have now but had like the the wiz and you remember when the the wiz came on tv when michael jackson and diana ross it was an all black cast this is seeing had is familiar to us that was not normal. that was breaking barriers and when you think about it too you think of those people as incredible stars like diana ross and you can only imagine what they had to go through in the movies she held to trailblaze and create and path those incredible stars and

producers and could say stomach designers paved the way for the next generation of the young artists who have no limit who have an opportunity to guarantee and thrive in production all over the world. and when i think about san francisco as a place to feature the the wiz i couldn't be more proud we went through a difficult time enjoy is now important than before so of again negativity and other things happening we can take a moment to experience enjoy and experience happiness and to appreciate all of what the the wiz represents and san francisco is the place to do it. just recently the hip i think trip at abc. and it was sell out amazing fun exciting and now broadway is bringing the the wiz to san francisco with an all-star cast.

and with an opportunity for us to make sure there is a connection. so we are out in the neighborhood. not only providing for free ticket but opening up doors for people not able to afford the ticket but deserve to experience this enjoy like anything else want afford it that's what today is making sure that we provide over not just in san francisco but all over the bayview welcome adams in the oakland chamber of commerce in san francisco and everyone xrefrng what we have to offer in the arts and bringing people together i see our director of the culture affairs ralph is here and so many of the commissioners and folks pursue involved in san jose thank you for showing up because you are going to be the people to get

the word out to make sure that everyone night is sold out show and each one chernz experiences we reminder see ourselves how significant so have a production of this nature in san jose. and i'm divvied, you know, how we never thought we'll be old people when i was coming up i no further thought i'll be the person but you are lucky you got this we didn't have that and so that's what the the wiz it is we want everyone to see that especially young people to see what we're talking about this is what we want you to experience and understand why it is so for that when chief success because you stand on someone else's shoulders who went through trials and tribulations. and that's why it is so significant. and i want to thank broadway and

i'm excited by the the various folks involved in the the wiz all those stars, awarded people in the destroy that are saying i'm going to focus on broadway and the sites what that means we the have open arm in san francisco and welcome i to the enjoy to know it very much appreciated for you to be here in san francisco and choose to do this production in san francisco with the opening happens and the 18 i want all the shows i want the shoes to be so sold-out and the next city sorry to the next city we're going to have at the expand in san francisco. >> that's what i want to see and so welcome and say for choosing san francisco today, i want to have you come on the

stage my baby rodney been around for 20 years still my baby on behalf of the city and county of san francisco we're to officially declare the the wiz in san francisco. (clapping.) and on opening night we're going to light up san francisco in the yellow brick is it yellow? yes light up city hall in joel to recognize the yellow brick road on the the wiz and continue to make sure that there is a celebration and there's enjoy and excitement we couldn't be more be honored and proud to have you and your cast and people involved in the the wiz walking the streets of san francisco and eating at the rauchts and make sure you get our dinner reservation in san francisco we want to show people not just the joy of the the wiz

in san francisco thank you all for being here today (clapping). >> (laughter) [off mic.] two more things for the people thank you, thank you 2 or 3 this thank you so much.

>> the artists are important ernest person in the cast is not only a performerer but a mentor we will have parents comes up in the cast and all of them building everyone has a story and so if parks and recreation with all of you in the city of san francisco and in broadway we are honored to give one hundred tickets to sweat shirts students across the city to come and enjoy the the wiz (clapping.) what you, you doing today. >> more good news good news and the cast is traveling down to san diego we have a very special performance if a wonderful, wonderful artist named rita and will give you guys a sneak peak with two

selections a beautiful song and also believe in yourself give a great big restrooms for rita west. >> reunion abound. >> it is very small community. >> oh. [off mic.] >> well, good afternoon everyone this is wonderful. >> (music). >> wrap our arms around (unintelligible). >> like when you

(unintelligible). >> then you know i love you now because i loved you then. >> though you may be trying sometimes, i need you, you're not there (music). >> i might be mad and turn you away you know i'll always (unintelligible). >> you, you know, i watched the movie the other night and when you i got it get older and you live a little bit with everything it is going on now you realize so many metaphors and things going on in that 3450e6 that hit me in a different way. and unfortunately, we're still struggling in the movie scenes

if you think what i mean? >> (music). >> if you believe within our hearts you'll know that no one can change the path you must go. >> then you'll be and know that is right just because the time will come around and you'll say it is yours.

>> building that you can grow old building i can (unintelligible). >> click your heels three times if you believe that your there. building in yourself right from the start building in the magic inside your heart. >> building on the things not because i told you see. >> but building in yourself. you got to believe in yourself. >> just building in yourself

as though and say believing in you you, you. believing in you. >> (music) and (clapping.) yes rita. >> yeah. (clapping.) and another remaining for rem ma webb. >> on behalf of the entire company of the the wiz a big thank you, one time thank you, thank you, thank you. >> thank you, mayor. breed for coming here today and welcoming us and for hosting us and every single that has taken the time to come here i know we made a pack but see ernest of your

bright and shiny faces to the wiz; right? and thank you for helping us and giving us your gift today. thank you. >> if you. >> will you help me with the. >> but we have a couple of tickets with terrify you can't have questions our first question is let me see oh, oh. >> that's a good one. >> okay. >> so jeffrey holder quick quick jeffrey holder was married to a wonderful woman specially in the event and might remember him in jell will dmerlz but in a 3450e6 the very, very first movie is start another unknown little girl does anyone know the name of that movie?

>> other people's money i got it. >> that's jazz you got free tickets. >> you got free tickets. >> oh, we got you all right number with two. this a really good one. >> okay. that's a really, really good one. >> okay. okay. so in the movie in the movie of the the wiz demeanor they has to put on her slippers we have all things twisters and turns one what a the slippers and anyone know the color of the slippers we wear in the the wiz? >> oh, mr. alex jones that was supposed to be a trick question. >> they are silver. >> he got two tickets to the

the wiz thank you so, so much we are only giving that many out so, thank you. >> so this yes, this serves as a african-american culture complex thank you, mayor. london breed. so don't forget we're hosting a whiff event for the children 5 or 6 blocks away at the african-american culture center at 4:00 p.m. with a lot of kids and cast members will be there and a wonderful conversation for the choreographer and so if you're there come own over we have a space for 250 people we know the the wiz but time to give this the wiz to the next generation come on out and

fulton street ease on down the road thank you, mayor. london breed and all right. i think with all due respect. >> i live in behaving. so we will be hosting on the bayview open today house and also will be more tickets giving out at the coastal centers this thursday come out this thursday and tune-up own your history and we have a shout out for the surgeon general thank you for coming out and yeah that's it thank you, guys for making this magical. thank you. >>

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