Hundreds of Brooklynites on Saturday enjoyed a night at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park for a BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! screening of The Wiz, by Quincy Jones.
Attendees came dressed in their best Emerald City-inspired outfits as they enjoyed a DJ set by April Hunt. The evening started with a panel discussion with Schele Williams, a Broadway director and author, Dede Ayite, a Broadway costume designer and Bobby Wooten III, a musician and producer. The discussion, which highlighted the panellists' memories from when they first saw the film and the production's profound impact on their careers, was moderated by Dylan Green, the founder of Hearing Things, a music publication, and creator of the Reel Notes podcast.
Guests later flocked to the lawn with blankets and chairs to marvel at the groundbreaking 1978 musical film, a reimagining of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz that includes an electrifying all-star lineup of vocalists and musicians including Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor and others.
Many attendees sang out loud to their favorite songs, such as Ease on Down the Road, You Can't Win and Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News, turning the night into a whimsical public performance. The Wiz is not only a film, but an experience through the lens of Black culture, music and style.
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