MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Cal Mitchell grew up watching “The Wiz” with his family, but little did he know that majoring in theatre at Middle Tennessee State University would lead to him starring as the Lion in the Tony Award-winning musical, which is coming to Nashville this week.
Mitchell is making his national tour debut in this musical, which the Tennessee Performing Arts Center described as a “groundbreaking twist on ‘The Wizard of Oz’” that “changed the face of Broadway — from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world.”
According to a news release from MTSU, Mitchell said he frequently watched the late 1970s cinematic version of the reimagined 1974 Broadway musical, starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor and Ted Ross among the all Black cast, and now “The Wiz” is a huge part of his career.
The university said Mitchell really jumped headfirst into theatre after graduating from Siegel High School in Murfreesboro and arriving at MTSU in 2017. In addition to majoring in theatre at MTSU’s College of Liberal Arts, he minored in musical theatre performance.
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“My first show at MTSU was [‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’]. I played Joseph, which was a bit of a crazy experience getting into college that first year and doing that show. I was also in ‘Nine to Five;’ we did a production of ‘Spring Awakening,’ and my last show with the theatre department was ‘Godspell,’” he recalled.
Mitchell said MTSU not only provided experiences that helped set him up for success when it came time to audition for shows, but it also helped him figure out why he got “so attached to theatre and acting itself.”
“The time I was at MTSU, I was exactly where I needed to be as far as understanding what being an actor was, or understanding what I bring to the table and also understanding that I am not just a simple product; I am a human being too, and that’s as much a part of it as anything else,” Mitchell explained, adding that doing back-to-back shows at MTSU prepared him for the requirements of his career.
MTSU theatre alum Cal Mitchell, far left, is seen here performing as the Lion in the Tony Award-winning musical “The Wiz,” alongside castmates Dana Cimone, center, as Dorothy; D. Jerome as The Tinman, second from right; and Elijah Ahmad Lewis as the Scarecrow, right, in the North American tour of the show. (Courtesy: Jeremy Daniel via MTSU)
MTSU theatre alum Cal Mitchell, front center, makes his national tour debut as the Lion in the award-winning musical “The Wiz.” (Courtesy: Jeremy Daniel via MTSU)
MTSU theatre alum Cal Mitchell plays the Lion in his national North American tour debut of “The Wiz.” (Courtesy: Jeremy Daniel via MTSU)
According to school officials, Mitchell was part of the ensemble when he first booked a role in “The Wiz,” as well as the Lion’s understudy, but about halfway through the production’s run, he was promoted to the starring role full-time. He will continue to play the character until the national tour wraps up in Ohio next May.
“Jumping into the role was a little bit scary, but I am so glad I said yes, and I’m going to continue to say yes to doing this show every single day because every time I play Lion, it feels like I am unlocking another piece to get me where I need to go next,” the MTSU alum said.
Mitchell described playing the Lion as “cathartic,” saying he feels like he and the character are one and the same.
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MTSU said Mitchell’s favorite part of the show is the final sequence where Glinda comes on stage and sings “Believe in Yourself” before Dorothy sings “Home.”
“That part means so much to me. I grew up listening to these songs, and I think it is really poignant, especially for Black kids, to see someone who looks ethereal and like a goddess telling you that you can be whoever you want to be, despite what anyone else says,” Mitchell explained.
According to the university, Mitchell said those two songs make him reflect on where he’s been in life and where he’s going, earning them a special place in his heart.
“Getting to listen to ‘Home’ every night, I sometimes stop and really think back to a few years ago when I moved to the city, or five years ago when I started doing shows at MTSU and before that in high school,” he described. “It’s hard not to listen to or hear those songs back-to-back and not think about where I’ve been and how far I’ve come. Those two songs mean the absolute most to me.”
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If you want to see Mitchell and the rest of the cast of “The Wiz” showcase their talents during their stop in Music City, there will be eight shows at the TPAC from Tuesday, Sept. 23, through Sunday, Sept. 28. You can buy tickets by following this link.
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