MILWAUKEE — Being cast as Dorothy in “The Wiz” made as much sense as following the yellow brick road for Phoenix Assata LaFreniere.
The musical has been rooted in her life since she was a kid.
“‘The Wiz’ has been a big part of my life for like the whole thing because as a child I watched the movie and everything, and me and my mom sing all the songs together and I’ve known all the songs literally forever…” she said.
But one song from the show has held a special place in her heart — “Home.”
Pre-Broadway Production of “The Wiz,” featuring Deborah Cox as Glinda & Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy in “He’s The Wiz.” (Jeremy Daniel)
Phoenix Assata LaFreniere, who recently took over the role of Dorothy in “The Wiz.” (Courtesy of Broadway Across America/The Wiz)
The magic of that song became even more real for LaFreniere in a moment that can only be described as fate.
Fresh off a spring 2025 graduation and spending her days working at a gym, LaFreniere gathered with her family over the holidays in December. Like any other year, karaoke was a big part of the festivities.
LaFreniere often sung with her mother, who is a singer herself. This year, the request from the crowd was to sing the song, “Home,” one that had become a tradition for her mother to perform.
“So me and my mom sang ‘Home’ together over the holidays in front of my whole family and then a couple weeks later, I got cast [as Dorothy] to do exactly that on stage, which is so crazy and like written-in-the-stars moment,” she said.
Now, she gets to share a song that’s been influential to her life with people around the country on her debut Broadway tour.
“It’s so beautiful and it’s about like finding love and finding light in everyday things because the journey that Dorothy goes on is that she’s having a hard time with her life and finding her purpose and she’s having relationships, like hard relationships with her family and friends,” LaFreniere said, reflecting on the song that has shaped her life.
She said the song tells you that even if you’re going through hard times, you know it’ll be OK because you’re home.
“I think that’s a message that can translate for anyone. And I think that’s why the song always meant so much to me, even as a kid, was just because it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, like this is so true, like home is where the heart is,’” she said.
Pre-Broadway Production of “The Wiz,” featuring Alan Mingo Jr. as The Wiz. (Jeremy Daniel)
Being able to explore Dorothy, a character that’s been used time and again in what LaFreniere calls the “Oz multiverse,” has been a fun reflection.
“I think that’s one that has been so exciting for me, getting to play her, is that I’m like discovering things that remind me of myself or remind me of a younger version of myself; she just has so much joy and curiosity,” she said.
LaFreniere said while she was learning the show, someone told her that Dorothy’s superpower was to make anyone feel on top of the world. That’s stuck with her in her rendition.
Pre-Broadway Production of “The Wiz,” featuring Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy & Melody Betts as Aunt Em in “The Feeling We Once Had.” (Jeremy Daniel)
“Her main goal in life is to lift other people up and lift herself up, and she’s so good at getting people out of like sadness or despair and reminding them that like you can do this and I can do this,” she said.
The Dorothy role in “The Wiz” has some big shoes to fill, something LaFreniere doesn’t take lightly.
She remembers admiring Diana Ross in the film version released in 1978, specifically her vocals.
“Her vocals are so iconic, especially to me, because I grew up with the movie,” she said, adding that’s one thing she adopts in her portrayal.
As for the original Broadway actress in the role, Stephanie Mills, LaFreniere said she admired her youth and sweetness, something she also takes into her performance.
Something that sets “The Wiz” apart from the original “The Wizard of Oz” story is the way it retells the story in the context of African-American culture, from an all-Black cast to its score jam-packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk.
Pre-Broadway Production of “The Wiz,” featuring Avery Wilson as Scarecrow in “You Cant Win.” (Jeremy Daniel)
LaFreniere said the music makes you want to dance in your seat.
Representation on stage is also back of mind as LaFreniere greets fans at the stage door.
“Every day I’m still shocked that people want my autograph and want to take pictures with me because I’m like what is happening right now, especially little Black girls that, it gets me so deeply, they’re the sweetest every and they’re always so shy to talk to me,” she said.
Pre-Broadway Production of “The Wiz,” featuring Phillip Johnson Richardson as Tinman. (Jeremy Daniel)
The whole experience feels surreal to LaFreniere and though she’s only a few stops into the tour, she’s already fully embraced the show’s themes of family, friendship, love, joy — and that “we are more alike than we are different.”
“The whole show is about finding people that you’ve never seen before, being in worlds you’ve never seen before, being in situations you’ve never been in before and finding how to get out of them and still being light and still finding joy and friendship and relationship — it just makes you feel good because they all go on this journey of discovering themselves, finding pieces of themselves that were lost and realizing that it was within them the whole time,” she said.
“The Wiz” will be at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee from March 24-29. You can purchase tickets, here.
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