Golden Gate drops 'The Wiz'

McAnuff's musical no longer part of season

By RICHARD OUZOUNIAN

TORONTO -- San Francisco's Golden Gate Theater has dropped the Des McAnuff-helmed revival of "The Wiz" from its season due to scheduling conflicts, with Irish import "Ha'penny Bridge" being slotted in its place, directly after its international premiere in Canada.

The replacement show was written by Alastair McGuckian and will be directed and choreographed by Stratford fest regular Donna Feore. The Irish Civil War musical plays May 16-June 29 in Toronto, then heads to San Francisco from July 6 through Aug. 10.

McAnuff's production of 1975 tuner "The Wiz" bowed at La Jolla Playhouse in fall 2006 and was considered a likely contender for Broadway transfer. But the show's large cast and high pricetag may have contributed to slow its path to New York, along with the director's heavy workload, including two shows at Stratford, where he become co-artistic director this year, and numerous road and international productions of "Jersey Boys."