Sheherazade as Glinda, Dana Cimone as Dorothy, and Amitria Fanae (right) as Addaperle in the North American Tour of THE WIZ. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
🌈 Following the Yellow Brick Road: A GLAMoms Conversation with Amitria Fanae from The Wiz ✨
Every once in a while, a conversation feels a little bit like stepping onto a Yellow Brick Road of your own. It was unexpected and full of heart. That’s exactly how it felt speaking with Amitria Fanae, one of the shining stars of the national tour of The Wiz, (at Wharton Center December 9 – 14, 2025)
The Road Begins with a Story We All Know, Told in a New Way
As Amitria described The Wiz, it became clear this production isn’t just a retelling, it’s a journey, both for the characters and for the audience.
She spoke about Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion as if they were old friends, each stepping onto the road searching for something they believed they lacked: a home, a brain, a heart, a bit of courage. But like every parent knows, and every child eventually learns, sometimes the hardest part of growing is realizing that the things we think we’re missing might already live inside us.
“They end up finding that it’s been within them all along.” This show celebrates the story. With music that spans genres, choreography that fills a stage, and a bold, colorful world all its own.
Addaperle: The Witch Who Guides Dorothy
Amitria plays Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North who is the very first guide Dorothy meets on her journey down the Yellow Brick Road. She’s the one who points the way, offers hope, and reminds Dorothy that she’s capable of more than she realizes.
Listening to Amitria describe Addaperle, you could hear how deeply she understands the role: part comfort, part encouragement, part nudge forward. She laughed as she said Addaperle is “kind of incognito,” watching over Dorothy from a distance, appearing only when she needs to.
She you may only see Addaperle if you are looking, “… if you see her, you see her.” Yet as Dorothy travels, the witch of the north is always nearby. Addaperle’s character in the story felt a bit symbolic of all the people – the teachers, the mentors, and the parents, who guide kids quietly from the sidelines.
Amitria’s Road
As we continued talking, Amitria shared how her own Yellow Brick Road started long before she ever stepped onto a stage. Her mother was a poet laureate, and younger Amitria recited poems at oratorical contests before she was old enough for drama school.
That early spark turned into a lifelong love of the arts, drama, chorus, dance, and all bricks, or the path, that led her here. When she spoke about living her dream, it was with the type of gratitude that is impossible to not be moved by how grateful she is each day to wake up and do this work.
On the Road: What She Needs at Each Stop
Tour life brings its own set of adventures, and Amitria shared the things that help her feel grounded in every new city: her portable speaker for pre-show playlists, a plug-in or air freshener to make each hotel room feel (or smell) less like a space shared by many, and a personal commitment to treating herself well.
She told us she always finds a great restaurant in each city. “If I can find a good restaurant to treat myself to in a city, I’m going.” And not out of luxury but out of honoring herself. As she put it, “I believe in spoiling yourself. If you don’t treat yourself well, how can you expect anyone else to?”
Why This Story is Good For Families Right Now
When asked why families, especially kids and young teens, should experience The Wiz, the conversation took a relatable turn.
Amitria talked about the moments in childhood when we all feel “new” again: stepping into middle school, high school, a new classroom, a new team, a new environment “Every stage of life brings a new Yellow Brick Road. Kids, teens, adults, we’re all learning our courage, our heart, our voice.” Each transition is its own Yellow Brick Road full of unfamiliar steps and small and some large fears.
And in The Wiz, kids get to see those experiences on stage:
Dorothy learning her way.
Lion finding bravery.
Scarecrow learning to trust his thoughts.
Tin Man remembering how to feel.
It becomes a story not just to watch, but something to see yourself in. And for adults? It’s a reminder that we never really stop navigating new roads.
And with Wharton Center so close to home, Greater Lansing area families have opportunities to share a Broadway-level experience without leaving town. It’s magic right in our backyard.
The ensemble of The Wiz in Emerald City in the North American Tour of THE WIZ. Photo by Jeremy Daniel
The Last Step on the Road, or Our Call
As we said goodbye, we warned Amitria about Michigan’s winter weather. She laughed, and said, “Bundle up, birdie…” And she’s ready for it!
Some feelings lingered after the call. While we planned this conversation to promote The Wiz at Wharton Center, it ended up being much more. Serving as a gentle reminder that journeys matter, guidance matters and sometimes, you don’t know your own strength until you take the next step.
This December, as audiences follow Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road, we hope families feel that same spark of courage, curiosity, and wonder as they travel down their Yellow Brick Road too.
If interested in hearing more about Amitria and The Wiz, visit the YouTube video above.
If interested in tickets for The Wiz at Wharton Center, visit whartoncenter.com
photos provided by Wharton Center Media and The WIZ
