The Theatre Department will host auditions for the hit play, “The Wiz,” which will hit the Paul Robeson Theatre on Apr. 16. The Wiz has not been at A&T in almost 20 years, and  it will be a welcome return to the department.Donna Baldwin-Brabdy, the Director of Publicity and Marketing, is opening the auditions up to the entire campus community, which is something that usually only happens for “Black Nativity.””In opening up the auditions, it is making our theatre majors have to step up their game,” Baldwin-Bradby said. “In the marketing aspect, the larger the cast, the better the production. “Artistically, there is a need for a larger cast in a production of this caliber.”Auditions will be held in Paul Robeson today and tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. People will sign in a fill out an audition form, and will be given a number. Auditionees should be prepared to sing, dance and read from the script.The department is looking to cast anywhere between 20 and 30 people, with 11 primary characters. It has not been decided at this present time whether the singing auditions will be open or not, but the dancing and reading will be open to the public. However, Baldwin-Bradby says that it is very likely it will be.”Casting musicals are easier than casting straight plays,” Baldwin-Bradby said. “I don’t care how good you can act, it’s not actical, it’s not a dancical, it’s a musical. “Opening the singing will allow people to see the different talents and vocal ranges of the other auditionees.”With the demands of a musical of this quality, the Theatre would like to cast more people, but due to a lack of financial support, they are limited to 30, which will make the auditions even more critical.    “When I directed the wiz in 1990, we spent almost $10,000,” Theatre Arts Program Director Frankie Day said. “With the way the economy is now and the recession, we are looking at almost $20,000-$25,000.”After almost 20 years, the return of ‘The Wiz’ is more important for the theatre now than ever.”Thousands of people kept asking us ‘when are you going to do the Wiz?’ and we just had all the right people in place,” Baldwin-Bradby said. “Everyone loves ‘The Wiz,’ and we need the revenue.”Freshman theatre major Jamia Tucker is nervous but excited. “I love musicals and I would love to be a part, but there is a lot of pressure since it is open to the public and there is a buzz on campus and in the department to get cast,” Tucker said. “We (the theatre majors) are very competitive. I’ll be excited to be in the play in whatever role I get cast.”The show will be cast by Friday, and rehearsals will begin on Monday.

• Dexter Mullins