> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Asher HaVon Brings His Lion to The Fox in The Wiz - URL: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/asher-havon-brings-his-lion-to-the-fox-in-the-wiz/ - Published: 2026-11-07T21:15:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-07T21:14:59.000Z - Description: Once a kid singing to teddy bears in Selma, the "Voice" winner talks courage as the show eases on down the road to Riverside, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 - Author: Amy López - Tags: Culture, Theater, #herald-3f1ef165-d2ee-8003-a76c-d2759cf05ed2 Everybody look around: *The Wiz* is easing on down the road to Riverside. The Tony Award-winning musical plays the Fox Performing Arts Center for two nights only, Monday, Nov. 30, and Tuesday, Dec. 1, both at 7:30 p.m. The all-new national tour comes direct from the show's recent Broadway revival and stars "American Idol" Season 23 finalist Gabby Samone as Dorothy and "The Voice" Season 25 winner Asher HaVon as the Lion. HaVon grew up in Selma, Alabama, and has been singing since he was 3, starting with performances for an audience of teddy bears in his grandmother's living room. Ahead of the Riverside stop, he talked with the Gazette about the 50-year legacy he's stepping into, learning JaQuel Knight's choreography as a singer first, and the moments in his own life when he had to find his courage, just like the Lion. The rest of the touring cast includes Bryan DeMond as The Wiz, Jose E. Figueroa Jr. as the Scarecrow, Jaelen Spellman as the Tinman, Toni Lorene Baker as Glinda and April Renee Moye as Aunt Em and Evillene. Based on L. Frank Baum's children's book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," *The Wiz* takes one of America's most enduring fantasies and turns it into an all-Black musical, with a score rooted in soul, gospel, rock and '70s funk. This version tells the story of Dorothy's journey to find her place in a contemporary world. The Baltimore Sun praised its "powerhouse performances," and the Chicago Sun-Times called it "an eye-popping and high-intensity revival." The production features a book by William F. Brown and a Tony-winning score by Charlie Smalls and others. It's directed by Schele Williams (*The Notebook* and the revival of Disney's *Aida*), with choreography by JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" and *Black Is King*) and additional material by Tony- and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin ("The Amber Ruffin Show," "Late Night With Seth Meyers"). It also includes "Everybody Rejoice," with music and lyrics by Luther Vandross, and the "Emerald City Ballet," with music by Timothy Graphenreed. *The Wiz* premiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation. It won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Ted Ross as the Lion, Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Dee Dee Bridgewater and Best Choreography for George Faison. In a Broadway first, Geoffrey Holder won for both Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design. "Ease on Down the Road" became the show's breakout single, and "Home" has since become a classic. The original production ran four years on Broadway, first at the Majestic Theatre and later at the Broadway Theatre, for 1,672 performances. The 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor and Lena Horne, and marked Quincy Jones' first collaboration with Michael Jackson. The Riverside stop brings the story full circle in its own way. The Fox, which opened in 1929, once hosted vaudeville performers including Judy Garland, Hollywood's original Dorothy, according to the [City of Riverside](https://riversideca.gov/todo-landmarks.asp?ref=raincrossgazette.com). This month, a new Dorothy takes the same stage. HaVon's answers below have been lightly edited for style. ## Q&A with Asher HaVon **"The Wiz" has meant a lot to a lot of people for 50 years, and each new cast adds to that history. What does it mean to you to step into it, and is there a Lion before you whose work you carry with you?** Stepping into *The Wiz* is something I don't take lightly. This production has such a rich history, and to become a small part of a legacy that has inspired generations is incredibly humbling. What makes this experience even more special is the story itself. At its heart, *The Wiz* is about discovering that so many of the things we spend our lives searching for have been within us all along. When I think about the Lion, I think about the incredible Ted Ross, who originated the role in the Broadway production. His portrayal helped establish a character that audiences have loved for decades. I respect the foundation he created, but I also believe every actor has to find their own truth within a character. My goal has been to honor that legacy while bringing my own voice, personality, vulnerability and life experiences to the role. **JaQuel Knight's choreography is a big part of what makes this production feel so alive. What has it been like learning and performing his work as the Lion?** JaQuel Knight's choreography is electrifying! His movement brings such an incredible energy to this production. As the Lion, it has challenged me in ways that have pushed me beyond my comfort zone, physically and artistically. I'm a singer first, so stepping into a production where movement and storytelling are so closely connected has been an exciting learning experience. What I appreciate most is that the choreography doesn't simply exist to entertain; it helps tell the story. Every movement has intention. It has taught me that sometimes you can communicate something through your body that words alone cannot express. **Some people in the Fox audience will know every word of "Ease on Down the Road," and some will be seeing the show for the first time, including kids at their first touring Broadway show. What do you hope each group leaves with?** I hope everyone leaves with a little more courage than they walked in with. For those who have grown up with *The Wiz*, I hope this production brings back beautiful memories while allowing them to experience the story through a fresh perspective. And for the young people experiencing their first touring Broadway show, I hope they leave believing that their dreams are possible. I want them to understand that they don't have to become someone else to be extraordinary. They don't have to wait for permission to shine. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is the reminder that everything they need to become who they're meant to be is already inside them. If someone leaves that theater feeling seen, inspired or encouraged to believe in themselves, then we've done something special. ![Four actors costumed as a lion, a girl in blue, a tin man, and a scarecrow pose arm in arm before a glowing green city](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b3/b2/b3b29e3b-298e-485f-86ca-3034c21e3784/content/images/2026/11/from-left-asher-havon-as-the-lion-gabby-samone-as-dorothy.jpg) From left, Asher HaVon as the Lion, Gabby Samone as Dorothy, Jaelen Spellman as the Tinman and Jose E. Figueroa Jr. as the Scarecrow in The Wiz. | Jeremy Daniel **The Lion's whole journey is about finding courage he already had. Has there been a moment in your own path, from Selma to "The Voice" to this tour, when you had to do the same?** Absolutely. My journey has been filled with moments when I've had to choose courage, especially when the path ahead wasn't clear. Growing up in Selma, Alabama, I had dreams that were much bigger than my surroundings at the time. I've been singing since I was 3 years old, and although I always believed music was something special in my life, believing in yourself and convincing the world to believe in you are two very different things. My experience on "The Voice" changed my life, but it also taught me that winning isn't the destination. It's another beginning. There have been moments when I've had to take risks, walk into unfamiliar rooms, face rejection and trust that I belonged even when I didn't have all the answers. In many ways, I see myself in the Lion. Sometimes courage isn't about being fearless. It's about moving forward even when you're afraid. I've learned that I don't have to wait for someone to tell me I'm capable. I have to believe it for myself. **Your career started with singing to teddy bears in your grandmother's living room in Selma. What do you remember about those early performances, and how does that part of your life show up in your work today?** I remember having an imagination that was bigger than the room I was standing in. My grandmother's living room was my stage, and those teddy bears were my audience. I would perform as though I was standing in front of thousands of people. There was no pressure, no expectation and no fear of getting it wrong. There was just music, imagination and joy. I think that little boy still shows up in everything I do today. Whether I'm recording music, performing in front of a television audience or stepping onto a Broadway stage, I try to approach every performance with that same sense of wonder. I've learned so much about the industry, the business and the demands of being an entertainer, but I never want to become so consumed by the destination that I forget why I started. At the end of the day, I'm still that little boy from Selma who loves to sing. **What would that kid think of where you are now?** Oh, that little boy would probably be speechless! If I could go back and sit beside him for a moment, I think I'd tell him, "Keep singing. Don't stop. Everything you're dreaming about is worth holding on to." He had no idea that the living room performances would eventually lead to national television, sharing his voice with millions of people, or standing on stages across the country in a Broadway production. But I think what would make him happiest isn't necessarily the recognition or the opportunities. It's knowing that he never lost the love for what he was doing. That little boy was simply singing because it made him happy. I hope I've never lost that part of myself. ## See the show **What:** *The Wiz*, national tour **When:** 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, and Tuesday, Dec. 1 **Where:** Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside **Tickets:** On sale at [foxriverside.com](https://foxriverside.com/?ref=raincrossgazette.com). A portion of proceeds from group purchases of 10 or more benefits the Fox Riverside Theater Foundation.