Hairspray's Rashad Naylor Steps In for Busy Brady for The Wiz

The new revival of The Wiz has lost its Scarecrow. TV star Wayne Brady, who was previously announced to play the role, has dropped out of the eagerly-anticipated production. Hairspray ensemble star Rashad Naylor will appear as the Scarecrow when The Wiz starts performances at La Jolla Playhouse on September 26.

"Wayne had several conflicts in his schedule early on that we were able to accommodate," Wiz director Des McAnuff Jersey Boys said in a statement. "However, as we got further into the preparation of The Wiz, a previously agreed-to project of Wayne's was rescheduled, creating a conflict during The Wiz rehearsal period. It was, sadly, insurmountable. We were very enthusiastic about having him on the project, but we have to part ways. We've enjoyed our time with him and wish him great success in his burgeoning career."

Naylor, an original ensemble member of Hairspray who later went on to understudy the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs, also appeared as Sammy Davis, Jr. in Rat Pack Live! From Vegas in Toronto.

The Wiz also features Nikki M. James as Dorothy, David Alan Grier as The Wiz, Tituss Burgess as The Lion, Michael Benjamin Washington as the Tin Man, E. Faye Butler as Evilene, Albert Blaise Cattafi as Toto, Heather Lee as Addaperle, Orville Mendoza as Uncle Henry and Valarie Pettiford as Aunt Em/Glinda. It will open at the Mandell Weiss Theatre at La Jolla Playhouse on October 11 and run through November 12.