| For other versions of the Cowardly Lion, see Cowardly Lion. |
The Cowardly Lion is a major character in The Wiz. He was banished from the jungle for being a coward and joins Dorothy and her friends to get courage from The Wiz. Ted Ross portrayed him in both the play and movie. He was awarded a tony for his performance.
Appearances[]
Broadway[]
In the musical the Lion is portrayed by Ted Ross. He is a sensitive and poetic beast. Ted Ross won a Tony Award for the performance. He was always mocked and ridiculed for his cowardice to where he even had to get counseling from an old owl, but to no avail. One day he encounters Dorothy and her new companions as the follow the yellow brick road through the forest. After tussling with the Scarecrow and Tin Man Dorothy pushes him knocking him on the ground and begins yelling at him which humiliates and shames him revealing his true nature to them all. After he tells his story to them, they invite him on their quest to go see The Wizard.
Film[]
In the movie version Ted Ross revived the role once more. This lion was banished from the jungle, He later relocated at a library disgusing himself as a statue, Once Dorothy and her friends come about, he leaps off the pedistal and scares them, but after Toto bites his paw, they soon realize he's a coward. They invite him to see the Wiz with them. Despite being a coward, he shows some bravery by saving his friends from a peddler and his subway monsters and even tells Dorothy not to give Evillene the Silver Slippers despite being strung up by his tail.
Live[]
Comedian David Alan Grier portrayed the role of the Lion in the live adaptation of The Wiz on December 3, 2015. This character is very much like the character Ted Ross created years ago, but with a more urban twist: He uses modern day talk and even has dreads instead of the regular curls the lions before wore.
Broadway 2024[]
In the Broadway revival, the Lion lived in a pride when he was a cub, until Evillene came across them and captured all the other lions while he jumped and hid in the bushes for safety. This left the Lion alone, afraid and to fend only for himself. He would soon encounter Dorothy along with the Scarecrow and Tin Man as they travel into his part of the forest.
Gallery[]
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