Broadway legend Hinton Battle, who initially performed Scarecrow in ‘The Wiz’, has died

Broadway star Hinton Battle, who performed the unique Scarecrow on the 1978 “The Wiz”, has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Let’s take a second to recollect a Broadway legend. Actor and choreographer Hinton Battle died this week on the age of 67.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Battle is probably finest recognized for taking part in the unique Scarecrow within the Broadway manufacturing of “The Wiz.”

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I WAS BORN ON THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY”)

HINTON BATTLE: (As Scarecrow, singing) Yeah, they took the jacket and the pants, discovered a brown paper bag, and so they stuffed it with straw. And to prime off the drag, they gave me penciled-in eyes and a penciled-in nostril. And so they caught me up there and stated, strike me a pose.

SHAPIRO: “The Wiz” was only the start for Battle. He went on to win three Tony Awards for his roles in “Refined Women,” “The Faucet Dance Child” and “Miss Saigon.”

KELLY: And Battle dazzled on display, too, in motion pictures just like the 2006 “Dreamgirls.”

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “STEPPIN’ TO THE BAD SIDE”)

HINTON BATTLE, JAMIE FOXX, EDDIE MURPHY AND KEITH ROBINSON: (As Wayne, Curtis Taylor Jr., Jimmy Early and C.C. White, singing) Steppin’ to the unhealthy facet. Ooh, ooh, ooh. Going to take a imply experience. Ooh, ooh, ooh.

KEITH ROBINSON: (As C.C. White, singing) The smile I had is gone away.

BATTLE: (As Wayne, singing) People who steal are going to pay.

BATTLE, FOXX, MURPHY AND ROBINSON: (As Wayne, Curtis Taylor Jr., Jimmy Early and C.C. White, singing) Steppin’ to the unhealthy facet at present.

SHAPIRO: He had an extended record of tv credit, together with “Quantum Leap” and “Touched By An Angel.” He even performed a singing demon in a musical episode of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” compelling his victims to burst into tune and dance.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER”)

BATTLE: (As Candy, singing) I come from the creativeness, and I am right here strictly by your invocation. So what do you say? Why do not we dance some time?

KELLY: In a put up on X, Stephanie Mills, who performed Dorothy alongside Hinton Battle on Broadway, wrote, my pricey Scarecrow, you have joined the heavenly solid. I’ll miss you perpetually.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HOME”)

STEPHANIE MILLS: (As Dorothy, singing) Possibly there’s an opportunity for me to return now that I’ve some route. It certain could be good to be again residence the place there’s love and affection. And simply perhaps I can persuade time to sluggish up, giving…

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