© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Broadway legend Hinton Battle, who originally played Scarecrow in 'The Wiz', has died

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Let's take a moment to remember a Broadway legend. Actor and choreographer Hinton Battle died this week at the age of 67.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Battle is perhaps best known for playing the original Scarecrow in the Broadway production 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, found a brown paper bag, and they filled it with straw. And to top off the drag, they gave me penciled-in eyes and a penciled-in nose. And they stuck me up there and said, strike me a pose.

SHAPIRO: "The Wiz" was just the beginning for Battle. He went on to win three Tony Awards for his roles in "Sophisticated Ladies," "The Tap Dance Kid" and "Miss Saigon."

KELLY: And Battle dazzled on screen, too, in movies 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 bad side. Ooh, ooh, ooh. Going to take a mean ride. Ooh, ooh, ooh.

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

BATTLE: (As Wayne, singing) Those that 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 bad side today.

SHAPIRO: He had a long list of television credits, including "Quantum Leap" and "Touched By An Angel." He even played a singing demon in a musical episode of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," compelling his victims to burst into song and dance.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER")

BATTLE: (As Sweet, singing) I come from the imagination, and I'm here strictly by your invocation. So what do you say? Why don't we dance a while?

KELLY: In a post on X, Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy alongside Hinton Battle on Broadway, wrote, my dear Scarecrow, you've joined the heavenly cast. I will miss you forever.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOME")

STEPHANIE MILLS: (As Dorothy, singing) Maybe there's a chance for me to go back now that I have some direction. It sure would be nice to be back home where there's love and affection. And just maybe I can convince time to slow up, giving... Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Megan Lim
[Copyright 2024 NPR]
Tinbete Ermyas
[Copyright 2024 NPR]

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.