If you haven’t heard the news by now, NBC is bringing ‘The Wiz Live!’
For one night only a three hour live event is going to take place for the long time classic, ‘The Wizard of Oz’. With the original being on Broadway, a feature film adaptation starring the likes of Diana Ross and Michael Jackson was created titled ‘The Wiz’. There is obviously no topping that but it appears NBC along with Director Kenny Leon and Executive Producers Craig Zadan & Neil Meron, a new adaptation is going to attempt to add a new and fun twist to it.
Airing December 3, 2015 ‘The Wiz Live!’ will showcase the classic musical in a way I am sure we have never seen before. Many of us, if not all, are fans of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – winner of 7 Tony awards – but it is certainly ‘The Wiz’ which took the classic to another level. So the addition of fresh new faces culminated into what is an all-star which I am sure will not disappoint us with ‘The Wiz Live!’
Meet the cast;
Dorothy will be played by 18-year old new comer from New Jersey, Shanice Williams. The Wiz will be played by none other than Queen Latifah who resume speaks for it self. Playing the Wicked Witch of The West, Evillene will be the Queen of R&B herself, Mary J Blige. Funny man himself, comedian David Alan Grier will take on the roll of the Cowardly Lion. Representing for Orange Is The New Black, Uzo Aduba aka Crazy Eyes will play Glinda for this live event. Playing Addaperle is Amber Riley who has seen much success from her role on the hit musical TV series ‘Glee’. Now this is going to blow a lot of minds, playing the role of Dorothy’s Auntie Em is legendary singer Stephanie Mills, need I say more? Elijah Kelly joins the already star studded cast as the man looking for brains, Scarecrow which will be tough shoes to fill as this was the character, the late great Michael Jackson played in ‘The Wiz’. How could this cast get any better you ask? Well taking on the roles of Bouncer the gatekeeper and Tin Man will be Common and R&B singer Ne-Yo.
I don’t about you guys but I will be tuning in as well as setting my DVR for ‘The Wiz Live!’
