NBC will air The Wiz LIVE! in December and the casting announcements so far have been inspiring.
Dorothy will be newcomer Shanice Williams.
Williams will be on stage with Mary J. Blige as Evillene, Queen Latifah as The Wiz, David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion, Uzo Aduba as Glinda, Amber Riley as Addaperle, and Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em. Also featured will be Common, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley and Cirque du Soleil. Kenny Leon is the director.
Staging a musical live on television is an undertaking in itself, but adding Cirque du Soleil to the action should make for both spectacular challenges and spectacular action.
Many of those in the cast made their reputations as singers, but we aren’t used to seeing Uzo Aduba sing. Check this out:
Maybe Crazy Eyes stands frozen on stage when asked to sing in Orange is the New Black, but Uzo Aduba can belt out an aria on demand.
I’ve never been in a position in my life where I could see Broadway shows. The Wiz is one that has always been on my wish list. Actually, any musical would make my wish list.
In past years, NBC brought us Peter Pan LIVE and The Sound of Music LIVE. Now we have this holiday treat to look forward to. I intend to follow the yellow brick road.