'The Wiz' Will Be NBC's Next Live Musical
Nora Dominick ‘17/ Emertainment Monthly Assistant Stage Editor
Charlie Smalls and William F. Brown’s The Wiz is said to be co-produced by Cirque du Soleil’s new stage theatrical division and is set to head to Broadway for a revival in 2016-17. No casting for the live event or the revival has been released at this time.
The Wiz is the retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic story Wizard of Oz. The show follows the story of Dorothy and her adventure in Oz with rock-filled music. Some of the soulful songs include, “Ease on Down the Road,” “No Bad News” and “Home.” It originally opened on Broadway in 1975 and won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Score. The 1978 film version starred Diana Ross, Richard Pryor and Michael Jackson.
Earlier this year, NBC announced that this coming musical would be either The Wiz or Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. Tony winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun) will stage both the live television production and the Broadway revival. This is an interesting dynamic that NBC has signed on for and it will be interesting to see how the two productions come together and if any of the casting or creative team will overlap. Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots) will contribute new material for the productions. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will also return as executive producers.
The next question is who will be cast? If past NBC live events have shown, the cast will be a combination of Broadway veterans and Hollywood actors. FOX is also jumping on the Live musical event by presenting Grease Live! with Vanessa Hudgens and Julianne Hough.
More news will be released at the live telecast nears but for now fans can start dream casting and singing these classic showtunes.
I would imagine whoever is cast Will be cast in the revival as well. Keke Palmer should CLEARLY be Dorothy. Another Broadway run for her would be great. Jussie Smollet as the Scarecrow, Wayne Brady as Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart CLEARLY should be the Cowardly Lion, Diana Ross as Glinda, this would a way to pay homage as she was the original Dorothy in the original film and switch her out for Phylicia Rashad for the Broadway revival, Tichina Arnold as Evilene, if u didn’t see her as Evilene off Broadway you need to she kills this role, Jennifer Hudson as Addaperle and Eddie Murphy or Jamie Foxx as the Wiz would be perfect.