We told you weeks ago that singer/actress Brandy has been eyeing the role of Dorothy in the upcoming live musical remake of The Wiz which is set to air December 3rd on NBC, as well as make it’s return to Broadway.
She is currently wrapping up her successful stint on Broadway as Roxie Hart in Chicago The Musical and expressed interest in snagging the lead role. Now we have learned that some other music royalty have been confirmed to appear in the classic urban story of The Wizard of Oz.
Following the announcement that Stephanie Mills – who portrayed Dorothy in the original stage production of ‘The Wiz,’ will portray Auntie Em in NBC’s adaptation- now it is reported that Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah are set to join the soon to be all star cast. EW confirmed the news in a story posted on July 28:
NBC has signed two big stars for The Wiz: Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige have joined the network’s latest live musical adaptation. EW has exclusively learned Latifah will play the titular Wiz, who holds the keys to the Emerald City, while Blige is set to play the Wicked Witch of the West.
Latifah’s musical past includes starring in 2002’s Chicago and 2007’s Hairspray, and Blige has nine Grammy awards under her belt. They’ll star in The Wiz alongside previously announced cast member Stephanie Mills, who’s playing Auntie Em.
The Wiz Live! is executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron—who also made NBC’s previously high-wire musical telecasts, 2013’s The Sound of Music Live! and last year’s Peter Pan Live!The Wiz Live! is directed by Kenny Leon with Harvey Fierstein providing new written material and also marks the first NBC musical to made with Cirque Du Soleil, whose acrobats will be used in certain scenes (such as the tornado and flying monkeys).
In addition to Chicago, Latifah co-starred in Hairspray and the TV film Steel Magnolias — all of which were executive produced by Zadan and Meron. “We are so happy reuniting with Latifah,” said Zadan and Meron. “We’ve been friends for a long time and we’ve had quite a lot of success together. To see her play the iconic role of the Wiz and make it her own is going to be one of the joys of producing this event.”
More detail on their characters: As The Wiz, Latifah plays “the mysterious and powerful wizard who holds the keys to the Emerald City, but whose metamorphosis from ordinary to extraordinary is itself a hoax. She rose to her lofty position after being transported by accident to Oz in a hot air balloon during a snowstorm.”
And as the Wicked Witch of the West, Blige’s Evillene “holds sway over the Winkies and the Winged Monkeys that do her bidding. She captures Dorothy and her friends to avenge the unintentional murder of her evil sister, Evvamean, and to get back the powerful silver slippers given to Dorothy by the Good Witch of the North.”
Exciting news! We can’t wait to see who else comes on board for the production. In case you missed it check out our list of our top picks for the lead roles HERE and let us know your thoughts on casting in the comment section below.
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