NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” Is a Star-Studded Event

The Wiz, some version of which is headed to Broadway next year, took the inspired tack of casting people who could really sing and dance and act.

Rounding out the cast is New Jersey teen Shanice Williams, who earned the role as Dorothy after a nationwide audition, as previously reported by HNGN. Her voice was soulful and mature beyond her years. “Just like the yellow brick road is the path to the heartfelt wishes of Dorothy and her friends, the blindness community is very happy to travel on this new path with Comcast and NBC”. The Scarecrow (Elijah Kelley) did the stanky leg! And Atlanta was represented with Ne-Yo as Tin Man and Kenny Leon as the director. Tony-nominated actor David Alan Grier will play the role on TV. The NBC live theatrical show got mostly horrid reviews, but the network could care less about that. “Glee’s” Amber Riley was the impish Addaperle, the other good witch. “It has more scenes, more characters, more stars — there are so many moving parts”. That green suit, which looked as if it could cut diamond. NBC is partnering with Descriptive Video Works-an industry leader in the delivery of quality described video and audio description for people with a visual disability-to provide this service for THE WIZ LIVE!

Queen Latifah blew away memories of Wizards past. And she’s living with her aunt and uncle, and nobody ever asks why.

When the Lion finally yanked back that curtain, she still was a sight in a mere robe and pajamas. No surprise there: Aduba has Broadway credits under her belt. To this group add Mary J. Blige as the Wicked Witch of the West, and you have a potential ratings blockbuster.

Esteemed choreographer Fatima Robinson (“Dreamgirls“, “Ali”) is also on board, along with music producer Harvey Mason Jr. “I need to know what [Luisa] thought of the show”. It’s not the normal rhythm of television, despite the dozens of commercial breaks. Most of the kids that will be watching this have no idea what disco is, much less have a sense of nostalgia for it. It’s time for Dorothy to get a hip-hop remake.

Somewhere over the Rainbow Room marquee that marks the eatery’s shared entrance with NBC Studios at New York City’s legendary 30 Rockefeller Plaza, a brand-new Dorothy prepares to make the “Wizard of Oz” story her own.

This is live TV…any nerves ahead of time? His disappearance prompted a hashtag on Twitter: FreeToto. “We don’t get 15-20 minutes extra; it’s just built into the show, so it’s definitely different”.

The soundtrack is not available on iTunes until December 11, which seems like a marketing blunder, but as the Scarecrow might say, what do I know? Well, she certainly proved she’s not just a talented actress, but a stellar vocalist as well when she helped to close out “The Wiz Live!” with a solo performance as Glinda.