NBC Broadcasts The Wiz Live Tonight! (PHOTOS) (VIDEO)

12/03/2015 mj santilli The Wiz Live, Video 14

THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: (l-r) Common as The Bouncer, Mary J. Blige as Evillene, Queen Latifah as The Wiz, Amber Riley as Addapearle, Uzo Aduba as Glinda, Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em, Toto, Ne-Yo as Tin-Man, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, David Alan Grier as The Cowardly Lion -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)

Tonight, The Wiz Live! will be broadcast on NBC at 8 PM ET, and I think the network has a winner on its hands.

The Wiz Live is the 3rd live Broadway musical staged by NBC. The Sound of Music in 2013 and Peter Pan in 2014 had some viewers–fair or not–complaining about aspects of the casting. But who could possibly have problems with a cast that includes Queen Latifah (The Wiz), Mary J. Blige (Evillene), David Alan Grier (Cowardly Lion), NE-YO (Tin Man), Elijah Kelley (Scarecrow), Amber Riley (Addaperle), Stephanie Mills (Auntie Em), Uzo Aduba (Glinda) and Common (The Gatekeeper).  Newcomer, Shanice Williams as Dorothy appears to be perfect for the role.

The Wiz, adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, opened on Broadway in 1975 at the Majestic Theatre and won seven Tonys, including best musical. The original Dorothy, Stephanie Mills, plays Auntie Em in the NBC production.  Diana Ross and Michael Jackson starred in the late 70’s film adaption. Unlike Peter Pan, the 40 year old musical production has aged well.  It’s got a wonderful score, too. Look for our recap and video post later.

In the meantime, check out a photo gallery and video previews here. It looks so good!

Shanice Williams and Stephanie Mills duet on Home

https://youtu.be/Vs77wDxPNU4

The Cast Sings “Ease on Down the Road”

https://youtu.be/WoJu-p1dXss

The Wiz Live Extended Promo

https://youtu.be/OVIHBdTuVGc

The Wiz Live First Look – Behind the Scenes

https://youtu.be/97m0soGP1oU

Photo Gallery

  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: (l-r) Common as The Bouncer, Mary J. Blige as Evillene, Queen Latifah as The Wiz, Amber Riley as Addapearle, Uzo Aduba as Glinda, Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em, Toto, Ne-Yo as Tin-Man, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, David Alan Grier as The Cowardly Lion -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: (l-r) David Alan Grier as Lion, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Ne-Yo as Tinman, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow -- (Photo by: Kwaku Alston/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: David Alan Grier as Lion -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Ne-Yo as Tinman -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Shanice Williams as Dorothy -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 --Pictured: Amber Riley as Addapearle -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Common as The Bouncer -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Queen Latifah as The Wiz -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Queen Latifah as The Wiz -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Queen Latifah as The Wiz -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Uzo Aduba as Glinda -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Uzo Aduba as Glinda -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Mary J. Blige as Evillene -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: Mary J. Blige as Evillene -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Season: 2015 -- Pictured: (l-r) Amber Riley as Addapearle, Uzo Aduba as Glinda, Mary J. Blige as Evillene -- (Photo by: Paul Gilmore/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Amber Riley as Addapearle, Shanice Williams as Dorothy -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: Amber Riley as Addapearle -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: Shanice Williams as Dorothy -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Shanice Williams as Dorothy -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Ne-Yo as Tin-Man, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Ne-Yo as Tin-Man, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, David Alan Grier as Lion -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) David Alan Grier as Lion, Shanice Williams as Dorothy -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) David Alan Grier as Lion, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Ne-Yo as Tin-Man -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) David Alan Grier as Lion, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Common as The Bouncer -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Ne-Yo as Tin-Man, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: Queen Latifah as The Wiz -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Queen Latifah as The Wiz, David Alan Grier as Lion, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Ne-Yo as Tin-Man -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Queen Latifah as The Wiz, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Shanice Williams as Dorothy, David Alan Grier as Lion -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: Mary J Blige as Evillene -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: Mary J Blige as Evillene -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: Mary J Blige as Evillene -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: Mary J Blige as Evillene -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Ne-Yo as Tin-Man, Mary J Blige as Evillene -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: Shanice Williams as Dorothy -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)
  • THE WIZ LIVE! -- Pictured: (l-r) Shanice Williams as Dorothy, Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em -- (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

About mj santilli 34844 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!
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