I'm too excited.

DONT FUCK THIS UP, NBC.

Ima need Zendaya for Dorothy and Nick Cannon Is Hilarious for Scarecrow.

Source: http://www.people.com/article/nbc-the-wiz-musical-cirque-du-soleil

they can lock mine

but yeah. i need it to be awesome.


does it really matter?

wonder what bin's doing?
http://i.imgur.com/phECCMp.jpg

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson


"One of the most important things in life is what Judge Learned Hand described as 'that ever-gnawing inner doubt as to whether you're

or someone about her age.

should go back and watch The Wiz ... the whole point of the movie was Dorothy was considered an Old Maid....

I think Diana Ross played Dorothy in her mid 30's..maybe older

She is not a kindergarten schoolteacher. She is not a grown woman.

She is a young girl.

This live show is an adaptation of the stage musical version of "The Wiz", not the feature film adaptation. As such, the production announced today that it is staging a talent search to find an undiscovered _young girl_ to play Dorothy.

The musical's official synopsis places her at "about 14", L. Frank Baum said she was 11. Diana Ross and the people at Universal in 1977 thought they could get away with Dorothy being "24". They thought wrong.

Mya is too old. Diana Ross was _far_ too old, because Ross may have been 33, but in that picture she looked 43.

Or an unknown girl (keyword: GIRL, as in not a grown-ass woman) would be fine as Dorothy, imo.

i hear she wasn't great in Annie.

I hate to talk about someone's child, but she's not that strong of a singer, and they're running this joint live.

I hope not.

He about to be like:

http://www.mediocrebedamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Frantic-Typing-Gif.gif

so long as they avoid making it look like the movie version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sto2wpwbM-k

LaChanze as Glinda and Orlando Jones as The Wiz that was decent.

Ashanti is too old to reprise the role on TV in closeups and whatnot, but if they could get Arnold and Jones it'd be great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFTze6HmZIo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQI18QJ3HYk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT-cS33T9TY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyh0ccf_vYE

This makes me want to dust off the leg swings and curls ups to be an extra or something. Might be too chunky though LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR1NHTQ3gGs

and

https://youtu.be/ommGsn4_5Qs


ALL OF THE THINGS!!

I'm not sure if they're looking to snag up the extra rights to the songs exclusive to the film from Warner Music (NBC owns the copyright on the film, but none of the music), but it is very likely that, possibly "You Can't Win", and anything Ashford & Simpson wrote for the movie will not turn up in this production.

Nor will, thank God, black people doing cartwheels in loin cloths.

*cartwheels in gold lame tankini*
*high kick*
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http://www.iamsharandajones.org/help

Many of which did not make it into the film adaptation.

Dorothy: Keke Palmer (secondary: Zendaya)
Uncle Henry: up for grabs (no singing req.)
Aunt Em: Phylicia Rashad

The Scarecrow: Jussie Smollett (sorry, Chris. Not in 2015.)
The Tin Man: Usher
The Cowardly Lion: Tituss Burgess or James Monroe Igleheart

Addapearl, The Good Witch of the North: Janelle Monae
Evilene, The Wicked Witch of the West: Tichina Arnold
The Wiz: Don Cheadle
Glinda, the Good Witch of the South: Stephanie Mills*

*though, unfortunately, Zadan and Meron might be inclined to cast Diana Ross as Glinda.

I doubled as Evillene's hunchbacked minion.

If there's one role I will always treasure, it's Uncle Henry. I still remember all of my three lines.

"You and Dorothy at it again, Emily?"
"You better hurry up-- a big storm is headin' this way!"
"Em! Dorothy! Hurry! This here's a big one!"

I always loved the idea of sitting in the audience. A beautiful black woman talks to her beautiful black daughter. Then, out strolls the patriarch of the household... me. A 120-pound pasty white motherfucker with a shit-eating grin.

CALL ME, NBC.

Craig Robinson as Cowardly Lion would work for me, and he also has a relationship with NBC.

Both Burgess and Iglehart have NBC relationships already, plus Broadway credentials.

Yeah. I think so. While he's not anywhere near as good as the other two actors you recommended as a singer, the cowardly lion is more about 'character' singing rather than being a great singer (in my opinion). But that all depends on the direction they choose.

Nipsey Russel was NOT known as a singer and yet....

>Yeah. I think so. While he's not anywhere near as good as the
>other two actors you recommended as a singer, the cowardly
>lion is more about 'character' singing rather than being a
>great singer (in my opinion).

Let me stop you there. I understand your opinion, but the facts of the matter are that The Wiz doesn't work if you don't have superior singers in these roles. The Lion in particular has to be able to bring down the house (or studio set in this case) with "I'm a Mean Ole Lion" and "Be a Lion", two songs with serious notes in them. It's equally about character _and_ being a great singer. It's a musical!


But that all depends on the
>direction they choose.

It's being produced by Zadan & Meron. They go full musical. This isn't going to be a spoken-through. half sung thing. They ned someone who can actually sing.
>
>Nipsey Russel was NOT known as a singer and yet....

...and yet he was fuck-terrible whenever it was time for him to sing. Pretty much anyone else who's played the Tinman besides Russell has done a job of some magnitude better.

and you're probably right, but I've seen were half/speak-singing can REALLY work.

to shreds by the critics, plus "The Wiz" is one of the shows, like "Dreamgirls", that demand that you sing and sing out because the music is written to be belted.

Patina, Audra, and Crazy Eyes. Don't overthink it.

Dorothy will be a new, undiscovered talent.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephanie-mills-joins-nbcs-wiz-794786

it would've been even cuter if she were cast as Glinda. but this is good stuff too.

they're casting them separate for this production

duh! i forgot they're the same actor in most productions.

"The Wiz Live! is the first NBC live musical to be done in collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical whose signature styles of visual acrobatics will be used in key scenes, including the tornado and the flying monkeys."

I'mma get my tornada!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFTze6HmZIo

http://deadline.com/2015/06/fatima-robinson-harvey-mason-jr-stephen-oremus-the-wiz-live-nbc-1201435761/

Fatima Robinson, Harvey Mason Jr & Stephen Oremus Board ‘The Wiz Live!’
by Denise Petski
June 1, 2015 12:20pm


NBC has rounded out its creative team for The Wiz Live!, which airs December 3. Fatima Robinson has signed on as choreographer, Grammy winner Harvey Mason Jr is set as music producer, and Tony and Grammy winner Stephen Oremus will serve as music director, orchestrator and music co-producer.

RelatedBela Bajaria Promoted To Universal TV President, Tracey Pakosta Replaces Vernon Sanders As NBC...
Robinson choreographed the features Dreamgirls, Ali, Collateral, Miami Vice and Public Enemies. She also is one of the top performance producers for NBC’s The Voice. Her TV work has been featured on several Oscar telecasts, the Super Bowl, Grammys and The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Mason, a music producer for the features Dreamgirls and the recent Pitch Perfect 2, is a songwriter-producer and one half of hit-making production team The Underdogs. He earned Grammys for his work on albums for artists Jennifer Hudson, Chris Brown, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Toni Braxton and the Dreamgirls soundtrack. In addition, Mason produced three Oscar-nominated songs in the same year (2006). He has also produced for Elton John, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige and Jordin Sparks.

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Oremus has won orchestration Tonys and cast album Grammys for The Book Of Mormon and Kinky Boots. He served as music director, conductor and often orchestrator for Broadway sh0ws including Wicked, Avenue Q, All Shook Up and 9 To 5 The Musical. He most recently was music director of the 87th Academy Awards, teaming with Oscar producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, exec producers of The Wiz Live!

The Wiz Live! is adapted from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, with a book by William F. Brown and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. Kenny Leon will direct with Harvey Fierstein providing new written material. Universal Television is producing in association with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical.

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There is no other cowardly lion.

Too bad NBC aint returnin that boy calls.

both already played the Lion before.

But ol Salad Fingers hadda mess it up.

in a live telecast stage production than a pop artist?

Cee-Lo could do okay, but he's actually too short for the part. The Lion has to be tall _and_ wide; Cee-Lo only has one of those down.

And the other is a seasoned Broadway vet who's played a number of beloved characters before. Easy to see Burgess nailing the part.

I'd hate for this show to go "pop" anyway. Pick people with the fucking chops to do it. Throw one star in to play The Wiz or something, and pick Broadway vets for everything else.

I'm going to be pretty upset if Patina Miller isn't Addaperle. It's a part she was born to play.

Broadway production.

It's gonna look odd if no one but this new Dorothy is in the Broadway version.

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/queen-latifah-mary-j-blige-the-wiz-1201550330/

Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige Join NBC’s ‘The Wiz’

Whitney Friedlander
TV News Editor
@loislane79

Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige are the latest singers ready to make mischief in Oz for NBC’s upcoming live production of “The Wiz.”

Executive producer Craig Zadan shared the news via Twitter.

https://twitter.com/craigzadan/status/626161521249259520

Latifah will play the mysterious and powerful wizard who holds the keys to the Emerald City, but who is keeping the secret that her metamorphosis from ordinary to extraordinary is a hoax since she only got to Oz as a result of a faulty hot air balloon ride.

Mary J. Blige will play Evillene, better known as the Wicked Witch of the West, who holds sway over the Winkies and the Winged Monkeys that do her bidding. She captures our leads 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.

NBC is holding a nationwide search to find a fresh face to play lead character Dorothy. The musicians join cast members who include Stephanie Mills, who starred in the original Broadway production of “The Wiz” and who will play Dorothy’s beloved Auntie Em in this version.

“The Wiz: Live!” premieres Dec. 3 on NBC. Zadan is exec producing along with partner Neil Meron. Kenny Leon and Harvey Fierstein are directing. Fierstein also created new material to the original Broadway book by William F. Brown. A co-production with Cirque du Soleil, a stage version of this performance will run on Broadway in 2016-17.

Primarily because she can't act. She only has one song, the rest of her role is acting.

And because live singing, as I'm sure bTouch will point out... well, her live voice isn't Broadway-caliber, let's put it that way.

Latifah is actually an inspired choice. Love that pick.

I know we all love Mary, but...

Cause Beyonce's name is out there now. Please. No.

meaning (a) it's an eleventh hour cameo

(b) her onstage time, and therefore her lines, are limited

(c) she's too young for the part, and will probably keep turning NBC down for that reason

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/the-wiz-live-david-alan-grier-cowardly-lion-1201556653/

David Alan Grier to Play Cowardly Lion in NBC’s ‘The Wiz Live!’

Whitney Friedlander
TV News Editor
@loislane79

David Alan Grier has the courage to explore live TV.

The comedian and three-time Tony Award nominee has joined NBC’s production of “The Wiz Live!.” He’ll play the Cowardly Lion, the famously timid friend of the lost Dorothy who accompanies her down the Yellow Brick Road in the hopes that their journey will lead him to find some courage.

Grier broke out via Fox’s 1990s sketch show “In Living Color.” His TV credits also include “Crank Yankers” and “Happy Endings.” His stage credits include a co-starring role in the original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls” and his film credits include “A Soldier’s Story” with Howard E. Rollins and Denzel Washington and “Jumanji” with Robin Williams. He will soon appear on the NBC sitcom “The Carmichael Show,” which premieres Aug. 26.

“The Wiz Live!” is adapted from L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” with a book by William F. Brown and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. It is produced by Universal Television in association with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who worked with NBC on other live musical specials “The Sound of Music” and “Peter Pan,” are exec producing. Kenny Leon serves as stage director and Matthew Diamond as TV director. Harvey Fierstein is providing new written material. The cast also includes Stephanie Mills, who starred in the original Broadway version of the musical, as well as Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige.

“The Wiz Live!” premieres Dec. 3 on NBC.

-------------

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/dorothy-the-wiz-live-nbc-1201556964/

Maane Khatchatourian
News Editor, Variety.com
@MaaneKhat

NBC’s “The Wiz Live!” has found its Dorothy in newcomer Shanice Williams.

https://youtu.be/53ovnCVj3IM

The 18-year-old, who was selected out of hundreds of applicants from a nationwide, open casting call, will join the titular Wiz Queen Latifah, Wicked Witch of the West Mary J. Blige and Cowardly Lion David Alan Grier in the live NBC show, it was announced Wednesday on “Today.”

Stephanie Mills, who starred as Dorothy in the original Broadway production of the African-American adaptation, has landed the part of Aunt Em.

The Wiz will mark Williams’ TV debut. She co-starred in several plays in her home state of New Jersey, including “West Side Story,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “42nd Street” and “Pippin.”

The Wiz follows NBC’s live musical specials of “The Sound of Music” and “Peter Pan.” Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who were behind both of the aforementioned NBC productions, will executive produce “The Wiz Live.” Kenny Leon is stage director and Matthew Diamond is TV director, with Harvey Fierstein providing new written material.

“The Wiz Live!” is adapted from L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The play opened on Broadway in 1975 and won seven Tonys, including best musical, during its four-year run. The musical was turned into a film in 1978, starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor.

“The Wiz Live!” airs on December 3.

Don't know the Dorothy, but, as pointed out by several people everywhere, an unknown is better than pretty much every known option that had been floated out there.

A little disappointed that the Lion isn't dude from Kimmy Schmidt or the Genie from Aladdin, but as far as "names" go, DAG is probably as good as it can get.

like the two people you mentioned. Either one seemed like a no brainer.