NBC To "Ease On Down The Road"?- Page 7
NBC To "Ease On Down The Road"?
NBC To #150
Posted: 2/6/15 at 9:13pm
"Doesn't NBC of Universal own the rights to wicked? Why can't they just do wicked??"
Only if it's an all black production of Wicked. You got a problem with that, Jorge? Hmmm HMMMM?
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
NBC To #151
Posted: 2/6/15 at 9:42pm
"The film, and subsequent productions, have made Oz just a funky, sometimes ghetto, place. If that's the interpretation used, a multiracial cast can work."
I think that may be the route they go for this...just a feeling
NBC To #152
Posted: 2/7/15 at 12:09pmWhatever route they go can we have drag queens as the witches?? Imagine RuPaul as Glinda or Adapearle and Latrice Royale as Evilene! Christopher Walken lip synched for his life. They can too.
NBC To #153
Posted: 2/7/15 at 4:05pm
As amazing as that would be, you have to remember it's during family hour and for a family audience. While California and New York might love to see that, many people in the midwest would find it 'offensive'.
I would love to see the below be in it, but I know chances of big recording stars [yes, I know Carrie did it] are not as likely since it's such a long commitment.
Zendaya as Dorothy
Usher as The Scarecrow
John Legand as the Tin Man
Ceelo as the Lion
Vanessa Williams as Glinda
Jill Scott as Addaperle
Lionel Richie as The Wiz
LaChanze as Evillene
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
NBC To #155
Posted: 2/7/15 at 4:16pm
"many people in the midwest would find it 'offensive'."
The same people who found John Travolta, Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Martin Lawrence offensive when they did drag?
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
NBC To #156
Posted: 2/7/15 at 4:18pm
^The same people who found Kinky Boots at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade offensive
Updated On: 2/7/15 at 04:18 PM
NBC To #157
Posted: 2/7/15 at 4:51pmI think The Wiz may be a little less edgy and in-your-face than Kinky Boots.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
NBC To #158
Posted: 2/7/15 at 4:57pm
Can someone tell me what is offensive in "The Wiz" to start? Nothing. Throw in the drag factor? Likely still nothing. The thing about Kinky. Boots that drove the crazies, well.. crazy is the fact that it CELEBRATED drag, that it focused on the drag, that it was a song about ACCEPTANCE and that you had very "visibly" heterosexual men dancing proudly in heels. The. We toss in the whole 9am on a "family holiday" screams they let out... Well, that is a recipe for the crazies to let loose on even the least offensive thing if it isn't entirely aimed at the level of a 4 year old.
A drag queen as a witch would probably nearly earn a raised eyebrow from the same people if it is not made a FOCUS.
NBC To #159
Posted: 2/7/15 at 5:18pmStill wanna see people like Mary J. Blige or Patti Labelle in the cast...love the Vanessa Williams idea. She definitely needs to be back on the screen, and better yet, singing. Also LOVE the Lionel Richie idea. Lenny Kravitz would also be amazing. Maybe as The Wiz or the Tin Man?
NBC To #160
Posted: 2/7/15 at 5:59pm
If they do this, I really hope it isn't Live. You can get better performances out of non seasoned Broadway performers when they can do multiple takes. I feel like doing THE WIZ Live would be such a mess.
NBC To #161
Posted: 2/7/15 at 8:44pmBilbo3 No I think it would be much easier and it would be more sucessful if they did Wicked. Wicked is more well known than the Wiz by a long shot. Even the movie didn't do well and they had Michael Jackson in it! And it would be cheaper for Universal to produce a live Wicked TV special than to make a feature film so they'll benefit with that.
NBC To #162
Posted: 2/7/15 at 8:56pmWicked is more valuable as a feature film.
NBC To #163
Posted: 2/8/15 at 2:24am^ Much, much, much more valuable. With a feature film (supposedly or hopefully) in the works, there's no incentive for the rights holders to sell the rights for a one-off TV show. Especially when the property is still packing them in on Broadway and elsewhere.
NBC To #164
Posted: 2/8/15 at 11:59amI was just watching Disney Channel a few minutes ago and there was a commercial that shows how Zendaya went to a performing arts school and how it gave her intense training in the theatre, and how she starred in shows like Once on this Island and Richard III. Being Dorothy in The Wiz would be a great way for Zendaya to show off both her voice and her theatre training.
NBC To #165
Posted: 2/8/15 at 12:02pmI'm guessing they are going for more of a name for Dorothy.
NBC To #166
Posted: 2/8/15 at 12:14pmZendaya is a pretty big name. She (and China Anne McClain) are from Disney Channel, so it would attract a lot of little kids and tweens who watch Disney Channel
NBC To #167
Posted: 2/8/15 at 5:27pmIs it possible they could get an unknown for Dorothy and star cast some of the other leads. But I agree with whoever suggested Lachanze she needs to be in this!
NBC To #168
Posted: 2/8/15 at 5:54pm
LaChanze already played Glinda in the City Center production with Ashanti.
But to whoever suggested Vanessa Williams as Glinda, I agree with them!!!!
Featured Actor Joined: 5/16/03
NBC To #169
Posted: 2/8/15 at 6:40pm
The person who plays Dorthy needs to be able to BLOW. Zendaya ain't It.
My cast, I am dead ass serious, in my world lmao
Dorthy - Jazmine Sullivan, Tinashe, Azealia Banks
Scarecrow - Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake
Tinman - TREY SONGZ YES GAWD but cannot dance
Lion - Trey S, Billy Porter
Evillene - Keke Wyatt, Rupaul
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
NBC To #171
Posted: 2/8/15 at 9:45pm
"Zendaya is a pretty big name. She (and China Anne McClain) are from Disney Channel, so it would attract a lot of little kids and tweens who watch Disney Channel"
Exactly. But, the issue with Zendaya is her contract with Disney (she has a new show) and her vocal range may not fit the part. However, China Anne McClain no longer has a Disney Channel tv series or movie, so it may end up working out with her, and she has the vocal range.
Please, let's cast an AGE APPROPRIATE Dorothy. Please...
Please.
My cast:
Dorothy- China Anne McClain
Aunt Em- Audra McDonald
Adaperle- Raven Symone
Scarecrow- Idk, a "star" may not be interested in it.Maybe an unknown.
Tinman- Taye Diggs, perhaps
Lion- Billy Porter
Evillene- Queen Latifah, JHud, Patina Miller, the options for female singers/actresses in this role are limitless! 
Glinda- Vanessa Williams (can she sing *the song*--is it in her range?)
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
NBC To #172
Posted: 2/8/15 at 9:51pm
Funny thing is, this hasn't even been officially announced yet! But...we all know they're doing this...
right?
NBC To #173
Posted: 2/8/15 at 10:12pm
Here's my new cast...
Dorothy-China Anne McClain
Scarecrow-Corbin Bleu
Tin-Man-Daniel Breaker
Lion-Billy Porter
Addapearle-Roz Ryan
Evilene-Queen Latifah
Glinda-Vanessa Williams
The Wiz-Jesse L. Martin
NBC To #174
Posted: 2/8/15 at 10:39pm
Love the Corbin Bleu, Vanessa Williams, and Queen Latifah suggestions. They're all talented, experienced, professional individuals. Love all three!
& did someone seriously suggest Azealia Banks as Dorothy....?
Updated On: 2/8/15 at 10:39 PM
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