THE WIZ: 2015 NBC LIVE MUSICAL- Page 2

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:32pm

Even though he just extended his contract into February 2016, I still would love to see James Monroe Iglehart as The Lion (hopefully in the Broadway revival)!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:32pm

Oh boy, I can't wait to see people argue about casting white people in this show- which, of course, is a terribly idea, as this show was meant to be done by people of color. Still, I really love this show, and hopefully NBC won't ruin it too badly.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:33pm

PATINA MILLER AS EVILENE!!! hahaha

I would say Jennifer Hudson but she'll be in The Color Purple

[PJPan]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:33pm

I'm glad NBC went a bit outside-the-box with this year's choice. Very much looking forward to it!

[rcwr]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:34pm

I'd love to see LaChanze and Capathia Jenkins in it. And Billy Porter! Also I like the idea of a young Dorothy.

[bandit964]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:34pm

We heard about Cirque wanting a NY presence. Will this be it?

The Lyric seems like a perfect size for a Cirque-type show, but now that the London Ambassador Theatre Group has taken it over, will they want to host this show?

Also, do you think they will film it at the theatre they plan to bring it to in NY, or do it on some soundstage, then translate it onto a proscenium?

Kind of exciting.


Updated On: 3/30/15 at 04:34 PM

[sparepart973]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:36pm

Amber Riley as Dorothy
James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion
Heather Headley as Glinda
André DeShields as the Wizard (he can still do it..did you see him perform at the anniversary? Still got it!)
MAYBE Audra as Aunt Em..but honestly after Dreamgirls I don't ever want to hear her sing soul or R&B. It's just not her. She doesn't have to do it just because she's African American.

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:40pm

I presume Mr. Fierstein's main task will be revising the 70s slang.
The Cirque involvement in interesting - the article doesn't indicate any creative involvement - just producing involvement.
While I loved loved loved the tornado dance - it's really a stage dance with the magic of costuming. But, throw in some acrobatics around the tornado dancer - and it could be spectacular.

The Evilene casting will be interesting - big R&B name? or Lillias White? -
I'm guessing there are lot of calls to and from agents right now. Calendars are being checked for mid-October onwards.

And, what part, exactly, will Christian Borle play?

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:41pm

As someone who's only just discovered the wonders of this show, I'm very excited at this choice! Much more that either of the other two.

I wonder if they'll mix the original and film arrangements, or add any of the film material? I hope they don't add too much, since I feel that the film is so vastly inferior to the original version. I also hope they keep the feel of the production rooted in the '70s. Those disco flutes and all had better still be there!

[Starship]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:44pm

One of my biggest concerns right now is that it'll be too...over the top. Especially with Cirque du Soleil involved. But only time will tell.

As for Audra, I highly, highly doubt her B&ATB schedule will interfere with this. Voice acting doesn't require the same filming time frame as live action films do. Usually they can be done in a fairly short period of time. Even if she has a few scenes of her as a human, I don't think it would take more than several weeks at most, especially considering the minor character she's (rumored to be) playing.

[rcwr]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:44pm

I presume Mr. Fierstein's main task will be revising the 70s slang.

I hope that's not his job. Nothing against him, I like him, but a black writer (or several black writers) should have that job.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:48pm

If Aretha Franklin isn't Evillene, then what's the point?

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:50pm

I'm so happy for this! I really want to see this and THE BROADWAY REVIVAL!!!

[maxximumvolume2]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:56pm

I'd suggest Justin Guarini as The Scarecrow.

[Starship]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 4:58pm

I don't think Aretha Franklin would ever do it, but if she did, I would be there for every show. What about Empire's Jussie Smollett as the Scarecrow?

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 5:42pm

I can imagine them going for Brandi or Ashanti for Dorothy in this... Although wasn't she already Dorothy? Maybe we dodged a bullet there. :p

Updated On: 3/30/15 at 05:42 PM

[silent]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 5:51pm

I can see KeKe Palmer as Dorothy.

Jussie is another good choice.

I want to see Deborah Cox in this.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 5:57pm

Ecstatic for this!

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 5:58pm

Taj Mowry.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 6:12pm

This will be interesting. I knew they would choose this show especially since 'Empire' has become a hit on TV. I standby with Queen Latifah playing Evillene and Keke Palmer playing Dorothy. Tituss Burgess would be an excellent choice for the Lion. Jennifer Hudson would be a perfect Glinda, but she's doing 'The Color Purple' around the time this show airs. If Hudson were to do this, it would probably be in a small special appearance link Minnie Driver in "Peter Pan Live!' Still, Julie Andrews was able to do 'Cinderella' while she did 'My Fair Lady' on Broadway. Also, Mary Martin was able to return as Peter Pan once more in 1960 while she was doing 'The Sound of Music'.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 6:13pm

I have such powerful memories of watching Stephanie Mills in the original production. What a rich, beautiful, and full voice in such a small package. Her command of the scene, alone on the stage, singing "Home" was thrilling. I hope they consider a role for her in the television production.

Regarding Audra McDonald and the role of Glinda . . . It's a pretty small part with one amazing song. There wouldn't be much of a time commitment to squeeze in the rehearsals. (Of course, I have no idea how things work.)

Have they implied that the TV cast will be repeated on stage? I hope not, because I assume many of the (great) names mentioned here would be unwilling/unable to commit to a Broadway run.

[Starship]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 6:13pm

QUEEN LATIFAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 6:24pm

"We heard about Cirque wanting a NY presence. Will this be it?"

No this is just a part of it. They are also in the works of bringing an original Dr.Seuss Musical to the stage.

Updated On: 3/30/15 at 06:24 PM

[AngusN]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 6:28pm

LaChanze was dynamite in the off-Broadway revival of The Wiz.
http://youtu.be/E9ohQRHeCAA

Here's hoping for a repeat performance, so the world can see how amazing she is.

Updated On: 3/30/15 at 06:28 PM

[Kavana]

Posted: 3/30/15 at 6:29pm

Jazmine Sullivan
Billy Porter
Ken Page
Trey Songz

Dorothy needs to be able to blow the roof off the house. A newcomer.
National search