THE WIZ: 2015 NBC LIVE MUSICAL — Page 52

Also, the song was intended for the Winkies, yes? I enjoy the song, but it doesn't tell us anything about the Scarecrow. Born on the Day Before Yesterday does, and it is a more positive way to introduce this essentially innocent character.

Believe Hallelujah should take the prize as the first.

It was possibly the only good number in the movie.

Don't apologize, I have always thought up until today that is was "Can you". The lyric makes sense either way.

Okay after watching the making of special I'm pretty pumped.

The vocal arrangements have been left intact in "He's The Wizard!!"

Aren't they already planning on bringing this to Broadway? It won't necessarily be the same cast but the plan is already in place.

I was hoping the cast would make me still love this production, despite the expensive but sanitized creative decisions for the sets and costumes ... and after watching that Making-Of special, I think it's going to do that.

I was very impressed with several key performers, especially Ne-Yo and David Alan Grier. Elijah Kelley seems doomed behind that slightly repulsive makeup and costume. It doesn't bring out his charm, it undermines it. But I like him as well. He's not quite as fluid as I would like him to be as a "boneless" man of straw. Ray Bolger and Hinton Battle were able to do that. But Elijah is good. So is Amber.

The weaker links right now seem to be Mary J. Blige, who hasn't found the right energy yet. She's not exaggerated enough or funny enough (didn't land one joke). She seems like she's "marking" everything instead of giving a full-out rehearsal. I hope she doesn't do that during the broadcast. Queen Latifah seems too low-key as well, and that may be literal. Her song (So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard) is set too low for her. I think this is because we are supposed to believe they all think she's a man (until they discover her to be a woman behind the curtain). A little Victor-Victoria going on. But with the key that low, she isn't able to put forth the energy she needs to be intimidating and impressive as "the Wiz." She can't "let go" the way she needs to, because she's got to hit those lower notes in her register. It's too relaxed as a result, even when she's in costume on the full set.

Speaking of sets, they are impressive. The LED mix with live set pieces seems to be very good. All the technical aspects seem to be pretty amazing, and there is definitely a "wow" factor because of that. I just wish the design concepts were a little stronger. (Munchkinland is a head-scratcher. I have no idea what they're trying to do or be other than "different." Yeah, it's different, but WTF? It looks like Dr. Seuss's Who-ville, not Asian or Oz.)

Love the poppy costumes, and love the Tornado Ballet background with all the funnel clouds spinning on the horizon.

My favorite moments in the special were Stephanie Mills meeting Shanice (actually got teary-eyed there). I think they will be fantastic together in the opening scene of the show. And "Be a Lion," where I thought both Shanice and Grier killed it. Outstanding job in the rehearsal clip, both singing and acting. I'm sure it will be a highlight of the show.

I still have hope after seeing that. I think the performers ARE going to carry this, along with Kenny Leon's direction. I don't love the choreography yet, but maybe I will when I see it in place within the story. They're all "slick moves" but I don't see any of them (other than the poppies) serving the characters or the story. They're just slick moves right now.

Bottom line: this making-of special did its job for me. It got me interested (again) in seeing the broadcast. Still hoping for the best.

One side note: I was thrilled to see the color footage from the original Broadway production at the beginning of this special. WOW, my memory of those sets and costumes serves me right. They were THAT good, and that effective, and that imaginative, and that appropriate for the story they were telling. (I saw the national tour.)

Oh, and the original book to "The Wiz" did NOT suck, nor did it need a major overhaul. That's a big "red flag" for me that the producers feel that way. It needed some minor updating, but it was NOT a weak book. Sorry guys.

Updated On: 11/27/15 at 07:38 AM

It doesn't seem special or interesting or necessary, but that's from the little I heard.

Hopefully seeing it in context will bring it to life. The bit from the special wasn't memorable for the new song (other than the setup for it in the documentary, because I really like Ne-Yo's passion for this whole project---his "heart" is in it).

Did anyone catch this interview with Stephanie Mills on Sirius with the rest of the cast?

In this particular clip she reveals that she harbors no resentment over Diana Ross being cast in the film because a) She loves Diana Ross and b) she was dating Michael Jackson during the filming of the movie and he would actually take her to the set with him.

http://youtu.be/6bBqGh5-rN8

broadwayboy223 said: "Is Everybody Rejoice cut?"

Yes, after performing it on the Parade telecast they decided to cut it.

broadwayboy, the song is called "Brand New Day", I believe.

I have seen it as Everybody Rejoice (Brand New Day)