JessePinkman August 5, 2015 Share August 5, 2015 Some casting news for live production airing December 3rd on NBC. She's "Home"! Meet the Young Newcomer Who Will Star as Dorothy in The Wiz Newcomer Shanice Williams has been announced to step into Dorothy's silver slippers in the upcoming NBC broadcast of The Wiz. She joins original Broadway star Stephanie Mills, Queen Latifah, David Alan Grier and Mary J. Blige. NBC made the right decision and cast a unknown and someone who isn't 30. Thank goodness. Here's part of her casting audition and video of her finding out she got the role. And video of the announcement. Spoiler, she's adorable. I'm so happy that this production is shaping up to be cast with people who can sing. 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/
Luckylyn August 6, 2015 Share August 6, 2015 I'm more excited about the casting for The Wiz than I was for the previous live productions. I really think NBC is making great choices this time. 4 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1391504
BW Manilowe August 6, 2015 Share August 6, 2015 (edited) Another casting update: Glee's Amber P. Riley will play Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North (who gives Dorothy the silver [in this version of the story] slippers & points her towards the Yellow Brick Road) & Orange is the New Black's Uzo Aduba will play Glinda, the Good Witch of the South (who tells Dorothy the secret of the silver slippers & points her toward home). They're sisters to Evilene, the Wicked Witch of the West (played by Mary J. Blige). http://tvline.com/2015/08/06/amber-riley-wiz-live-cast-uzo-aduba-nbc/ Edited August 6, 2015 by BW Manilowe 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1392635
JessePinkman August 6, 2015 Author Share August 6, 2015 Wow, it just keeps getting better! All of these talented women (and David Alan Grier lol), I'm so thrilled. 4 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1392773
Spartan Girl August 6, 2015 Share August 6, 2015 Yeah, I'm actually a bit excited for this one! Hopefully it's better than Peter Pan... 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1392782
JessePinkman August 6, 2015 Author Share August 6, 2015 Yeah, I'm actually a bit excited for this one! Hopefully it's better than Peter Pan... Won't take much! Already this one has more than one person who can sing (sorry Alison and Christopher). 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1392818
Trini August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 (edited) More casting: Ne-Yo and Common have joined the cast of NBC’s upcoming holiday production of The Wiz Live!, set to air December 3. Additionally, Elijah Kelley (Lee Daniels’ The Butler) has been cast as the Scarecrow, the role Michael Jackson played in the 1978 movie version .... Ne-Yo is set to play the Tin Man, and Common will play the non-singing role of the gatekeeper of Oz. I'm really starting to look forward to this! Edited August 13, 2015 by Trini 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1412951
topanga August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 I'm excited about Ne-Yo and Ejijah Kelley. Common bugs me for some reason. Maybe it's because people are always declaring how groundbreaking and amazing Common and Outkast are, but I personally have never enjoyed their music. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1412986
crimsongrl August 13, 2015 Share August 13, 2015 Are there major differences between the Broadway and movie version of The Wiz? I've only seen the movie (a hundred times!) and I want to be prepared. I remember watching The Sound of Music Live and wondering where the hell was the gazebo! :) *I thought NBC would move heaven and earth to get Usher as the scarecrow. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1413010
JessePinkman August 14, 2015 Author Share August 14, 2015 (edited) I think the only major difference is that Dorothy in the play is a teenager and not a 24 year old school teacher. I've looked and I don't believe any of the songs were altered. ETA: Oh apparently in the play Dorothy is brought to Oz by a tornado like in the original story, for the movie their decided to "urbanize" it by making it a snowstorm in Manhattan. And: The Scarecrow's song was changed from a gospel-style number in the play to a new funky pop tune for the movie. All three of the Wiz's songs were cut. Glinda has an introductory number in the play that was not used in the film. In the play, when the four friends learn that the Wiz is a fraud they confront him with a song called "Who Do You Think You Are?" which was also cut from the movie. And "You Can't Win" is not in the stage production, although it was written for it. This is the Scarecrow song from the play. Edited August 14, 2015 by JessePinkman 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1415343
Trini October 13, 2015 Share October 13, 2015 Cast photos are out! The only costume I'm not really feelin' is the Lion. 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1599651
JessePinkman October 14, 2015 Author Share October 14, 2015 (edited) That Scarecrow makeup is horrifying, I'm fully prepared for people to talk about how that traumatized them as children 20 years from now. The photoshop they did on that poor girl is a mess, she's so cute in motion. I wonder if NBC paid for the rights to make her shoes red, I thought MGM owned the rights to the "ruby slippers". Edited October 14, 2015 by JessePinkman 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1601551
AyeshaTheGreat October 21, 2015 Share October 21, 2015 I am looking forward to this production. The main cast has me excited and I may even recognize some of the members of the ensemble. As for the costume, I will wait until I can see them in motion. I was not really feeling Scarecrow's costume and Tinman's costume design is going to have to grow on me. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1625575
JessePinkman October 29, 2015 Author Share October 29, 2015 The Scarecrow is going to sing "You Can't Win" instead of the song from the stage production. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1653607
JessePinkman November 12, 2015 Author Share November 12, 2015 Shanice Williams and Stephanie Mills sing "Home". They sound pretty phenomenal. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1704227
Chrissytd November 16, 2015 Share November 16, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzPnU6NtCHQ 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1717376
Trini November 22, 2015 Share November 22, 2015 There's going to be a 'Making of' special Wednesday the 25th, 8pm. http://www.nbc.com/the-wiz-live Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1737948
topanga November 26, 2015 Share November 26, 2015 Darn. I missed the making of special. Ill check to see it's coming on again. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1749860
Dots And Stripes November 29, 2015 Share November 29, 2015 Darn. I missed the making of special. Ill check to see it's coming on again. The making of special is available on the NBC app, if you're interested. I'm looking forward to this more than Fox's Grease (where the casting is cringeworthy), although I'm still hoping for the Music Man next year. NBC has done a decent job in the past of mixing phenomenal singers with stronger actors. From the special, I'm probably most looking forward to Ne-Yo and Elijah Kelley. Latifah has me little worried. I think she's out matched vocally. The sets look amazing and costumes look amazing. 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1756235
revbfc December 1, 2015 Share December 1, 2015 (edited) Why I'm looking forward to this: -It can't be any worse than Peter Pan. -There can't possibly be a moment more uncomfortable than Vampire Bill and brood surrounded by a hundred swastikas while singing. -The movie version of the Wiz (though visually stunning) was awful. -I like most of the cast. There's only room to move upwards for this year's NBC holiday musical special. Edited December 2, 2015 by revbfc 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1763638
St. Claire December 2, 2015 Share December 2, 2015 I'm looking forward to this being good, unlike the past two years (during which I watched for snark value and to lament that poor Christian Borle was being wasted). It's been decades since I saw either the stage production or the movie, so I'm going in without many preconceptions. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1766743
bmoore4026 December 3, 2015 Share December 3, 2015 I'll probably watch tonight, but I'm so numb from what happened yesterday in San Bernadino (and with what happened last week in Colorado) that it just feels awkward to watch it. And that's a shame because I actually was going to really watch it instead of "snark watching" like the Peter Pan one last year. 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1769695
Rick Kitchen December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Morons are outraged that The Wiz has an all-black cast. 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1771947
bmoore4026 December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 It's started and, good God, Stephanie Mills is a queen! 6 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772129
random chance December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Yay there's a thread! I couldn't find this in the search engine so I was afraid there wouldn't be. I love how they did the tornado. (Have not seen The Wiz before.) The Munchkins' costumes remind me of an illustration out of Alice in Wonderland. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772177
Enero December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 I agree. The tornado was well done. The sound could be a little better, but so far so good. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772190
funkopop December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 This is so good! Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772219
27bored December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 The scarecrow...didn't have a brain...but he eased his ass down that yellow brick road, now didn't he? 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772229
random chance December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Ohhh Uzo Aduba is Glinda. Cool! Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772238
Machiabelly December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Some of those crows had great bird movements 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772243
dcalley December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 I heard this interview on the radio today: Dee Dee Bridgewater On ‘The Wiz,’ Then And Now I didn't watch the other two and wasn't going to watch this, but I tuned in at 8:30 anyway. I'm really liking the dancing. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772250
Chorusgirl December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Where's the dog? 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772252
Irlandesa December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 I was skeptical when they chose The Wiz, mainly because I didn't know much about it and it's all about me, but I was wrong. This is the kind of show I wanted when I first heard NBC was doing live musicals. DAG makes for a great lion. 6 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772264
JessePinkman December 4, 2015 Author Share December 4, 2015 This is really fantastic so far, certainly in comparison to the last two. This has an unmistakable energy that the other two just fundamentally lack. 6 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772292
Machiabelly December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Dorothy has great presence. And if I may be a bit creepy for a minute, nice gams 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772308
ByaNose December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 I didn't know DAG could sing. Who knew? Very lively. It looks like a stage production whereas The Sound of Music was done in a studio or airport hanger. It looks amazing in 4K. Of course, it might not even be broadcasting in 4K but it looks great to me. LOL!!! 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772315
random chance December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 I forgot how cool and creative costumes and sets can be when someone can't rely on special effects. Those monkeys! The Lion was in Jumanji but I don't recognize the character's name. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772316
SimoneS December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 (edited) I am watching this off and on as I don't usually like musicals, but this is a talented cast of singers. I had no idea that David Allen Grier could sing. He is really good. I have to second, who knew? Edited December 4, 2015 by SimoneS 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772318
BestestAuntEver December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 I'm loving this. DAG was definitely cast perfectly as the cowardly lion 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772341
SmithW6079 December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 So the Emerald City is a dance club from the '80s, where all the residents vogue? Otherwise, I'm digging this. 4 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772350
RealityCowgirl December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 (edited) Morons are outraged that The Wiz has an all-black cast. Morons. Yep. Enjoying it so far. Agree: more of the caliber of performance I was expecting of these live shows. Edited December 4, 2015 by RealityCowgirl Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772352
Irlandesa December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 I am watching this off and on as I don't usually like musicals, but this is a talented cast of singers. I had no idea that David Allen Grier could sing. He is really good. I have to second, who knew? Reading his bio, it looks like he actually started in musical theater and was nominated for a Tony in the early 80s. So who knew? I guess people who knew Broadway from the 80s. I didn't know until tonight and so he's surprisingly the MVP for me in a very solid cast...unlike The Sound of Music when Christian Borle and Laura Benanti only had to breathe to be MVPs. 4 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772366
Trini December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Loving the production design. The costumes especially! 9 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772390
SimoneS December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 (edited) I like Queen Latifah as a performer, but I think that she has been the weakest singer so far. I can't believe that this show has another hour to go. This is way too long, but made worse by the horrible endless commercials. Edited December 4, 2015 by SimoneS 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772411
rustyspigot December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 The wicked witch of the west lives in Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation. 6 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772444
SimoneS December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Oh, Mary J. You are a Queen! 5 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772455
Trini December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 I was expecting less commercials too. Oy. 4 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772459
JessePinkman December 4, 2015 Author Share December 4, 2015 I like Queen Latifah as a performer, but I think that she has been the weakest singer so far. By far, I've never thought she was a particularly good singer but she's certainly been trying for the last 10 years or so. Mary J is surprisingly good! Those commercials had me scared. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772468
ByaNose December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Mary J was awesome. Oh, it's a Brand New Day. Gotta go! 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772486
methodwriter85 December 4, 2015 Share December 4, 2015 Wow, they FINALLY figured out how to make these work! The production values look amazing. 6 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/35345-the-wiz-live-nbc-general-discussion/#findComment-1772509
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