Well, NBC broke the internet yesterday with the announcement that their next live musical will air on December 3rd with a production of The Wiz. It was rumored that the production was suppose to be a live version of The Music Man but that has been put to sleep with this breaking news. As soon as we heard we could not contain ourselves. Us, along with the rest of the twitter-verse, began to go up in arms.
BREAKING NEWS: THE WIZ is confirmed as the new live NBC musical Dec 3rd. Plans for Broadway attached! pic.twitter.com/7Pe2zu8R2c
— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 30, 2015
According to Deadline:
NBC has partnered with Cirque du Soleil to co-produce the live event. It will then become a Broadway revival for the 2016-17 season.Once again Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will exec produce. Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon will stage both the television production and Broadway revival, in collaboration with Tony winner and Broadway icon Harvey Fierstein, who will contribute new material to the original Broadway book by William F. Brown.
Little did we know, the announcement was only the beginning. The excitement quickly turned to anticaption and axiety of who will be cast in this live production directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. Everyone had their own ideas and must haves in that list. Some of which included Janelle Monae, Jennifer Hudson, LaChanze, Audra McDonald, Tittuss Burgess, & Billy Porter, just to name a few.
What’s your dream cast for The Wiz? #CastTheWiz — Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) March 30, 2015
PLZZZZZ RT @callmedollar: “@BroadwayBlack: Could it be possible for @TasiasWord to portray Dorothy?! #CastTheWiz” pic.twitter.com/UIDJQdP5fB
— THE ARCHER (@JUPITERMOVESME) March 30, 2015
@broadwayblack. the only person that can play dorothy is janelle monáe. this is not up for debate. — Brian Patrick Davis! (@blacksocialite) March 30, 2015
@BroadwayBlack i’d like @theebillyporter in there, and @joshuahenry20 and @Capathianyc !!! and @donaldwebber
— tommy santelli (@tommysantelli) March 30, 2015
@BroadwayBlack Terrence Howard as The Wiz. — Hassan Sayyed (@HausUrban) March 30, 2015
@BroadwayBlack Billy Porter as Scarecrow….Tichina Arnold as Evilene…..Anika Noni Rose as Dorothy….Audra McDonald as Glinda
— JZA_Nicole (@Jaleesa_Nicole) March 30, 2015
@BroadwayBlack @IAMJHUD -Wicked Witch, @jamesmiglehar -The lion, Jessie L Martin -Tin Man, @theebillyporter -Wizard, & Keke Palmer -Dorothy — The Big Man (@TheFatManDiary) March 30, 2015
@BroadwayBlack Tin man: @leslieodomjr all the way
— So FloYork (@iTerryTommy) March 30, 2015
Little excited about the #TheWizLive My Wish List #LetsCastTheWIZ Anika Noni Rose- Dorothy Stephanie Mills- North Witch Roz Ryan- Aunt Em — OUTSPOKEN DIVA (@OUTSPOKEN_DIVA) March 30, 2015
Everyone had their own version they thought worked best but, if you didnt get a chance to create your own, there is still time! Tell us your dream cast for NBC’s live version. It’s fun to imagine but we’re pretty sure we don’t have anything to worry about. Kenny Leon told us himself
@alrisa @nbc won’t happen! We will tell the story with the best , available cast..no tricks- no worries! — Kenny Leon (@iamKENNYLEON) March 30, 2015
And just for good measure:
W talent that BLACK BROADWAY has 2 offer. WE R ALL HERE so let’s be clear & not make this a celebrity contest #broadwayactress #CastTheWiz
— Carmen Ruby (@CarmenRubyFloyd) March 30, 2015
PSA: The Musical Version of The Wiz and the movie version of The Wiz ARE NOT THE SAME. Prepare yourself and cast accordingly
The Wiz is adapted from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Subsequently, Baum’s book was adapted as a stage musical with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The adaptation, which featured an all-black cast, debuted in October, 1974 at the Morris Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore. Starring Stephanie Mills as Dorthoy. It moved to Broadway’s Majestic Theatre on January, 1975, where it ran for four years and won seven Tonys, including best musical.
