When NBC first announced a live action version of The Wiz, I met the news with a mix of trepidation and excitement.
After all, this is one of the greatest -- and certainly the funkiest -- musicals of all time and it would be hard to top the 1978 movie adaptation, flawed as it may be. We didn't hear anything for a while, and then the casting news started rolling in.
The original Broadway Dorothy and '80s songbird Stephanie Mills coming full circle as Auntie Em
Big Number: "The Feeling We Once Had"
Oscar-nominee Queen Latifah gender-bending for the kids as The Wiz
Big Number: "So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard"
In a genius bit of casting, Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige as Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West
Big Number: "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News"
Three time Tony-nominee and national treasure David Alan Grier as The Cowardly Lion
Big Number: "(I'm a) Mean Ole Lion"
Emmy-winning Orange Is the New Black star and operatic diva Uzo Aduba as Glinda, the Good Witch
Big Number: "Believe in Yourself"
The best part of Glee Amber Riley as Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North
Big Number: "He's the Wiz"
And newcomer Shanice Williams as Dorothy
Big Number: "Home"
It's already a great cast and there are still a few roles to fill. Who will be the Scarecrow? Jussie Smollet? Titus Burgess? What about the Tin Man? Andre Braugher? Whoopi Goldberg? Where is Diana Ross? Can Audra McDonald just show up for no apparent reason?
Related | Dream Casting NBC's The Wiz
These questions will be answered by the time The Wiz LIVE! airs on Thursday, December 3 at 8/9c on NBC. And don't forget: There's talks of this transferring to Broadway next year...
Les Fabian Brathwaite -- she's the Wiz and she lives in Oz.
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