Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Oz-some performance
NBC continues its holiday tradition with ‘The Wiz Live!’
Where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday Allison Williams (“Girls”) was sporting a boyish wig and soaring across the stage in the title role of “Peter Pan Live!” alongside a dancing Christopher Walken (“Catch Me If You Can,” 2002) as Captain Hook.
The holidays have nearly circled back again, however, and NBC is carrying on its newfound tradition of airing a live musical production for TV audiences as Christmas approaches. This year, the network is bringing the funk with “The Wiz Live,” a soul/R&B adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” with a modern spin and an all-black cast. “The Wiz Live!” airs Thursday, Dec. 3, on NBC.
The 1975 production of “The Wiz” was a huge hit on Broadway.The show took home seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Choreography and Best Original Score. It in turn spawned a film adaptation released in 1978 starring Diana Ross (“Lady Sings the Blues,” 1972), Michael Jackson (“This Is It,” 2009) and Richard Pryor (“Silver Streak,” 1976), which has become a cult classic.
The production is an excellent choice on NBC’s part to get viewers to tune in to a live show, particularly after last year’s mixed reviews of “Peter Pan Live!” While “Pan” drew more than nine million viewers, making it the most-watched program of the night on the major networks, that’s only about half the number of people who tuned in for its predecessor, “The Sound of Music Live!” Some critics didn’t buy Williams’ whimsy as the boy who wouldn’t grow up, panning the show as long and lifeless. Others, however, praised the performers and the production as a whole, and the live format gives audiences something decidedly different in prime-time television.
In any case, the duo responsible for producing all three “Live!” shows — Craig Zadan and Neil Meron — is taking no chances this time around. For one thing, the team has landed a story that’s universally loved — who can’t get on board with the Kansas farm girl who learns the importance of home and family, all while wearing some flashy pumps (with nary a complaint about blisters or arch support)? Or her goofy, big-hearted new pals who come to see the value in themselves through traits they thought they were missing, but in fact had all along? It’s good stuff.
A strong story warrants a strong cast, and Zadan and Meron have nabbed themselves a plum one. Aside from newcomer Shanice Williams, who was handpicked over hundreds of hopefuls for the role of Dorothy in an open call, the cast is heavy with star power.
The first woman to take the role of the titular “Wiz” is none other than Queen Latifah, who’s already worked with Zadan and Meron in the bigscreen adaptations of “Chicago” (2002) and “Hairspray” (2007) and the Lifetime version of “Steel Magnolias” (2012).
“We realized then that she could do everything,” Zadan told Variety of his and Meron’s first meeting with Latifah at the “Chicago” casting. “She was a first-rate actress, singer and dancer. She has a star quality that lights up the screen.”
Fellow R&B icon and nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige (“Rock of Ages,” 2012) plays Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, while rising small-screen stars Amber Riley (“Glee”) and Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”) play Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, respectively.
Elijah Kelley, who starred with Latifah in “Hairspray,” plays the Scarecrow, alongside R&B singer Ne-Yo (“Stomp the Yard,” 2007) as the Tin Man and funny-guy David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”) as the Cowardly Lion.
Stephanie Mills, the original Dorothy in “The Wiz” on Broadway, is returning to the show to play Auntie Em, which was a major score for Zadan and Meron.
“Everyone you talk to who remembers the show remembers Stephanie Mills as Dorothy,” Zadan said in a Broadway World interview. “Having her be part of this show’s company is both nostalgic and thrilling.”
As for the new Dorothy, Williams may not yet be the household name that some of her castmates are, but she’s certainly not short on talent. Of the more than 600 girls who turned up for the open call in New York and Los Angeles, “Shanice was the best singer and actress,” said Meron in the same interview. “She also felt like a real teenager who would bring something fresh and touching to the show.”
The 19-year-old New Jersey native has five years of musical training under her belt and has co-starred in local productions of “West Side Story,” “Pippin” and more. She even has experience with “The Wiz” already, having played Addaperle in her middle school production of the show. Now she dons her silver slippers and a crisp jean jacket as a contemporary Dorothy, ready to belt it out with the best of them.
It requires genuine talent to pull off a live performance, and there’s no doubt that the cast of “The Wiz Live!” has it in spades.The live musical shows are becoming a tradition for NBC during the holidays, and this one has all the elements necessary to be a huge hit. Don’t miss “The Wiz Live!” when it airs Thursday, Dec. 3, on NBC.