'The Wiz Live!' Has Its Full Cast
Friday, August 14, 2015 at 12:39PM Margaret here with your live TV musical update. NBC has just announced the final principal cast members for its live production of The Wiz: R&B singer Ne-Yo as the Tin Man, Elijah Kelley (aka the showstopping dreamboat from Hairspray) as the Scarecrow, and Common as the Emerald City gatekeeper.
The full cast, then, is set:
While I stand by my original dreamcast (pour one out for Audra McDonald and Tituss Burgess), there's just no denying: this is an outstanding cast. Some really fine actors, a staggering amount of stage presence, and not a weak singer to be seen. Even the imports from the Billboard charts each have a respectable number of IMDb credits under their belts (unlike The Sound of Music Live's Carrie Underwood, bless her). In fact, this roster boasts a total of 16 Grammys (out of 69 nominations), 3 Tony nominations (all David Alan Grier), two Oscar nominations and one win (in Best Original Song).
Not to mention that it's set to be directed by Tony-winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, Fences) and choreographed by movie and music video veteran Fatima Robinson (whose work you might remember from Dreamgirls).
We at TFE are nothing if not optimists, particularly when it comes to musicals, so maybe that's skewing my judgment-- but doesn't it seem like this has no chance but to be fantastic? The Internet got a lot of mileage out of ribbing the last two NBC live musicals. But with a cast this deep, a musical this fun, and the proven genius team's production designers, it's quite possible we'll love-love it, and not in the ironic way.
Is it foolish to be so confident? Which actor's performance are you most anticipating? And who else is counting down with me to December 3?
Reader Comments (14)
Don't worry, those of us looking for for a disaster to live-tweet will still have FOX's "Grease Live!"
I can not think of any other casting decision more inspired than David Alan Grier as the Lion, but it's definitely Aduba as Glinda that I look forward most to.
Yes for Elijah Kelly! I've been waiting for a stellar musical follow-up sacred his phenomenal "Run and Tell That" in hairspray.
Kenny Leon, as a director, is actually rather uninspired. Both (!) of his revivals of Raisin have been truly adequate, in terms of direction- delivering nothing new or illuminating. (His recent Tony win, it must be noted, was a shock and, when compared to his competition, not deserving).
The Wiz really needs someone more visionary at the helm, and visionaries designing it, or it ends up being "the black Wizard of Oz" or, at worst, horribly hokey. The original Broadway production was a stunningly designed show, creating a unique fantasy world for this story. The film adaptation did away with that entirely for its alternate-NYC take on the material, to the detriment of the material (along with its script changes).
I just have never seen Leon demonstrate any sort of fantastical vision; he's only done rather by-the-numbers dramas.
Nathaniel... I know it's kind of late. But in your list of the 200 oldest living stars of note, you didn't include Iam Holm and he has and expressive career and have been nominated for an oscar.
I just wanted to send love for the actor and to make you think of inluding him next year.
I am cautiously optimistic, but optimistic. At least they are on point with the casting!
UZO! She's going to rock this.
While I wanted to see Audra here he voice just isn't suited to the type of music this musical has which is more urban rather then operatic which is where Audra is truly allowed to shine. We'll get our Audra musical performance this fall as HBO will finally air their taping of her Billie Holiday performance that won her that sixth tony.
This cast is quite exciting with every new announcement making me so happy. I'm so happy for Elijah because following Hairspray I wished he had gotten better but for some reason it takes more then stealing a film from the Grease/Grease 2 reunion to get better work. Even if some of these people aren't the best actors I'm sure Leon will be able to get the acting out of them but we'll at least get some great vocal performances.
This NBC live musical has me the most excited because of the cast and the musical which was translated into a horrible movie but is still a brilliant stage musical that finally is being revived here and on broadway.
WOO HOO for Elijah Kelly and Amber Riley, but Uzo Aduba (much as I love her) is a weird choice for Glinda. And I still say that David Alan Grier and Queen Latifah should switch parts.
But on the whole, YES. This is one stellar cast and I am really looking forward to it.
Pity they couldn't get Ms. Ross in there somewhere, though.
Love this cast but definitely most excited for Uzo! Really inspired choice for Glinda, I think her voice is going to sound magical.
Outside of Stephanie, Elijah, Uzo and Amber, this "live" list doesn't excite me. And I echo Austin's thoughts on Leon (has he ever directed a musical?). I saw the 40th Anniversary celebration performance in Central Park on Wednesday evening with original cast members Dee Dee Bridgewater (Glinda) and Andre De Shields (who will always be the one and only Wiz), and it was beyond awesome! I doubt very seriously if this celeb-packed ensemble can capture a fraction of that magic.
I would like to point to my comment on Margaret's original posting citing Kelley as an ideal Scarecrow. That is all.
Feels a bit safe with the cast, doesn't it? :/
And I was hoping they'd get a solid stage director like Casey Nicholaw or Diane Paulus or someone who's proven their worth in churning out visionary musicals. Hell, if they were aiming for the stars, why not Bartlett Sher, George C. Wolfe or, gasp, Julie Taymor?
I dunno, they're not selling me on it AT ALL right now.
Joó --- he is actually on the list at #168. there's even a photo of him in the post.