Feature: Musical Histories of THE WIZ LIVE!'s Native Ozians, Queen Latifah, Common, Stephanie Mills
By: Matt Tamanini Nov. 30, 2015
NBC's upcoming holiday production of THE WIZ LIVE! will air Thursday, Dec. 3. The production will star newcomer Shanice Williams as Dorothy alongside Grammy and Golden Globe-winner Queen Latifah as the Wizard, nine-time Grammy-winner Mary J. Blige as Evillene, original Dorothy, Stephanie Mills, as Auntie Em and David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion. For More Information, Click Here.
In anticipation of this star-studded event, over the next few days, we are going to be looking at the impressive musical careers (and when possible, musical theatre careers) of THE WIZ LIVE! stars. Today, we are going to throw open the gates of the Emerald City and look at the stars making their home in Oz. First, Queen Latifah as The Wizard of Oz, then Common as the Bouncer, and finally Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em. While Auntie Em never actually makes it to Oz, since Mills has been a major part of THE WIZ's journey for over 40 years, I think it is safe to say that she is an official Ozian!
Queen Latifah
THE WIZ LIVE! marks the third time that this Grammy, Emmy, and Gold Globe winning artist has worked with executive producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan. She first appeared as Matron "Mama" Morton in the Academy Award winning adaptation of CHICAGO. Then she starred as Motormouth Maybelle in the film version of HAIRSPRAY.
Despite first rising to prominence as a rapper, Queen Latifah has been appearing on screens large and small for nearly 20 years, and with three Gold albums, her records have sold nearly 10 million copies worldwide.
"I Know Where I've Been" from the HAIRSPRAY movie
"Big, Blonde, and Beautiful" from the HAIRSPRAY movie
"When You're Good to Mama" from the CHICAGO movie
"He's Everything" from JOYFUL NOISE featuring Dolly Parton, Tony-nominees Andy Karl and Jeremy Jordan, Keke Palmer, and Jesse L. Martin
The official music video for "U.N.I.T.Y.," one of Queen Latifah's biggest hits
Common
Known primarily as a rapper and a poet, Common has released 12 albums, three of which have gone Gold, earning him a pair of Grammys. He has also collaborated with many of the biggest names in music, Erykah Badu, Colbie Caillat, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, and more.
Earlier this year, Common won an Academy Award with John Legend for the song "Glory" from the film SELMA, in which he also appeared. Over the last five years, Common has begun appearing in more films, and has six currently in development.
"Glory," from the movie SELMA, performed at the 2015 Academy Awards
"Come Close" featuring THE WIZ's Evillene, Mary J. Blige
Common and John Legend's Oscars acceptance speech
Common performing his poetry at the White House
Stephanie Mills
Her second Broadway show, Stephanie Mills was just 17 when she first took on the role of Dorothy in the original Broadway production of THE WIZ. Since that star-making turn, Mills hasn't done much acting, but she has gone on to have a Grammy-winning recording career that spans four decades. She has released 27 albums, four of which have been certified Gold, and 1987's "If I Were Your Woman" was certified Platinum.
"Home" from THE WIZ
"Ease on Down the Road" from THE WIZ
"Never Knew Love Like this Before," for which she won the 1980 Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance
Whose performance are you most excited to see on THE WIZ LIVE! this Thursday? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter. Also, don't forget to follow @BWWTVWorld on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for all of the latest TV news, reviews, and recaps.
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