NBC embarks on its latest musical holiday tradition with a live television production of the groundbreaking Broadway show that brought the vivid world of Oz to life in a fresh, funky sing-along journey down the yellow brick road.
The cast of NBC's THE WIZ LIVE is putting in 8-hour-a-day rehearsals for the highly anticipated December 3rd live broadcast. Today, Essence has shared a photo new gallery by Lance Gross. Check it out here!
ITV is putting on its own live version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC this Christmas. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Julian Ovenden will star as 'Captain Von Trapp' in the upcoming live telecast, and according to BBC News, he'll be joined by Olivier winner Maria Friedman as Mother Abbess, Mel Giedroyc as Frau Schmidt, and Kara Tointon as Maria.
Access Hollywood went behind-the-scenes of NBC's THE WIZ LIVE to speak with the cast of the highly anticipated live broadcast. The show will air live on NBC on Thursday, Dec. 3.
According to WhatsOnStage, Uzo Aduba, star of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK and NBC's upcoming presentation of THE WIZ LIVE!, has nabbed one of the lead roles in THE MAIDS, slated to play Trafalgar Studios, this February, directed by Jamie Lloyd as his company's first 2016 production.
Shanice Williams, Ne-Yo, David Alan Grier and Elijah Kelley stopped by NBC's TODAY to talk about the upcoming television event 'The Wiz LIVE!' based on the Tony-winning Broadway hit.
Get ready for NBC's THE WIZ LIVE, starring Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Shanice Williams, David Alan Grier, Ne-Yo, Elijah Kelley, Common and more. The live broadcast airs Thursday, December 3 at 8/7c on NBC. Below, check out an all-new promo!
On October 22, executive producer Neil Meron and actors Shanice Williams, Elijah Kelley, David Alan Grier, and NE-YO came together for a discussion and Q&A about THE WIZ LIVE! at the Apple Store, Soho (103 Prince Street). iTunes has just released footage and audio from the event, and you can check it out HERE!
The journey to Oz can officially begin with THE WIZ LIVE!'s full cast easin' on down the road! NBC has finally revealed the complete company for upcoming holiday production, airing Thursday, December 3.
Tonight, executive producer Neil Meron and actors Shanice Williams, Elijah Kelley, David Alan Grier, and NE-YO got together for a Q&A on NBC's THE WIZ LIVE! at the Apple Store in Soho. BroadwayWorld is excited to give you the scoop on what the team revealed at the event!
Tonight, October 22 (8PM) join executive producer Neil Meron and actors Shanice Williams, Elijah Kelley, David Alan Grier, and NE-YO for a discussion and Q&A about 'The Wiz Live!', at the Apple Store, Soho (103 Prince Street). To attend the special event, register at: https://s.apple.com/dE0c9J2R7g.
Get ready to ease on down the road! NBC will air the highly anticipated holiday production THE WIZ LIVE! on Thursday, December 3, with an encore telecast set for Saturday, Dec. 19 (8-11 p.m. ET). Below, check out just-released art that celebrates the show's 40th anniversary!
Today, BWW catches up with Alison Dooley, Williams' Rahway High drama teacher who has been in close contact with her former student since rehearsals for the production got underway.
The man who brought funk and soul to Broadway got his big break on THE MONKEES.
On Thursday, October 22 (8PM) join executive producer Neil Meron and actors Shanice Williams, Elijah Kelley, David Alan Grier, and NE-YO for a discussion and Q&A about 'The Wiz Live!', at the Apple Store, Soho (103 Prince Street). NBC embarks on its latest musical holiday tradition with a live TV production of the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning Broadway show that gave a new voice to the vivid world of Oz in a fresh, funky, sing-a-long journey down the yellow brick road.
To attend the special event, register at https://s.apple.com/dE0c9J2R7g
Following up NBC's early peek at the highly stylized costumes for NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!, go behind the scenes at the photo shoot with Elijah Kelley as the Scarecrow, NE-YO as the Tin Man, David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion, and Shanice Williams as Dorothy! THE WIZ LIVE! airs Thursday, December 3rd.
Theatre fans have had a tenuous relationship with television musicals over the past few years. Whether it was the casual dismissal of GLEE after its strong first season, the hate-watching of SMASH, or the mixed-reactions to THE SOUND OF MUSIC and PETER PAN LIVE!, theatre fans have set a pretty high bar for programs that look to bring musical programming from stage to screen. With THE WIZ LIVE! and GREASE LIVE! still months away, a new musical TV show premieres tonight starring Tony-nominee Santino Fontana and Obie Award-winner Donna Lynne Champlin. CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND, the joyfully kooky comedy that debuts on The CW tonight at 8:00pm ET, was created by Upright Citizen's Brigade member Rachel Bloom, who also stars as the titular crazy character.
NBC has shared a special video entitled 'Live A Day In The Life With Shanice Williams' which chronicles the 19-year-old star of THE WIZ LIVE! from audition day to first table read.
NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!, its highly anticipated holiday production, will air on Thursday, December 3. Click below for the latest behind-the-scenes look at star Shanice Williams and her journey from Rahway, New Jersey, to her starring role as 'Dorothy' in the iconic musical!
On Twitter Watch, Neil Meron wrote 'Me & #Dorothy @LuvbeingShanice at promo shoot for #TheWizLive today @nbc @iamKENNYLEON
NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!, its highly anticipated holiday production, will air on Thursday, December 3 -- and winter can't come soon enough! ACCESS HOLLYWOOD just unveiled a new interview with star Shanice Williams. Click below to hear her talk about 'her first job' playing 'Dorothy' in the iconic musical!
NBC's THE WIZ LIVE! has just released a second promo for the highly anticipated holiday production featuring David Alan Grier.
Best known for her Emmy-winning portrayal of Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren on the hit Netflix series 'Orange Is the New Black,' actress Uzo Aduba (Broadway's GODSPELL) stopped by this morning's TODAY to share that she couldn't believe it when she got the call to play Glinda the Good
NBC's THE WIZ LIVE! just released a brand-new promo for the highly anticipated holiday production, featuring David Alan Grier talking about his daughter's reaction to him playing 'The Lion' - hear what he had to say below!
BroadwayWorld has just learned that Ne-Yo and Common have joined the cast, of NBC's highly-anticipated THE WIZ LIVE!. Ne-Yo will take on the role of the Tin Man, while Common portrays the gatekeeper of Oz, a non-sining role
Below, check out some of BWW's favorite performances from these talented stars!
1975 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1976 | US Tour |
1st National Tour US Tour |
1978 | US Tour |
2nd National Tour US Tour |
1980 |
Regional Revival |
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1984 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
1984 | West End |
London Revival West End |
1993 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway Revival Off-Broadway |
1997 | US Tour |
Touring Revival US Tour |
2006 | San Diego, CA (Regional) |
La Jolla Revival San Diego, CA (Regional) |
2015 | New York |
NBC Live Television Production New York |
2018 | St. Louis, MO (Regional) |
Muny Revival St. Louis, MO (Regional) |
2023 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
2024 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Production Broadway |
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