Posted by | Ray Cornelius
BroadwayWorld.com is reporting that Grammy-winning singer, Stephanie Mills, has signed on to play “Aunt Em” in NBC’s revival of “The Wiz.” Mills originated the role of “Dorothy” in the 1975 Broadway production as well as the 1984 revival. “The Wiz” is a Tony award-winning retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and features an African-American cast.
As previously reported, “The Wiz” will air live on NBC December 3 and will then open on Broadway for the 2016-17 Season. Both productions are being directed by Tony winner, Kenny Leon along with Harvey Fierstein, who is on board to “modernize” the Broadway book. The show is also being executive produced by Cirque du Soleil and will feature the original music of Charles Smalls including the classic tunes, “Ease On Down the Road” and “Home.”
“The Wiz Live” is being described as the following:
“Dorothy, a young woman from Kansas, is swept up in a tornado and relocated to a fantasy world that is inhabited by munchkins, good and bad witches, and, of course, flying monkeys. She eventually takes a path down a yellow brick road to find a wizard who can help her go home and along the way meets a scarecrow, tin man and cowardly lion, who all learn to help one another.”
RC will keep you posted as this continues to develop.
What are your thoughts about Stephanie Mills playing Aunt Em?
Photo Credit: NYDailyNews.com