In a partnership with Cirque du Soleil, NBC announced that it’s next live musical performance will be The Wiz!
Adding to a new strategy of live programming as it did with Peter Pan and The Sound of Music in 2014 and 2013, the showing of The Wiz also poses support for diversity inclusion.
Made popular in the Black community in 1978 with an iconic cast that included Diana Ross, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor and Michael Jackson, the musical takes on the similar storyline of Dorothy being swept up by a tornado and finds herself in the land of Oz where she comes in contact with good and evil witches, munchkins and flying monkeys, but also develops a kindred friendship with a lion, scarecrow and tin man on her journey back to Kansas.
The production is scheduled to air on December 3rd, before it hits the Broadway circuit in 2016, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Casting for both the televised and Broadway productions will be announced at a later date.
Get more details, here!
Ease on down the road with this good ol’ flashback clip!
