Can Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige bring NBC's 'The Wiz Live!' good ratings?
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The next NBC live musical production has gained two cast members.
The network announced via Twitter that 鈥淐hicago鈥� actress Queen Latifah and singer Mary J. Blige will star in the December production of 鈥淭he Wiz.鈥澛�
say that Blige is playing the Wicked Witch of the West, while Latifah is portraying the Wiz herself.聽
It was previously announced that actress Stephanie Mills, who starred as Dorothy in the original 1975 Broadway production of 鈥淭he Wiz,鈥� will be portraying Auntie Em.
A movie version of 鈥淭he Wiz鈥� was released in 1978 and starred Diana Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, actor Nipsey Russell as the Tinman, and Ted Ross as the Lion. Singer Lena Horne portrayed the good witch Glinda, while comedian Richard Pryor was the Wiz and actress Mabel King portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West, or Evillene, as she is known in 鈥淭he Wiz.鈥澛�
Latifah was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the 2002 film version of 鈥淐hicago.鈥� In addition to her singing career, Blige has appeared on the ABC TV show 鈥淏lack-ish鈥� and in the 2012 movie musical 鈥淩ock of Ages鈥� and the 2013 movie 鈥淏lack Nativity.鈥澛�
NBC may be trying to bring in non-musical theater fans with the casting of Blige. While she has appeared in such movie musicals as 鈥淩ock鈥� and 鈥淣ativity,鈥� Blige is primarily known for her singing career, for which she has received multiple Grammys, such as the Best Contemporary R&B Album award in 2009 and Best R&B Song in 2007.
NBC鈥檚 first live musical in decades was the 2013 production 鈥淭he Sound of Music Live!,鈥� which starred country superstar Carrie Underwood. Ratings for NBC鈥檚 2014 production, 鈥淧eter Pan Live!,鈥� were lower and actors Allison Williams and Christopher Walken, who headlined 鈥淧an,鈥� may not have had the drawing power of Underwood. Blige鈥檚 presence could cause her many fans who may not have done so otherwise to tune in.
