(l to r) Amber Riley and Shanice Williams in ‘The Wiz Live!’ (Film still from The Shows Must Go On!)
The Wiz, subtitled The Supersoul Musical ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” was a Broadway hit when it opened in January 1975. The musical won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and featured terrific performances by Stephanie Mills as Dorothy, André De Shields as The Wiz and Dee Dee Bridgewater at Glinda.
Forty years later, NBC produced a live, televised version starring Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Uzo Aduba, Amber Riley, Ne-Yo and the magical artistry of Cirque du Soleil. The Shows Must Go On! offers a free 48-hour broadcast of the telecast, available through June 14, 2020.
Producers ask viewers to consider making a donation to the NAACP.
25
