6 things to expect from "The Wiz Live!"
Fans of both the classic "Wizard of Oz" and the 1978's "The Wiz" can tune in to see some of 2015's biggest artists on "The Wiz Live!" Thursday night.
The NBC musical adaption marks the third in three years, after "The Sound of Music," followed by "Peter Pan." Here's what you can expect to see.
1. Watch Dorothy "nae nae" and "quan": We're not in 1978 anymore. "The Wiz Live!" will incorporate modern dance moves like the "nae nae" and the "quan." Choreographer Fatima Robinson, who was behind videos for Michael Jackson and Aaliyah, told the Grio, "We have kind of every fun street dance that's out there we've incorporated in the choreography. And it's so much fun."
2. Acrobatic stunts by Cirque du Soleil: This year's musical by NBC is co-produced by Cirque du Soleil. Expect jaw-dropping acrobatic feats during the show.
3. Meet Shanice Williams: While NBC's last two musicals, "The Sound of Music" and "Peter Pan," cast established actresses Carrie Underwood and Allison Williams in the lead roles, respectively, this year's will star newbie Shanice Williams. Williams, 19, was discovered in an open casting call. She has only acted in local theater productions so far. It's safe to say a star has been born.
4. A new song: "The Wiz Live!" is truly a revamp, and it even includes a new song. Ne-Yo, who plays the Tin Man, and Elijah Kelley, who plays the Scarecrow, wrote the new song "We Got It" together.
Kelley told Broadway World, "Ne-Yo did an incredible job with the lyrics. I did the music. Ne-Yo is a genius to be able to verbalize that in a very specific way. I think when the world hears it, it'll become bigger than just a song. It's moment in time in a legendary production that we're blessed to be a part of."
5. Major celebrities: This might be NBC's most star-studded musical cast yet. Queen Latifah plays the Wiz, Mary J. Blige is Evilene (Wicked Witch of the West), Common will take part as the Bouncer/Gatekeeper, David Alan Grier plays the Cowardly Lion, Amber Riley is Addaperle (Good Witch of the North) and Uzo Aduba plays Glinda (Good Witch of the South).
6. A comebacks from an original "Wiz" cast member: Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy in the original Broadway production of "The Wiz," will join the cast of "The Wiz Live!" She will play Auntie Em this time, and she has given the new Dorothy her blessing.
Mills told the Grio, "I've given [Williams] love ... She's 2015 Dorothy. It's hers. I did my part 40 years ago, so it's hers. It's hers."
"The Wiz Live!" airs 8 p.m. Thursday.
