Stephanie Mills Cast as Aunt Em in The Wiz Live Musical
The first casting has officially been made for NBC's live rendition of The Wiz! Stephanie Mills, who starred in the leading role of Dorothy in the original Broadway production, will play Aunt Em in the network's live musical, reports the Hollywood Reporter.
Bob Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, said the casting process has only just begun, with the team seraching for a "fresh face" to star as Dorothy.
The Wiz gave Mills her big break, catapulting her to superstardom and earning her a Drama Desk Award nomination. In 1980, she won a Grammy for her hit "Never Knew Love Like This Before" and an American Music Award for favorite female artist a year later.
NBC's The Wiz will be executive produced by duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who were also behind the Sound of Music and Peter Pan. Tony-winning director Kenny Leon is set to direct both the live production as well as its Broadway resurgence in 2016-17.
The Wiz is set to air on Thursday, December 3, 2015, on NBC.
Travel down memory lane below and watch Stephanie Mills belt "Home" from the Broadway musical at the 2014 Soul Train Awards:
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