Time to “ease on down the road” with NBC’s next live musical event!
The cast of ‘The Wiz’ (L-R Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Diana Ross and Ted Ross) pose for a publicity shot in 1978 (Getty)
The network has selected “The Wiz” for its next musical, following in the footsteps of “The Sound of Music Live!” starring Carrie Underwood and “Peter Pan Live!” with Allison Williams.
The new version of the popular stage musical will be co-produced by Cirque du Soleil and will then hit Broadway as a revival in 2016.
WATCH: Allison Williams’ Favorite ‘Peter Pan Live’ Reaction
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who brought “The Sound of Music” and “Peter Pan” to the network, are returning.
“We love this yearly tradition and we’re more excited than ever to not only bring another Broadway musical to America’s living rooms, but also see it land on Broadway as well,” NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement on Monday. “Cirque’s incredible imagination will help bring the fantasy world of Oz vividly to life and give this great show a modern spin on the age-old story we all love.”
The original stage musical won seven Tony Awards in 1975 and was adapted for the big screen in 1978, starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
Casting for NBC’s “The Wiz” has yet to be announced.
— Jesse Spero
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