NBC stepped up its game, finally putting some real production into its live musical event this year. There area few things that really made this production stand out. The first is a set of fantastic performances from a star studded cast plus a newcomer who fully proved herself. Stepping into Diana Ross's role of Dorothy was Shanice Williams, who belted out 'Home' with such power, nailing the big number. David Alan Grier is just brilliant as the Cowardly Lion. His purr sounded so cat-like it was a little freaky. Common has a very small part as an Emerald City gatekeeper, but he is hilarious. Queen Latifah plays the eponymous Wiz, and she plays it up with attitude. Amber Riley graduated from Glee and put her singing chops to use as the Good Witch of the North. Elijah Kelley stepped into Michael Jackson's shoes to play the Scarecrow. But I think this production was really defined by the Tin Man Ne-Yo, as much a dancer as he is a singer. And this production shined thanks to excellent, energetic choreography by Fatima Robinson. Unlike the previous NBC productions, there was some genuinely complex and entertaining dancing, which is what will really push it over the top when it makes the transition to the Broadway stage.
Finally, the set design and costumes had some really effort put into them. The Wiz looked like a green Cruella de Vil. The munchkins all had a distinctive look, as did the denizens of the Emerald City--they looked like something out of the Capital from The Hunger Games. The Emerald City "club" had some great choreography too. The infamous maelstrom of a tornado that whisks Dorothy away was so incredibly well done that it seemed real with Dorothy flying through the air. And I appreciated that the production came full circle, featuring the original Broadway Dorothy Stephanie Mills as Auntie Em. Here's to hoping that NBC keeps up this high quality of live musical events.
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