NBC announce live adaptation of ‘The Wiz’
By Josh Haggis
NBC have announced plans for a live adaptation of The Wiz.
Following the success of the network’s reworkings of The Sound of Music and Peter Pan, NBC have hired Tony Award winning director Kenny Leon to direct their adaptation of the 1978 cult musical film, which starred Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
“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,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt.
“It’s a natural next step for our live musical events, and we’re so pleased to be in business with this award-winning creative team and Scott Zeiger, president and managing director of Cirque du Soleil’s new theatrical division. 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,” he added.
The Wiz, a re-imagining of classic film The Wizard of Oz in an African-American context, will debut on NBC on December 3, with a major Broadway revival set to follow shortly after in 2016.