The Wiz premiered on Broadway in 1975 with Stephanie Mills in the lead role as Dorothy. The show won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. It received a film adaptation in 1978 and was revived on Broadway in 1984, also with Mills.
Following the successful live broadcasts of "The Sound of Music" and "Peter Pan," NBC will debut the new live television production of the hit Broadway musical The Wiz Dec. 3.
Entering into a partnership with NBC on The Wiz — to be executive-produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron — is Cirque du Soleil, whose new stage theatrical division will co-produce the live TV event and then present it as a major Broadway revival for the 2016-17 season.
Click through to see whom our readers picked to star in The Wiz.
Keke Palmer
Kristen Nicole LaBoy: Keke Palmer I think would do great!
Jen Len: Keke Palmer would be amazing!
Terri Wall: Keke Palmer
Hector Matos: Keke Palmer. That's the first name that came to my mind.
Keke Palmer, who made history last fall when she became the first African American Cinderella on Broadway, has numerous stage, screen and music credits. She starred in the Disney Channel's "Jump In!" and featured on the Top 10 Chart soundtrack. In 2007 she also released her solo album "So Uncool," which she toured nationally. Her film credits include "Akeelah and the Bee," "The Cleaner," starring opposite Eva Mendez and Samuel Jackson, "Shrink" with Kevin Spacey and Robin Williams and "The Longshots." She was also the star of her own show "True Jackson" on the Nickelodeon Network. Cinderella marked Palmer's Broadway debut.
Kristin Pittman: Audra McDonald would kill it as Glinda the Good!
Philip Swan: Audra McDonald as Glinda. End of casting discussion for that role!
Ashley Hendrickson: Audra McDonald as Glinda for sure!
Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald is considered Broadway royalty, earning Tonys for her roles in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Porgy and Bess, A Raisin in the Sun, Ragtime, Master Class and Carousel. As her fans know, the star's comedic side would no doubt bring an extra layer to the role of Glinda.
Paul L. Jones: Tituss Burgess
McLain Powell: Tituss Burgess as the Scarecrow!
Tituss Burgess can currently be seen in the acclaimed Netflix series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." His comedic and vocal abilities would make him an ideal candidate for the roles of either the Scarecrow or the Tin Man. Burgess' Broadway credits include Guys and Dolls, The Little Mermaid and Jersey Boys.
Janelle Monae
Adam Elsberry: Janelle Monae, all the way!
Kristin Pittman: Janelle Monae would be awesome as Dorothy
Joanna Boese: Janelle Monae!!!!
Dominic Grijalva: Janelle Monae as Dorothy!
Singer-songwriter Janelle Monae has been making waves in the music industry while garnering a strong fan base. The pop star has been nominated for six Grammy Awards, and her second studio album, "The Electric Lady," received critical acclaim. Her music uniquely blends soul, pop and R&B. The 29-year-old, who has yet to make her Broadway debut, would be an ideal fit for the youthful Dorothy.
Suzanne Connell: I think Jennifer Hudson would make a great Dorothy. She can act and sing.
Sarah Weissman: Jennifer Hudson as Evillene.
Max Martinez: I would love to see Jennifer Hudson in any role. She was amazing singing 'Soon as I Get Home' on Smash.
Dani Angel Bustamante: JHud as Dorothy!
Pedro Davila: There will be riots in Fandom if J-Hud is not Dorothy
Jennifer Hudson will make her Broadway debut as Shug Avery in the fall revival of The Color Purple. Hudson proved her skills in the film adaptation of "Dreamgirls," a role which won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Hudson has also been seen in the music-filled series "Smash" and "Empire."
Stephanie Mills
Scott Hathaway: Stephanie Mills of course!!!!!! And nobody sings "Home" better than Stephanie Mills.
Jason Reddock: The original and best Stephanie Mills. She's younger than Diana was when she did the movie. Audra McDonald as Glinda.
Stephanie Mills stepped into the sparkling red shoes of Dorothy twice on Broadway, once in the original cast in 1975 and the 1984 revival. In 1989, Mills was the star of her own solo concert show, Stephanie Mills Comes "Home" to Broadway, in which she performed a mix of pop, soul and her signature song from The Wiz, "Home."
