From Neverland to Oz: The Wiz Tapped for NBC's Next Live Broadcast & Will Then Head to Broadway

Ready to feel a brand new day? NBC will present a live broadcast of Charlie Smalls and William F. Brown’s The Wiz this year. The ‘70s take on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will hit the small screen on December 3. Entering into a unique 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 Broadway revival for the 2016-17 season. Casting for both the NBC telecast and Cirque du Soleil’s Great White Way production will be announced at a later date.

Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon will stage both the television production and Broadway revival of The Wiz in collaboration with Tony winner and Broadway icon Harvey Fierstein, who will contribute new material to the original Broadway book by Brown. The Wiz follows the familiar L. Frank Baum story of Dorothy and her adventures in Oz, but with a rock-filled revamp. Smalls' soulful score includes show tunes that have transcended the divide between theater and mainstream pop culture, including “Ease on Down the Road,” “No Bad News” and “Home.”

The show premiered on Broadway in 1975 and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical later that year. The 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Lena Horne. The last major New York production took place in 2009 as part of New York City Center's Encores! program and starred Grammy winner Ashanti, Aladdin Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart, LaChanze, Joshua Henry and more.

The musical was previously reported as a contender for this year's pick, along with The Music Man. This marks the third annual live musical broadcast for the Peacock network, following the gangbusters The Sound of Music Live! and the less-but-still-moderately successful Peter Pan. Fox will follow suit early next year with a live presentation of Grease with Vanessa Hudgens and Julianne Hough. Also on the NBC table is a live telecast of Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men.

No Great White Way theater has been announced for the revival, but Cirque has been rumored to be looking at making a long-term home at the Lyric, where On the Town is currently playing. However, the Lyric is owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group and Zadan and Meron's recently reported Main Stem production deal is with the Shuberts, who own 17 other Broadway theaters.