Stephanie Mills, The Wiz's Original Dorothy, Will Play Aunt Em In NBC Telecast; Dorothy Will Be a Newcomer

Stephanie Mills, who originated the role of Dorothy in The Wiz, will return to Oz this year! The Grammy winner will appear in NBC’s forthcoming live telecast of the soulful take on the familiar story as Aunt Em. The announcement was reportedly made at the Peacock network’s New York upfronts, and was later shared on Twitter by executive producer Craig Zadan. The production will air on December 3, with plans to bring it to the Broadway in the 2016-17 season.

Mills made her Broadway debut in Maggie Flynn before going on to lead The Wiz in 1975. She later reprised her performance as Dorothy in the 1984 revival. Her many albums include Movin’ in the Right Direction, For the First Time and What Cha’ Gonna Do with My Lovin’. She won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Never Knew Love Like This Before,” the single from her second album Sweet Sensation.

Tony Award winner Kenny Leon will stage both the television production and Great White Way 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 William F. Brown. The show follows the familiar L. Frank Baum story of Dorothy and her adventures in Oz, but with a rock-filled revamp. Charlie 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.”

No additional casting has been announced. According to multiple reports from the upfronts presentation, a newcomer will headline the telecast as Dorothy.

Check out Mills’ incredible rendition of The Wiz’ signature anthem “Home” below!