First came “The Sound of Music.” Second came “Peter Pan.”
Next up for NBC: a live musical production of The Wiz, airing on Dec. 3, the network announced Monday.
The show will be created in partnership with Cirque du Soleil. And it’s executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the guys who brought us Neil Patrick Harris’ ill-advised Oscars hosting gig.
The TV production will be a collaboration with stage legend Harvey Fierstein, who will create new material, and then will be presented on Broadway revival for the 2016-17 season.
No cast members have been announced yet.
The Wiz is adapted from Frank L. Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” It ran for four years on Broadway beginning in 1975 and won seven Tonys, including best musical. A
“The Wiz” is adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The production opened on Broadway in 1975 at the Majestic Theatre and won seven Tonys, including best musical. A 1978 film version starred Diana Ross.
Gannett News Service
