Nov. 12--NBC's "The Wiz Live!" won't come out until Dec. 3, but to tide fans over, the network has released a practice session of one of the musical's show-stopping songs. Try not to faint as Stephanie Mills, the original Dorothy, duets with Shanice Williams, the current Dorothy, on the song "Home."
Mills, who originated the role in the 1975 Broadway production of "The Wiz" that was also popularized by Diana Ross in the 1978 film adaptation, is cast as Auntie Em in the new version. And clearly Mills hasn't lost any of the power that came through on stage 40 years ago. Nor does Williams, who inherits a daunting task in stepping into the shoes of two legendary songstresses, shy away from the moment.
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The song itself is perennially covered, often by power singers of note. Whitney Houston made her world debut on "The Merv Griffin Show" in 1983 performing this song. "American Idol" contestant Melinda Doolittle, who finished in third place, sang the song in 2007. In 2010, the song was used in an episode of "Glee," sung by Kristin Chenoweth. And even Barbra Streisand got in on the act, recording a version in 1985 that was not released until 2012.
Another recent promo for the show allowed fans one of the first peeks at the cast in costume. Other cast members include David Alan Grier as Cowardly Lion, Uzo Aduba as Glinda, Amber Riley as Addaperle, Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow, Common as the Bouncer (the gatekeeper to the Emerald City) and Ne-Yo as Tin Man.
The Broadway show won seven Tony Awards, including best musical.
The new version is executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
