Common, Elijah Kelley and Ne-Yo Join ‘The Wiz Live!’

Common, Elijah Kelley, Ne-Yo Join The Wiz Live
Common (Photo by Richard Chavez)

NBC’s upcoming musical event The Wiz Live! has just added Common, Elijah Kelley, and Ne-Yo to its cast. The three join previously announced cast members Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, David Alan Grier, Uzo Aduba, Amber Riley, Stefanie Mills, and Shanice Williams in the TV production based on the Broadway musical adapted from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Per NBC, Common will play Emerald City’s gatekeeper, the Bouncer. Kelley was cast as Dorothy’s traveling companion, the Scarecrow. Ne-Yo will handle the role of the Tin Man. Queen Latifah is the Wiz, Mary J. Blige is the Wicked Witch of the West, Uzo Aduba is the Good Witch of the South, Amber Riley is the Good Witch of the North, David Alan Grier is the Cowardly Lion, Stefanie Mills is Auntie Em, and Shanice Williams is Dorothy.

The Wiz Live! will air on December 3, 2015. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are executive producing the show, with Kenny Leon and Matthew Diamond directing.