It seems NBC’s live musical series is really upping its game post-Peter Pan. Orange Is the New Black‘s Uzo Aduba and Glee‘s Amber Riley have been added to the already impressive cast of NBC’s upcoming live musical, The Wiz.
They’ll be joining Queen Latifah (The Wiz), Mary J. Blige (Evillene aka the Wicked Witch of the West) and David Alan Grier (the Cowardly Lion). Aduba will be playing Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. (With Glinda’s even temperament, this will give Aduba a break from the intense eye-acrobatics she performs throughout OITNB — and seemingly see her performing some vocal acrobatics instead.) Riley, meanwhile, will play Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, who, as The Hollywood Reporter describes, “isn’t the best at magic but she does try.”
Executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said of the newly-announced cast members:
We are so happy to welcome two actors we’ve admired and wanted so much to work with. We look forward to showcasing the amazing musical talents of Amber and we are eager to introduce Uzo’s remarkable singing voice for those who know her solely as an extraordinary dramatic actress.
The Wiz is set to air Thursday, December 3 on NBC.