New Jersey native Shanice Williams to play Dorothy in TV Show ‘The Wiz Live!’

Various outlets are reporting that New Jersey native Shanice Williams will play Dorothy in the upcoming television production The Wiz Live! set to air on NBC in December.

Williams is relatively a newcomer and has played in local play productions of West Side Story, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Seussical and Pippin.

Producers held a nationwide search to look for the woman who would play the role, which has been played by Stephanie Mills on Broadway and Diana Ross in the film version.

Rounding out the cast for the television production includes Mills playing Aunt Em, Mary J. Blige playing Evillene, Queen Latifah as The Wiz and David Allen Greer playing the Cowardly Lion.

The Wiz Live! will air on NBC on Dec. 3

Congratulations Shanice!