TV Exclusive: Meet the Star of NBC's THE WIZ- Shanice Williams Shares the Story of Her Road to Oz; Plus Hear Dorothy Sing!

NBC's The Wiz Live has found it's Dorothy! As BroadwayWorld reported this morning, Shanice Williams has joined the cast, starring alongside Grammy and Golden Globe-winner Queen Latifah as the Wizard, nine-time Grammy-winner Mary J. Blige as Evillene, original Dorothy, Stephanie Mills, as Auntie Em and David Alan Grier as the Cowardly Lion.

Below, we bring you an exclusive interview with the lady of the hour, as shares with BroadwayWorld's own Richard Ridge the story of how she was cast, what happens between now and December, and so much more!

The news was announced on this morning's TODAY on NBC, where Williams appeared live and told Matt Lauer, "I don't even know what is in store but this is always what I wanted to do!" Below, watch Williams audition for the coveted role at an open casting call!

The 18-year-old New Jersey native who has been raised and trained in musical theater, was selected out of hundreds of applicants nationwide who had auditioned to portray the iconic role of a Kansas farm girl who gets swept up in a tornado and is sent to the mysterious land of Oz.

With five years of musical training that also includes extensive dance and piano, Williams has co-starred in several local productions, including "West Side Story," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "42nd Street," "Seussical" and "Pippin." Last year Williams was nominated for best leading actress in a musical at the Paper Mill Playhouse's annual Rising Star Awards.

NBC's upcoming holiday production of "The Wiz Live!," set for Thursday, Dec. 3.