STAGE TUBE: Shanice Williams Gets Hometown Blessing on Her Way to NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!

NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!, its highly anticipated holiday production, will air on Thursday, December 3. Click below for the latest behind-the-scenes look at star Shanice Williams and her journey from Rahway, New Jersey, to her starring role as 'Dorothy' in the iconic musical!

Alongside Williams will be Queen Latifah as the Wiz. Mary J. Blige will play Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, David Alan Grier will play the Cowardly Lion, Uzo Aduba will play Glinda, THE GOOD WITCH of the South, Amber Riley will play Addaperle, Common will play the Bouncer, Ne-Yo will play the Tin Man, and Elijah Kelleywill play the Scarecrow. Stephanie Mills will portray Auntie Em -- she is best known to many for playing Dorothy in the original Broadway production of THE WIZ.

THE WIZ LIVE! is adapted from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. The production opened on Broadway in 1975 at the Majestic Theatre and won seven Tonys, including Best Musical.

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("The Sound of Music Live!," "Peter Pan Live!," Oscar-winning "Chicago") will executive produce. Kenny Leon (Tony winner, "A Raisin in the Sun") and Matthew Diamond are directors, with Harvey Fierstein(three-time Tony winner, "Torch Song Trilogy," "Hairspray" and "La Cage aux Folles") providing new written material.

Esteemed choreographer Fatima Robinson ("Dreamgirls," "Ali") is also on board, along with music producer Harvey Mason Jr. ("Dreamgirls, "Pitch Perfect 2") and Stephen Oremus ("The Book of Mormon," "Kinky Boots") as music director, orchestrator and co-producer of the music.

THE WIZ LIVE! is produced by Universal Television in association with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical.