Rising star Shanice Williams, an 18-year-old New Jersey native, has just landed the role of a lifetime as Dorothy in NBC’s upcoming holiday production of The Wiz Live!
Williams beat out hundreds of applicants nationwide who had auditioned to portray Dorothy in The Wiz Live!, a role previously played by Stephanie Mills on Broadway and Diana Ross on the big screen.
Williams has over five years of musical training and has co-starred in several local stage productions, including West Side Story; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; 42nd Street; Seussical; and Pippin.
NBC recently announced several A-list stars set to appear in the live telecast, including Queen Latifah (The Wiz), Mary J. Blige (Evillene) and David Alan Grier (the Cowardly Lion).
Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy in the original Broadway production of The Wiz, will star as Auntie Em.
Williams spoke to theGrio moments after the news of her being cast as Dorothy was announced on NBC’s Today.
“I’m just so thankful, because I feel like this is where I belong, and a lot of girls, they don’t get this experience,” she said. “I’m just thankful to have gotten it.”
Williams later effortlessly belted out lyrics to “Home” from The Wiz.
The Wiz Live! is produced by Universal Television in association with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical and will air on NBC December 3.