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Common and Ne-Yo will star in NBC’s upcoming live musical production of The Wiz.
The network announced on Thursday that Ne-Yo will play the Tin Man, “who was once a flesh-and-blood woodsman but a spell put on him by the Wicked Witch causes him to lose his limbs and heart.” Common will portray the Bouncer, “a gatekeeper of the entrance to Emerald City who is out to get what he can from Dorothy and her three friends.”
While this will mark their first time starring in a musical, both stars have previous experience in acting — Common has starred in American Gangster, Terminator Salvation, and New Year’s Eve while Ne-Yo has appeared in the films Stomp the Yard and Red Tails.
The entertainers join Queen Latifah, who will portray The Wiz; Mary J. Blige, who’s playing The Wicked Witch of the West and David Alan Grier, who recently scored the role of The Cowardly Lion. Newcomer Shanice Williams will play Dorothy.
The Wiz Live! will air on NBC Thursday, December 3.
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