The Wiz: Hit TV Show Stars Set To Join Ashanti For New York Production

As expected, Ashanti won't be the only boldfaced named attached to the newest production of 'The Wiz,' when it opens at New York's City Center next month.

Producers have confirmed that Dawnn Lewis, Orlando Jones, Tichina Arnold and Tony Award winner LaChanze has been cast for the eagerly anticipated production that the former Murda Inc. songstress will play the lead role of Dorothy in.

Jones, who has starred in TV shows such as 'MADtv,' 'Everybody Hates Chris' and his own late night talker, will portray the title role of the production. LaChanze, a theater veteran who won acclaim in the Oprah Winfrey-produced Broadway musical 'The Color Purple,' will play Glinda the Good Witch.

Arnold, who cuts up every week on The CW sitcom 'Everybody Hates Chris,' will take on the role of Evillene, while former 'A Different World' star Lewis will play Addaperle.

Others in the production, which will be helmed by 'In the Heights, director Thomas Kail and his Tony-winning collaborators, Andy Blankenbuehler (choreographer) and Alex Lacamoire (musical director), include Joshua Henry as the Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion and Christian White as the Scarecrow.

As previously reported, Ashanti will make her theatrical debut in this production, which will run June 12-July 5, with an official opening June 18.

The current revival of 'The Wiz' is expected to transfer to Broadway after much anticipation.

Previously starring R&B veteran Stephanie Mills in the original 1974 production, 'The Wiz' is a rock and soul classic musical based on the beloved L. Frank Baum story about Dorothy and her adventures in Oz. Music legend Diana Ross portrayed the role in a glitzy Sidney Lumet-helmed production in 1978, which also starred Lena Horne, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross and Richard Pryor.

TV stars David Alan Grier and Wayne Brady were also attached to previous productions, which played out on the west coast.

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