Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige Join Cast of NBC's 'The Wiz'

Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah has been cast in "The Wiz Live!"

Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige — multi-award winners, giants of the recording industry and stars of both the small and big screen — have been added to the cast of NBC’s upcoming holiday musical production of “The Wiz Live!,” set for Thursday, December 3.

Queen Latifah stars as the Wiz, the mysterious and powerful wizard who holds the keys to the Emerald City, but whose metamorphosis from ordinary to extraordinary is itself a hoax. She rose to her lofty position after being transported by accident to Oz in a hot air balloon during a snowstorm.

Mary J. Blige will play Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, who holds sway over the Winkies and the Winged Monkeys that do her bidding. She captures Dorothy and her friends to avenge the unintentional murder of her evil sister, Evvamean, and to get back the powerful silver slippers given to Dorothy by the Good Witch of the North.

The multi-talented Queen Latifah is a Golden Globe, Grammy and Screen Actors Guild Award winner, as well as having earned Emmy and Oscar nominations.