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In Living Color alumnus David Alan Grier will play the role of the Cowardly Lion in NBC‘s upcoming musical, The Wiz Live. The veteran actor, who is currently a co-star in an upcoming NBC series, joins Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and Stephanie Mills in a star-studded cast.

Grier, 59, is one of the busier actors from the former Fox sketch comedy and has gone on to play a variety of roles in stage productions, film, and television. Deadline reported on Grier’s casting as has more on the developments.

From Deadline:

Grier’s Broadway credits include Tony noms for The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, The First and Race. He also co-starred in the original production of Dreamgirls. TV viewers know Grier from his long stint on the 1990s sketch-comedy show In Living Color along with regular roles on Bad Teacher and Life With Bonnie. He also has appeared in such features as A Soldier’s Story, Jumanji and The Woodsman.

Executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (The Sound Of Music Live!, Peter Pan Live!), directed by Kenny Leon with Harvey Fierstein providing new written material, The Wiz Live! is the first NBC live musical to be done in collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil Theatrical whose signature styles of visual acrobatics will be used in key scenes, including the tornado and the flying monkeys.

The Wiz Live makes its debut later this year on December 3 on NBC.

Photo: C. Smith/WENN.com