The actress, who portrayed Dorothy in the original 1975 Broadway production of the show, will play Auntie Em in The Wiz Live!

Bosses at NBC network are launching a nationwide search for a young girl to play Dorothy in the production, which will air on TV later this year (15) before transferring to Broadway.

The 1975 Broadway production, which won seven Tony Awards, was adapted into a 1978 film starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Richard Pryor.