Nichelle Lewis is following in the footsteps of Stephanie Mills and Diana Ross after being cast as the new Dorothy for the Broadway-bound revival of “The Wiz.” According to The Associated Press, Lewis will make her Broadway debut next year after starring in the national touring show this fall.
“It’s been a pretty crazy journey,” she told The Associated Press. “I’m honored to be making my debut as Dorothy. I know I’m following in some really big footsteps.”
Later, Lewis revealed the good news on her Instagram.
“The moment you have all been waiting for…our Dorothy, Nichelle Lewis ✨,” she wrote.
A Little Help From TikTok
Like most rising stars, Lewis uses her TikTok account to share her voice. She posted a cover of “Home” from “The Wiz.” Those social media performances caught the show’s casting agent’s attention who invited Lewis to audition.
“If you’re going through something, know you are never alone and don’t let anything or anyone kill your beautiful spirit,” she wrote.
“I’m so excited that this is a part of my story, because I feel like there’s so many people out there who started out with such a small following and I feel like they’re hard on themselves about it,” she added. “But I’m like, ‘You never know who’s watching those videos.’ I never knew that ‘The Wiz’ was looking at my videos.”
About ‘The Wiz’
“The Wiz” is an adaptation of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum. Lewis explained that she and Dorothy have much in common as they are both on a journey toward self-discovery.
The tour kicks off in Baltimore and goes to Broadway in 2024. Cast members joining Lewis are Wayne Brady and Alan Mingo Jr., sharing the role of the Wiz; Deborah Cox as Glinda; Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion; Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tin Man; and Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow.
About Nichelle Lewis
Lewis grew up in Virginia and graduated from Molloy University in 2021. She appeared in the most recent season of “American Idol.” She won a Golden Ticket but didn’t progress past the Hollywood round. Lewis also toured in “Hairspray.”