This would have been the time to gracefully and graciously let Stephanie do Stephanie. I could not have in good conscience played the role in the movie. Stephanie more than earned the opportunity plus she was younger and more believable in the role (in my opinion).
@@j.bennette3390 that's because Diana Ross was a self-centered diva and went "behind the scenes" to get the part. Berry Gordy originally wanted Stephanie Mills for the part but Diana Ross insisted she get the part. She was too old. She should have played Auntie Em....
is anyone else crying? when she sings "So it's real, Real REAAALLL!" ah! touches my heart. "A world full of love, like yours like mine, like HOOOME!" absolutely amazing.
Considering she was a 4'9 powerhouse and less than 20 years old ...LIVE performance with no editing, no redo's..no sound engineering cover ups....AND SHE SOUNDS THIS DARN GOOD....she set the template for the much older Diana Ross to sing in the movie version which could be edited to fix mistakes et al, BUT Ms. Stephanie KILLS this song in all her versions and owns it with no apologies and a mic drop!!@
@@UmmOopsy Diana didn't sing live she recorded her songs in studio then during the movie she lipped along to the songs. not uncommon in movie musicals but yeah
Saw this twice during a high school trip to NYC from DC. We could go to another show, but the group decided to see this one again. The whole thing was incredible, but this finale made us crazy. The audience went wild at the end. I still listen to it and am so moved. It is one of the highlights of my life. Really.
"The Wiz" on Broadway at the Majestic Theater was the greatest theatrical experience in my life, and I've seen it all. It was the most innovative show of the 70's, and Stephanie Mills gave a dynamic and authentic performance which has never been matched. "The WIz" really was a wow.
I saw the original cast as well - and it was my first Broadway musical. I was blown away. Wonderful cast. Mills was unbelievable. And the tornado -staged so creatively - was also memorable and made for an incredibly powerful and moving scene.
Stephanie Mills OWNS this song & the role of Dorothy in The Wiz, all of the Diana Rosses notwithstanding! Nobody has sang this song better than Ms. Mills. NOBODY.
I have no problem accepting people. I'm having a dialogue with you, aren't I. I've heard Whitney & many others, amateur & professional, do this song. I still maintain that Stephanie Mills owns this tune. That's my opinion. You're not entitled to one. (Jus' kidding)
soon ill be :D but i see Whitney's home at Merv GriffinShow (ONLY, and NOT her other performance of this song) was much better than this one :p so calm down now and don't eat me alive cause it's just my opinion :p
Oh, my good Christ... This made me cry and applaud. I've heard Stephanie's pop version of this song, but never listened to this version until today. I'm at home clapping, smiling and crying. Simply beautiful....
I heard this version for the first time yesterday and have been in tears ever since. This just gave me my. got. damn. LIFE! Flawless. Simply flawless. And yes, that heffa DIANE stole this role. But then she always did like other people's things. And men.
It's true that Berry Gordy was dead set against the idea of Diana Ross making this film. After all he was only invested in things he believed would guarantee Diana's success therefore ensuring his own.( MONEY) . Producer Rob Cohen talked to the executives of The Wiz about casting Diana as Dorothy, suddenly the idea of having the biggest black female entertainer attached to the film seemed pretty profitable. Berry though was still not convinced until the studio offered to pay Diana Ross a million dollars to star in it( that was unheard of for a black actress to be paid that much at that time). Berry relented and gave the go ahead to make the film with Diana, but this was the first Ross film project he had absolutely nothing to do with.
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member, @Gayle Turner, about the night @Stephanie Mills got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/ Also other fascinating stories from Broadway, TV, Film & Music! Including Ledisi, Dawnn Lewis & Angela Robinson!
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member about the night Stephanie got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/ Also other fascinating stories from Broadway, TV, Film & Music!
I think of is this way: The movie most likely would have been just as joyless and hideously misinterpreted as it was even if Stephanie Mills had been in it, so it's actually a good thing she wasn't. ♥
Diana didn't cheated her out of the movie, since in fact, Stephanie Mills has stated various times she was never call or contacted to be in the movie, Berry Gordy didn't want Diana because she was to old, but he either wanted Stephanie Mills as he never contacted or call her for the part.
I was 13 years old and for some reason my mom didn’t have any issue with my taking the train into New York City all on my own to go to the see this play and I was blown away. I loved it she’s amazing I love Stephanie Mills.
Diana Ross sings this song, but Stephanie mills live this song, she rockd this song She is this song, and this song is her. I will have the pleasure of seeing her sing this song tomorrow night at Dr Martin Luther King summer concert series at Wingate Park in Brooklyn New York. and if I'm so lucky I will get on the stage and sing this song with her.
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member about the night Stephanie got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/ Also other fascinating stories from Broadway, TV, Film & Music!
ermm... I have to step in and say that Ross, while a great talent, strong armed Gordy and went above his head to convince Universal to push Mills out of the movie production at almost the last minute. So, yeah, it wasn't Gordy that deserves all the credit in this case, but I would have wanted to know how Mills could do in the role. Also, thanks to Joel Schumacher and Ross, the whole movie had this odd tone to it that the musical never had. Ross is a Motown idol, just not a Broadway singer.
Priceless recording. Thanks for the upload. I've loved her from day 1. Saw this show in Boston ages ago. I still want to see it over and over again. I get chills listening to Stephanie. She is a phenom...truly evidence of God Himself! We love you Ms. Mills and thank you for your gifts.
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member, @Gayle Turner, about the night @Stephanie Mills got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/ Also other fascinating stories from Broadway, TV, Film & Music! Including Ledisi, Dawnn Lewis & Angela Robinson!
My childhood was definitely brightened by the movie. It was shown annually just like the original Wizard of Oz. This was before cable and before most of us had VCRs so it was an EVENT for us every year when it came on. I admit hindsight affords us the opportunity to compare the two but as a kid the movie was all I knew...BUT STEPHANIE MILLS is DOROTHY...I know that now. :-)
The Film 'The Wiz' was flat out awful because the play was simply fantastic. They should have let Stephanie play Dorothy in the film because Diana Ross 's Dorothy was too old and critics jumped on that when they reviewed the film. Stephanie's version of 'Home' will never be matched!
+2004mojo Diana stole the part from Stephanie. Diana asked Berry Gordy, who had acquired the film rights and had already signed Mills to play the part, if she could play the part of Dorothy. He said no, feeling she was too old. She then went to Universal Pictures and got financing from them on the condition that she would play the part instead. Berry Gordy gave in. I love Diana, but what a BITCH. Show less
+Neil Saiontz You can twist it how you want but that was a scandalous, triflin', bitch made move on the part of "Miss Thing" (as Patti Labelle called her ). She was so obsessed with being "the one" to play Dorothy that she was willing to buy the role from under Stephanie Mills, at that time a rising star. She was a horrible Dorothy. She could barley hit some of the notes that Stephanie Mills hit EFFORTLESSLY. And God doesn't like ugly which is in part why the movie FLOPPED.
I was there for her performance in 1975 and everytime she sang I cried. Yes, she sang and it was awesome. I had never heard of Stephanie Mills at that time, I was just going a class trip to see what they called The Wiz. I still remember it as if it were yesterday. God has blessed this woman with some awesome vocal cords. She also made a gospel tape that I used during my prison ministry years later that brought many young ladies to Christ.
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member, @Gayle Turner, about the night @Stephanie Mills got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/ Also other fascinating stories from Broadway, TV, Film & Music! Including Ledisi, Dawnn Lewis & Angela Robinson!
This is beautiful! I sometimes think about how "The Wiz" would've been a critically-acclaimed classic w/Stephanie Mills as 'Dorothy' instead of Diana Ross. Now, don't get me wrong; I ADORE Diana. She's one of my top favorite female singers. But she was all wrong for the part. The movie would've gone into the stratosphere with Stephanie as the lead. Ah well. Who thinks that a big-budget Hollywood remake w/Keke Palmer as 'Dorothy' would be AMAZING?
The Broadway version of The Wiz was magical in every way...it's so overdued to come back to Broadway in revival....if cast correctly and kept true to the original concept, it would win the Tony ! Stephanie and the entire cast were brilliant !
I don't know why people are so aggressive about the film. It's adorable in its own right. It was not based on the broadway. It was supposed to be more related to the film. Sidestepping all this horrible criticism about Diana Ross (who I loved for the fragile character she played), I would not have heard this awesome video if not for that cult classic. It's amazing to see how far this story has come.
+OSKARTGROUCH I thought Diana Ross was full of emotion. I just about cry each time I hear Home. People are just bias if you ask me. Each performance has its own strengths.
Stephanie Mills should have played Dorothy in The Wiz. Sorry but Diana Ross just DID NOT CUT IT. I mean, listen to the power in Ms. Mill's voice. Unbelievable.
saw her when i was four years old in Long Beach Ca. She was so little but such a powerful Dorthy!!!!!! Love her! Best Dorthy ever!! So blessed to see her live back then!
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member about the night Stephanie got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/ Also other fascinating stories from Broadway, TV, Film & Music!
I had this sdtrk.....played it to death I remember seeing the Wiz twice on B"way & the movie twice in theatres.....BOTH are classics. Stephanie is always our Dorothy (sorry Diana). I love The Wizard of Oz BUT, the Black Excellence of The Wiz is on a whole nother level.....It just Hits different ❤❤❤😊😊😊😊
I’m watching The New Divas: Live in Vienna on PBS. This singer named Shelea’ just song Home from The Wiz ( Broadway/ Stephaine Mills version) It gave me goosebumps!! She was amazing❤️❤️❤️. I can’t find a recording of it anywhere! Ugh!! I don’t think you can get it unless you make a large donation to PBS!
Yeah, MJ and DR and company needed a comeback and tried to steal and erase Stephanie Mills memory. Goes to show no matter how much $$$, name dropping, fame and fortune CANNOT stand against what God anointed and ordained. Give Ms Mills her due.
@eagleswing44 Personally I thought Micheal Jackson and Ted Ross were good in it, but yeah I agree Diana Ross was a little too old for that role. It should have been Stephanie in the movie version or Janet Jackson or somebody younger and unknown as Dorthy, not a 35 year old woman! Lol!!
Well Berry Gordy, wanted her for the movie, but Diana Ross wanted therole, but he declined the offer, so she decided to finance it, then she was casted
I was a little girl and colored folks were on Broadway. Stephanie Mills had not had a nose job yet. Also I want to give a shout out to aunt Blanch who took me to see this wonderful show.
+Dorothy Hubbard (Sonnie) I'm white and was taken to see this show in Chicago by my teacher and friend, who was black, when I was 8 years old. I remember too, the way I felt seeing that beautiful production and hearing those fabulous songs, though Stephanie wasn't in the production I saw. I get your point.
After the first time I saw her in this, every time I went to NY, this was always the first show I would see. I saw her 7 times on Broadway. She was AMAZING! there are no words...
@stylistguy13 Stephanie Mills wasn't Dorothy for 2 reasons. Berry Gordy (producer) didn't think she was pretty enough - too short and "dark". Wrong but true. We were PISSED but he was "old school" and called the shots. Also, Diana was his "girl". He promoted her always for everything. History proved him WRONG. An old, tall Dorothy was stupid & the movie flopped. Even Michael's BRILLIANT Scarecrow couldn't save it.
@Crp75 Diana Ross told Stephanie Mills that she was her friend and that she really didn't need to be in the movie. She actually pretended to be her friend and stole the role from her. And everyone allowed it to happen to this young woman. Dianna will never be Stephanie and the movie was awful as a result.
@shutyourpiehole Not exactly true. Diana was 33 y.o. and Berry wanted Stephanie and told Diana that she was too old for the role. Diana went around Gordy and convinced executive producer Rob Cohen at Universal Pictures to arrange a deal where he would produce the film if Ross was cast as Dorothy. Gordy and Cohen agreed to the deal. Yes MJ was BRILLiANT !!
@JhomasE The movie "The Wiz" was a disaster financially and critically. The only one who got good acclaim was Lena Horn as Glinda. Berry Gordy knew nothing about making movies and should have left that to Hollywood. Dorothy should be played by a young girl as it was originally intended in the book by L. Frank Baum.
@stylistguy13 ...SHE was cast because she was screwed Barry and was use to asking him to put her first for anybody else. Ohhh ...and had his baby. She was too too OLD FOR THE PART PERIOD! AND YESSSS SHE KILLED THAT PART!!
@stylistguy13 It was because the powers that be thought they needed someone more famous than Stephanie at the time. Believe me their were people like me who thought it was a travesty that they used Diana instead of Stephanie
She was suppose too, but Diana Ross really wanted the role, but Berry Gordy declined her at first because she was to old, so Diana Ross got a deal with Universal and got Michale Jackson casted, so he choosed her instead.
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member about the night Stephanie got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/
I was a little, little kid when I saw it, and I remember being frightened because I was sitting close to one of the sparklers on the wall in the auditorium. When the Wizard sang "So you wanted to meet...", the sparkler went off to simulate the lightning right by my head. Startled the !@&# out of me. Great memory though.
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member about the night Stephanie got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/
I was INCREDIBLY blessed to see this performance, standing in the back with Andrew, my high school classmate, who worked for the Amsterdam News at the time. She was, and still is, a powerhouse. It was amazing. My dear friend who just passed auditioned for that role to replace Ms. Mills. So I got to meet Ella Mitchell and be privy to fabulous Broadway as a teenager. Andrew if you’re reading this hiiii!!!!
In reading the comments below a poster thought Diana Ross was 24 in 1978? Add 10 yrs to that. She was 34 that year so she was 33 when 'The Wiz' was filming.
Nobody, but NOBODY sings this song like Stephanie Mills. While it's a treat to hear a live recording from back then, I wish she had kept a lid on the song until that final note.
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member, @Gayle Turner, about the night @Stephanie Mills got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/ Also other fascinating stories from Broadway, TV, Film & Music!
Stephanie should of got the role hands down. The business is so messed up. Diana is not the better singer and she was too tall. She only got it because she was sleeping with Berry Gordy. Its a shame.
The Wiz on Broadway celebrates its 45th anniversary this week! Check out a GREAT Showbiz Story story from an original cast member, @Gayle Turner, about the night @Stephanie Mills got sick! showbizstories.com/story/a-broadway-understudys-dream-come-true/ Also other fascinating stories from Broadway, TV, Film & Music! Including Ledisi, Dawnn Lewis & Angela Robinson!
@jytype616 Diana got it because she talked Berry Gordy into it. I do like Diana in the movie. She did great. Her reasoning was that Dorothy was "ageless". She did well but I don't buy that excuse. LOL. They changed the age to 24 to make it more convincing but Diane still seemed older (she was really 33 at the time). If I were Diane, I would have let that young girl (Stephanie) have her moment with the film. This is Stephanie's category and was probably bummed when she didn't get the role
Too each his own. I didn't compare it to The Wizard of Oz or to either the stage or movie versions of the Wiz. I took it for what it was and enjoyed it was. I thought the music was cool, and Home still makes me feel warm, no matter who sings it. I thought it was a nice production.
LOL It's OKAY... Stephanie was cool with it! Diana had the name and it was GROUNDBREAKING at that time to do a movie version. Stephanie was on the set EVERYDAY with Michael and was a part of the process. Steph told me that she was hip to the politics of it all and it didn't bother her at all. It would have been nice to see Stephanie EAT this up in the movie...but it's cool.......
@musicbabylove1 Well Diana Ross called Berry Gordy @ 5am in the morning and insisted that she play Dorothy and promised to bring Michael Jackson in if she got the part. The original director was fired because he strongly disagreed with Diana playing the role. I love Diana in the part but if you ask me, they should have stuck to the original plan and let Stephanie play Dorothy. She was 20 at the time and she was perfect height wise. Diana was a 24 y/o Dorothy but still look older than that.
