The Wiz old for the part. However, she contacted Rob Cohen of Universal Pictures, who offered to have them finance the film if she were to play Dorothy, at which point he acquiesced. The resulting film version of "The Wiz" also starred former Motown star Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man, Richard Pryor as the Wizard, jazz singer Thelma Carpenter as Miss One (the name "Addapearle" was not used for this production) and Lena Horne as Glinda. Ted Ross and Mabel King reprised their roles of the Lion and Evillene from the Broadway production. Sidney Lumet served
Michael Lee Jackson Michael Lee Jackson Michael Lee Jackson is an American guitarist, photographer and attorney. He was part of Ian Gillan's backing band on the Deep Purple frontman's US solo tour in August and September 2006. He also performed on guitar and acted as musical director for Gillan's CD/DVD "Gillan's Inn" (2006), "Live in Anaheim" also on CD/DVD (2008), and "One Eye to Morocco" (2009). He has been Gillan's creative manager for solo projects since approximately 2005. In 2010-11, Jackson scored and engineered the sound track to the indie feature film, "The Bad Penny", directed by Todd Bellanca. Jackson also played guitar