Wicked Reading & Writing
The year that novelist Gregory Maguire published his reimagining of the Land of Oz entitled Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.
What is 1995?
A green-skinned student learns to remain steadfast in her beliefs, even when faced with obstacles like betrayal and societal rejection, and she soars higher than before.
A strong-willed, green skinned, young woman. The heroine (or villain) of Wicked, depending on how you see it.
Who is Elphaba?
The opening scene and the final scene of the Wicked Broadway musical take place at the same moment in time, where the citizens of Oz are celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba). The song is called "No One Mourns the Wicked" but you will notice throughout the show that maybe this character really does mourn the Wicked.
Who is G(a)linda?
When Winnie Holzman created the story for the Wicked musical, she gave this "popular" and "pink" character a much more featured role than she has in the book.
Who is Galinda?
A trio of snout-nosed animals learn that working hard on a project is a good idea and usually pays off in the end.
What is The Three Little Pigs
An ambitious, spoiled and popular student at Shiz University who loves pink.
Who is Galinda?
Although the first and last scenes in Wicked take place at the same time as the end of The Wizard of Oz, most of the Wicked musical is actually this, meaning a scene in a movie, play or novel set in an earlier time.
What is a flashback?
In 1995, composer/lyricist Stephen Schwarz and screenplay writer Winnie Holzman contacted producer Mark Platt who had been working with Universal Studios on a Wicked movie. Together the three decided that instead of a play or movie, Wicked would be best as this.
What is a musical?
This Fairy Tale character learned to be careful who she trusted after she had a howling experience with a furry forest animal.
Who is Little Red Riding Hood?
The Headmistress of Shiz University whose name happens to rhyme with "horrible." Do we think she's a good guy?
Who is Madame Morrible
Some have called Wicked a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, but USA Today says it is more accurately described as this or a type of story that the early stages of a person, place, or thing.
What is an origin story?
In his Wicked novel, Gregory Maguire named the main character "Elphaba," as a tribute to this author, the original creator of the The Wizard of Oz.
This fairy tale teaches to be wary of vanity when the royal main character ends up naked and outsmarted.
What is The Emperor's New Clothes?
A self absorbed, shallow prince who arrives at Shiz university and causes a stir. But is he really shallow?
Who is Fiyero?
When we see Glinda at the beginning of Wicked in her bubble, she is announcing to fellow Ozians that The Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) is dead. Who does she say is responsible for Elphaba's death?
Who is Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz)? She melted Elphaba by throwing a bucket of water on her.
This composer and lyricist for Wicked said "I like to take familiar stories or characters and look at them in a different way."
Who is Stephen Schwarz?
The lesson in this fairy tale is that no one believes a liar, even when he speaks the truth.
What is The Boy Who Cried Wolf?
The celebrated head of Oz who uses Elphaba for her magic and talent.
Who is The Wizard of Oz?
During the second act of Wicked, we see a house that has fallen on Elphaba's sister, Nessa Rose, and her Ruby slippers peeking out from under the house. We also see a cornfield and a yellow brick road. This scene may look familiar because it also took place in The Wizard of Oz. When this happens in The Wizard of Oz, all of the munchkins rejoice, singing "Ding Dong, the witch is dead!" Wicked explains this by saying that Elphaba's sister had become such a cruel and hated leader that the people in Oz named her this.
What is The Wicked Witch of the East?