Wicked 2024

The citizens of the Land of Oz are celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda the Good then appears and tells the wicked witch’s backstory: her mother had an affair with a traveling salesman while her father, the Governor of Munchkinland, was away. She gave birth to a daughter with green skin, whom her father rejected at birth, cursing her for having a troubled childhood (“No One Mourns the Wicked”). When a man asks Glinda if it is true that she is Elphaba’s friend, Glinda begins to reminisce about their past.

Many years earlier, Elphaba Thropp arrives at Shiz University with her younger sister, Nessarose (“Dear Old Shiz”), who is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair. The school’s headmistress, Madame Morrible, assigns shy and nerdy Elphaba to share a dorm with bubbly and popular Galinda Upland. Worried about being separated from her sister, Elphaba uses magic to pull back Nessarose’s wheelchair after Madame Morrible attempts to depart with her. Recognizing Elphaba’s potential, Madame Morrible decides to privately tutor her in sorcery. She also says that Elphaba has a chance to work with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, something which she has dreamed of her whole life (“The Wizard and I”).

Galinda is disdainful towards Elphaba, and Elphaba grows to loathe her just as much; they clash with each other constantly (“What Is This Feeling?”). In a history class taught by Doctor Dillamond, the only Animal professor at Shiz, he begins to suffer from discrimination, even from the students. Dillamond informs Elphaba of a conspiracy to stop all Animals from speaking. Elphaba vows that if she ever meets the Wizard, she will inform him of the conspiracy and help him stop it (“Something Bad”).

Meanwhile, a roguish prince, Fiyero, begins attending Shiz. Galinda is charmed by Fiyero’s good looks and shallow philosophy. Fiyero arranges a party for his fellow students. Boq, a Munchkin who has a crush on Galinda, tries to invite her as his date, who in turn convinces him to instead invite Nessarose out of pity, leaving her free to go with Fiyero. Nessarose becomes enamored with Boq and tells Elphaba to thank Galinda for her “help”. At the party, Madame Morrible stops by to tell Galinda that Elphaba had asked her to admit Galinda into her sorcery class. Elphaba arrives, wearing a hat that Galinda gave her as a practical joke; the other students laugh at her. Galinda has a change of heart and decides to dance with Elphaba, and soon everyone joins them, finally allowing the girls to bond (“Dancing Through Life”).

In their room, Galinda decides to give Elphaba a makeover (“Popular”). The next day, Dr. Dillamond tells the class that he is leaving Shiz because he is no longer permitted to teach. Elphaba is the only student who objects. A human professor introduces the students to the technical advantages of “the cage”, which is designed to prevent any animal from speaking. Elphaba refuses to contain her anger, and, in the ensuing chaos, she escapes alongside Fiyero, taking with them the lion cub that was imprisoned within the cage. Elphaba and Fiyero share a private moment; he then leaves. Elphaba laments that Fiyero could never love her as much as he loves Galinda (“I’m Not That Girl”). Madame Morrible arrives and tells Elphaba that the Wizard wants to meet her. Boq, Nessarose, Fiyero, and Galinda say goodbye to Elphaba at the train station. Galinda tries to impress Fiyero by changing her name to Dr. Dillamond’s pronunciation of her name, “Glinda”, in solidarity with Dillamond, but Fiyero barely notices as he says goodbye to Elphaba. Elphaba invites Glinda to go with her to the Emerald City (“One Short Day”).

Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard of Oz, who is not as scary as they expected (“A Sentimental Man”). He promises to grant Elphaba’s request if she proves herself. Madame Morrible appears and explains she is the Wizard’s new press secretary. She gives Elphaba the Grimmerie, a book of spells only the magically gifted can read. Elphaba is then asked to perform a levitation spell on the Wizard’s monkey servant, Chistery. Her attempt allows him to fly, but only by making him painfully sprout wings. Elphaba discovers that the Wizard is behind the suppression of the Animals and that he is a fraud who uses simple parlor tricks and lies to stay in power. Shocked, she flees his chamber and Madame Morrible spreads a message throughout Oz that Elphaba is a wicked witch who cannot be trusted. Glinda finds Elphaba and begs her to go back and apologize; Elphaba refuses and declares she must do what is right. She offers to take Glinda with her. Glinda declines but decides to secretly support Elphaba, who repeats the levitation spell on a broom and flies away from the Emerald City, leaving Glinda behind (“Defying Gravity”).