Wicked is based on the novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire. Although the themes of the novel and musical are the same, there are several plot changes in the musical that were built on questions left unanswered in the book. Wicked is the story of a misunderstood girl with green skin. Her name is Elphaba (the name is derived from the name L. Frank Baum, the original author of the Wizard of Oz), and she will grow up to become the famed and fabled Wicked Witch of the West. But just who was the Wicked Witch? This is the central question that Wicked strives to answer.
The musical starts at the end of The Wizard of Oz, after Elphaba has been melted. There are frequent references to The Wizard of Oz throughout the show, but unfortunately for fans of Ms. Garland, Dorothy never appears. Through Glinda's eyes, after being asked about the life of the Witch, we delve into the backstory of the Wicked Witch's life.
Glinda (then Galinda) of the UPPER Uplands, mind you, and Elphaba meet at Shiz University. They are polar opposites, yet Galinda inadverdently offers to share her room. Galinda is concerned with social lives, fashion, and herself. Elphaba couldn't care less about herself but is more concerned with equal rights and equality, as is one of the professors at Shiz, a Goat named Doctor Dillamond. Dillamond warns Elphaba of the dangers in Oz. A new student arrives at Shiz, named Fiyero, a braindead, shallow, superficial hunk. Galinda immediately falls in love with this man who seems absolutely perfect for her. Afterwards, Galinda and Elphaba unexpectedly become friends due to a new understanding of each other. It just happens that Elphaba falls in love with Fiyero as well. Elphaba is then invited to an audience with the Wizard himself
