Full Synopsis

Full Synopsis

Act One

Dorothy is reading a book in front of her uncle's farmhouse. The book tells a fantastic story about a spaceship landing on Mars, and Dorothy laments about how boring it is in Kansas ("Kansas"). Aunt Em enters, inquiring about the book. Dorothy explains that it concerns a young girl's trip to Mars and asks Aunt Em if she's ever wanted to be somewhere different. Aunt Em says that there is just too much to do at home and leaves Dorothy to finish her chores.

Soon after, Uncle Henry calls for Aunt Em, warning her about an impending twister. Unable to find Dorothy, they run to the storm cellar. Dorothy struggles against the wind while searching for Toto, when the cyclone hits and lifts the house into the air. Dorothy is lost.

We are taken to Munchkinland, where Dorothy's house is atop a pair of legs wearing Magic Slippers. Two Munchkins come in and, seeing the legs, realize that the Wicked Witch of the East is dead. The two happily celebrate ("Munchkin Holiday"). Dorothy enters, still looking for Toto. Seeing someone unknown to them, the Munchkins call Glinda for help. Dorothy is just beginning to realize that she is no longer in Kansas when Glinda appears ("Glinda's Hello"). Glinda thanks Dorothy for killing the witch and, despite her objections, insists that she put on the magic slippers, as they now belong to her. She informs Dorothy that they will keep her safe from all harm. Dorothy explains that she is from Kansas and desperately wants to get back home ("Little Girl from Kansas").

Suddenly, the Wicked Witch of the West enters, demanding to know who killed her sister. Glinda tells her that Dorothy accidentally killed her sister with the house ("Who Did It?"). The Wicked Witch threatens Dorothy as she pleads for help ("Little Girl from Kansas – Reprise"). The Witch admits that she should be grateful, for now the magic slippers are hers. She goes to look for them, but Glinda tells her that they are actually Dorothy's and that as long as she is wearing them, the Witch cannot harm her. The Witch tries to grab the shoes, but they burn her, and she swears to have revenge on Dorothy ("Revenge").

After the Witch disappears, Dorothy asks Glinda to help her to find a way home. Glinda suggests that she speak to Oz, the wizard who lives in Emerald City. She explains to Dorothy that she must walk a long way to get there and to find her way by following the road of yellow brick ("So Far So Good"). They bid her goodbye as Dorothy begins her journey.

While Dorothy is dancing along the road, she comes across a Scarecrow. They exchange pleasantries, and he confesses that he is not doing too well, as it is tiresome to be on a pole, scaring crows all day. Dorothy unties him and helps him to stand. Dorothy explains that she is going to the Emerald City to see the wizard, Oz, and to her surprise, he tells her that he's never heard of him. The Scarecrow explains that since his head is stuffed with straw, he doesn't know anything... though he wishes that he did ("No Brain Have I"). Dorothy invites him along to see if Oz can possibly help the Scarecrow. The two set off together ("So Far So Good – Reprise").

As the pair are traveling along the road, they come across the Tin Man's hut, with the Tin Man rusted frozen in front of it. After hearing a strange noise, they approach the Tin Man and are surprised when he asks them through clenched teeth if they would oil his hinges. They do so, and he gratefully asks them how they happened across his path. Dorothy explains where they are going. The Tin Man wonders if Oz could give him a heart ("No Heart Have I"). They invite him along and once again set off ("So Far So Good – Reprise").

A lion suddenly jumps out and roars, pushing over the Scarecrow and scratching the Tin Man. Dorothy orders him to stop, and when he asks her if she's scared, she tells him, "Only a little bit." He starts crying, and Dorothy reprimands him for being a coward and striking two innocent men. The Lion explains that he can't help it ("No Guts Have I"). He tells them that he overheard that they were going to the Emerald City and asks if he can come along to ask Oz for courage. They agree, and the four resume their journey ("Trio Tag End / So Far So Good – Reprise").

The Wicked Witch sees the group. She declares that they will never make it to the Emerald City and calls for her Winged Monkeys to destroy Dorothy and her friends. As the four of them make their way through the forest, a chaotic chase ensues with the Monkeys ("The Chase"). The foursome escapes but head straight into a desert. The Witch casts a spell to intensify the sun's heat. Dorothy, overwhelmed with the heat, takes the slippers off before they all faint. The Witch starts to creep toward the magic slippers, but Glinda comes in and throws snowflakes over Dorothy and her friends. Dorothy wakes up just in time to grab the slippers out of the Witch's reach. The Witch storms off angrily, and Dorothy wakes up her friends. They see a large green city up ahead and realize that they are close to the Emerald City ("So Far So Good – Reprise").

Act Two

Two palace guards and the Secretary of Oz welcome Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion to the Emerald City ("Em'rald City"). The Secretary asks what they're seeking, but when Dorothy tells him that they want to see Oz, he warns that Oz is so powerful and terrible that he might destroy them if he thinks that their requests are foolish. They assure him that they've arrived because of serious matters, and the Secretary leaves to find Oz. The gates part, revealing the throne room. The friends hear the voice of Oz, demanding to know why they are there. First Dorothy, then the Scarecrow, then the Tin Man and finally the Lion tell Oz who they are and what they need. Oz replies that if they expect him to do such favors, they must do something for him first. He commands them to kill the Wicked Witch of the West. Unless they do this, he will not help them. Dorothy and her friends are distraught, but he insists, and they decide that there is nothing else that they can do but destroy the Witch. As they are leaving, she asks the Secretary how to find the Witch, who explains that there is no road to her dungeon. Simply by entering her domain, she will know that they are there and will enslave them in her castle. The four timidly leave on their new quest ("So Far So Good – Reprise").

In the dungeon of the Wicked Witch's castle, the Monkeys inform her that Dorothy and friends are nearby. The Witch tries to think of ways to prepare for them, since she cannot harm the girl, due to the slippers. She comes up with the idea to boil them into a stew and prepares a large cauldron with all of the ingredients ("Wicked Witch Stew").

Finally, the foursome arrive at the castle but are captured immediately by the Witch. She grabs the Lion and threatens to boil him unless Dorothy hands over the slippers. Realizing that she has no choice, Dorothy removes the slippers and sets them on the ground. As the Witch goes to pick them up, Dorothy runs over to the Lion and helps him upend the cauldron on the Witch. She begins to melt, because of the hot water inside, and accuses Dorothy of knowing that she would melt. Dorothy apologizes and says that she didn't, but the Wicked Witch is soon gone. The four celebrate and return to the Emerald City ("So Far So Good – Reprise").

Once back in front of Oz, he is surprised to hear that they were successful. He tells them that he needs another day to consider his end of the bargain, but the others refuse to leave. The Scarecrow has an idea and removes a panel in the room, revealing the Secretary speaking into a microphone. The Secretary confesses that he is not really a wizard, but rather, a hot-air balloonist from a circus in Omaha, Nebraska; he lost his way when when he got caught in a storm in his balloon. The balloon happened to land in the Emerald City. With no way to get home, he felt as if he had no choice but to stay and pretend to be a magical wizard. He decides to try to help them out. He tells the Scarecrow that he has had a brain all along, he just couldn't think because he was wearing the wrong hat. Instead, he gives him a thinking cap – a colorful clown hat he still has from the circus. Next, he tells the Tin Man that a heart will bring him unhappiness, but the Tin Man insists. So, Oz gives him a heart-shaped Valentine that he received from a loved one long ago and pins it to the Tin Man's chest, so that everyone can see. Then, for the Lion, he gives him a bottle of Dr. Miracle's Nerve Tonic that they used to sell at the circus. The Lion takes a sip and is overcome with courage.

As for Dorothy, Oz confesses that she is the only one whom he cannot help, since he can't even return home to Nebraska, himself. Just then, Glinda arrives and tells Dorothy that after the Wicked Witch's demise, she went to her castle and found her spell book. The book contained the secret of the slippers, which could carry Dorothy anywhere in the world. Dorothy simply has to click her heels three times and command the slippers to take her home. She says a teary goodbye to all of her friends, then clicks her heels together to return to Kansas at long last.

As the Emerald City dissolves around her, Dorothy falls to the ground. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry arrive with Toto, happy to see that she hadn't been hurt in the storm. Dorothy expresses how relieved she is finally to be home ("Finale").