All About the Plot
As the overture ends, DOROTHY rushes in, troubled by and encounter with MISS GULCH. AUNT EM, UNCLE HENRY and the three farmhands- HICKORY, ZEKE, and HUNK- are too busy to truly listen to Dorothy’s rantings. Aunt Em dismisses Dorothy, who begins to daydream of a place where there “isn’t any trouble” (Over the Rainbow). Miss Gulch rides in on her bicycle which an order from the sheriff to take TOTO away from Dorothy. Not wanting to go against the law, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry oblige and hand over the dog to Miss Gulch. Dorothy sulks off and finds herself near the roadside encampment of PROFESSOR MARVEL, a psychic.
Toto runs on, having escaped from Miss Gulch, and Dorothy decides that she will run away in order to protect her dog. Professor Marvel overhears and intervenes, conjuring “images” in his crystal ball that send Dorothy running back home. Back on the farm, Uncle Henry, Aunt Em and the farmhands are in a frenzy preparing for the coming tornado. They rush to the storm cellar, concerned for Dorothy who enters the empty house in search of Aunt Em. Before Dorothy can find anyone, she realizes that the house is in the air. Many images fly by Dorothy and Toto, the most disturbing of which is Miss Gulch on her bicycle, who transforms into a cackling witch on a broomstick in midair.
The storm ends as abruptly as to began, and Dorothy and Toto enter a vivid Technicolor world, very aware that they are “not in Kansas anymore.” They are greeted by GLINDA, who tries to make sense out of this extraordinary situation. Reassured of their safety, the MUNCHKINS come out of hiding. Everyone recounts the events that brought Dorothy to Munchkinland and rejoices at the death of the WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST (Munchkinland Musical Sequence- Parts 1 and 2). The joyous celebration is interrupted by the arrival of the WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST, who has come for vengeance. Glinda transfers the ruby slippers from the Witch of the East to Dorothy’s feet. The Witch of the West is infuriated and vows to get those slippers from Dorothy, no matter what it takes.
With the Wicked Witch’s exit, Glinda suggests that Dorothy find her way out of Oz from her own safety. Dorothy heads off down the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City in search of the WIZARD OF OZ’s help (Yellow Brick Road). Soon the road splits into two directions, and while trying to decide which way to go, Dorothy meets a SCARECROW with a problem (If I Only Had a Brain). The Scarecrow joins Dorothy on her journey to get help from the Wizard (We’re Off to See the Wizard Duet). Soon the pair discovers a TIN MAN standing in the woods. With help from Dorothy, the Scarecrow and a nearby oilcan, the rusted Tin Man is soon moving, talking and sharing his troubles (If I Only Had a Heart). As Dorothy and Scarecrow try to convince Tin Man to join them on their quest for the Wizard, the Wicked Witch of the West enters and makes threats on all of them. This is all the convincing the Tin Man needs, and the new friends head off on their way to Oz (We’re Off to See the Wizard Trio).
The group wanders into a dark forest and encounters a LION, who at first seems ferocious, but he soon shows his true colors and shares his tale of woe before joining the others on the journey to Emerald City (If I Only Had the Nerve). The Wicked Witch has a new plan for getting the slippers and sends the JITTERBUGS to make Dorothy dance until the shoes fall from her feet (Jitterbug). The plan fails, and Dorothy, Toto and their new friends find themselves at the gates of the Emerald City (Optimistic Voices/The Merry Old Land of of Oz). The Wicked Witch soon arrives in the Emerald City demanding that the residents turn Dorothy over to her. The OZIANS protect Dorothy, and the Wicked Witch leaves. While waiting for the GUARD to announce their presence to the Wizard, the friends fantasize about what life will be like after their wishes are granted. The Lion gets particularly carried away (If I Were King of the Forest).
