As the author of the new “School for Wicked Witches” middle grade series from Scholastic, I’ve been lucky enough to get paid to study up on The Wizard of Oz—both L. Frank Baum’s famous books and the legendary 1939 film. That research has also included a deep dive into “Wicked,” the global-phenomenon musical based on the Gregory Maguire novels revealing the untold backstory behind Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
The new PG-13-rated movie adaptation of “Wicked” opened November 22, and I’ve heard from plenty of young “School for Wicked Witches” readers who absolutely cannot wait to see it. I’ve also heard from more than a few baffled parents looking for Cliff’s Notes on the musical so they can properly share the moment with their kids.
If you’re planning to accompany your young ones to the theater and have never seen the musical or heard “Wicked” songs, I’ve got you covered. The guide below is designed to help you impress your kids with your knowledge of the film’s six key Act 1 hits. So stream or download the Original Broadway Cast Recording, and let’s get studying!
No One Mourns the Wicked
A clear tribute to Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead from “The Wizard of Oz.”
What an opening number! We’re instantly in it with those horns and strings straining to break free and the minor-key basses yanking them down to earth once, twice, before sinking into the anxious overture.
DON’T MISS: Glinda gets cut off by the crowd before she can sing “I” – a crucial bit of character conflict since she knows she’s lying here. Who else gets cut off just before that word? Elphaba, in our next song. Parallelism!
KEYWORD ALERT: What’s the first word of the entire musical? Good. This will be important. Also a certain gentleman sings “and follow me down.” Put a pin in that word, too.
The Wizard and I
Same vibe as Somewhere Over the Rainbow from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Like Dorothy’s main ditty, this is Elphaba’s “I Wish” song, where she tells us all her problems and dares to dream her dreams really could come true. How’s she going to do it? She going to follow advice, work hard, and “make good.” Keyword alert!
DON’T MISS: Elphaba stopping short at “What a pair we’ll be, the Wizard and-” not only parallels Glinda from the opener but leaves the question of who will actually join the Wizard unresolved. Symbolism!
Dancing Through Life & Popular
Think Hakuna Matata from “The Lion King,” Where You Are from “Moana,” or Under the Sea from “The Little Mermaid.”
It’s pure scandal to smash these songs together, I know, but they serve the same role: convincing Elphaba she should want what everyone else wants and be happy with what they give her. After all, her big dream was for all of Oz to love her (translation: social acceptance). Think it’ll stick?
KEYWORD ALERT: Fiyero leads the crowd in a clear direction with “Let’s go down to the Ozdust Ballroom” and “down at the Ozdust” while Glinda starts to claim a certain label with “Here, out of the goodness of my heart.”
One Short Day
Follows in the footsteps of We’re Off to See the Wizard from “The Wizard of Oz.”
This prancy song might not be everyone’s favorite, but I love the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reminder that the Wizard arrived via balloon, a form of flight that’s apparently totally acceptable. Maybe due to its lack of power, purpose, or direction?
KEYWORD ALERT: Giddy with the optimism of conformity, our two fab friends sing “So I’ll be back for good someday,” opening a rich vein of double-meaning foreshadowing.
Defying Gravity
Any animated film fan will recognize this precursor to Let It Go from “Frozen” or How Far I’ll Go from “Moana.”
It’s that song. The song. Elphaba’s declaration of independence.
DON’T MISS: Listen for the ding-dong bells teasing at 2:00 then giving us chills at 4:53. Want the full circle moment? 5:28 brings back the same chords that opened the show, only this time Elphaba is telling her own story.
KEYWORD ALERT: “You can’t pull me down,” “they’ll never bring us down,” and finally, on the very last word of Act 1, setting up Act 2’s conflict, “We’ve got to bring her down!”
Of course, I don’t want to give it all away. Now that you’re in the know for Act 1, I’ll leave it to you to identify the keywords in Act 2 songs Thank Goodness, No Good Deed, and For Good on your own. Sound good? Everyone down? Wicked! See you at the theater.
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