By: Brad Gooch

Opened on October 30 th, 2003 Tells the untold story of the Witch of the West from the well know tale The Wizard Of Oz Takes the audience on a “reverse trip down the yellow brick road,” according to Doctor Brian Howell Wicked is currently the highest earning show on Broadway

The first scene of the show hits the audience with the song “No One Mourns the Wicked,” where the townspeople are celebrating the death of the witch Smack the audience with the story of pain and misunderstanding Listen to “ No One Mourns the Wicked,” here:

Come to find out, the “Witch” has dealt with Death- her mother died while giving birth Medical issues- her sister is in a wheel chair for life Powers- has powers she hasn’t learned to control Isolation- nobody wants to be around her because of her skin. “Like a froggy, ferny cabbage The baby is unnaturally Green!

Like Elphaba, Grendel deals with isolation “But also, as never before, I was alone” –pg 80 “I was sure, going back to my cave (it was nearly dawn), that he wouldn't follow. They never did.” –pg 86 "Why can't I have someone to talk to?" I said. –pg 53

Elphaba goes off to school Her powers are noticed by one of the teachers She gets taken to the Wizard of Oz who then founds over her She has a chance to become the Wizards partner “Once I'm with the Wizard My whole life will change 'Cuz once you're with the Wizard No one thinks you're strange! No father is not proud of you, No sister acts ashamed And all of Oz has to love you When by the Wizard, you're acclaimed” -From the song, “Wizard and I”

All of the sudden bad things begin to happen Who’s to blame? The “Witch” Elphaba is forced to flee She sings the most iconic musical theatre piece of all time called “Defying Gravity” where she decides to become the witch everyone claims she is. Watch the performance of Defying Gravity here:

Grendel decides he is going to become the monster the townspeople claims he is on page 80 “I had become something, as if born again. I had hung between possibilities before, between the cold truths I knew and the heart-sucking conjuring tricks of the Shaper; now that was passed: I was Grendel, Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings! But also, as never before, I was alone.”

From “No One Mourns the Wicked,” you see that everyone looks at Glinda as a beacon of hope She was a friend of Elphaba’s but when Elphie flees on her broom, Glinda stays in the town to act the part of the hero She plays along with the towns story to give them hope and to keep peace within the town They believe Glenda was the one who drove The Wicked Witch away

Beowulf is considered to be the beacon of hope and the banisher of evil for townspeople "Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble. This is no mere hanger-on in a hero's armour." ( in Beowulf)

The audience realizes “The Witch” has a heart Before Elphaba leaves she shares a moment with her only true friend Glinda They share the most heartwarming song called “For Good” Listen to it here: =CQJaZO2nfGg =CQJaZO2nfGg

*Spoilers* The show lead up to this moment The audience thinks she’s dead, the land of Oz thinks she's dead, Glinda thinks she's gone, but in the last few minutes of the show you discover Elphaba hides in the outskirts of the land. She’s alive but stays in hiding so the people can live peacefully

In the end Grendel dies “I will fall. I seem to desire the fall, and though I fight it with all my will I know in advance that I can’t win.” –pg 173 Just like in Wicked, when “the monster” dies the town celebrates and praises the hero who drove them away

In the end of Grendel and Wicked we find that the characters we began hating ended up becoming the good guys all along. People leave the theatre in tears over Elphaba’s story. Wicked continues to perform in the Gershwin theatre on Broadway in New York City and the Wicked tour group will be coming to DPAC in January 2015

For Good. Youtube. N.p., 27 Aug Web. 25 Sept Gardner, John. Grendel. N.p.: Alfred A. Knopf, Print. No One Mourns The Wicked - Wicked. Youtube. N.p., 3 Aug Web. 25 Sept Schwartz, Stephen, composer. Wicked. Perf. Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth Film. Wicked- Defying Gravity Director's Cut. Youtube. N.p., 3 Dec Web. 25 Sept