Wicked: Part One and Wicked: For Good are movies based on a play (Wicked,) based on a book (Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire,) based on a movie (The Wizard of Oz,) based on a book (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.) There is a lot of lore to the Land of Oz! If you also cannot stop singing along to the Wicked: For Good soundtrack, check out these recommendations!
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
This is where it all started- with Dorothy (and Toto) being swept away to Oz! In this book, readers were invited into a fantastical new world and introduced to characters that have been beloved ever since.
When Dorothy steps into Oz, a new world is opened up to both Dorothy and movie goers because of its use of Technicolor. Though not the first use of the filming technique, it is an early and prime example of Technicolor. Oz is brought to life in vivid hues- and songs- for audiences to enjoy.
You know the world he created and the characters he imagined but who was L. Frank Baum? American Oz tells the story of the prolific author and is available to watch on Kanopy with your library card.
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
“Are people born wicked or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”
In Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Maguire tells the Wicked Witch’s story starting with her name: Elphaba Thropp. Readers discover how Elphaba became the infamous Wicked Witch. Although this is the source material for the stage show and movies, the vibe is much darker.
Wicked: A New Musical: Original Broadway Cast Recording
When Wicked premiered on Broadway in 2003. The reception was lukewarm to say the least, but the show eventually went on to become one of the most iconic shows on Broadway! Stephen Schwarts brilliantly composed the soundtrack to tell the story of how Elphaba Thropp became the Wicked Witch. Wicked is currently one of the longest running shows on Broadway. Wicked: Part One encompasses Act One while Wicked: For Good encompasses Act Two (and two original songs.)
Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship by Kayleen Schafer
When very first introduced to Galinda (not yet Glinda) and Elphaba, the two quite literally loathe each other- they even sing a whole song about it. But the two become the best of friends. Text Me When You Get Home is an exploration and ode to female friendship. Schafer explore the importance of close female friendship in a historic and modern context incorporating many pop culture references. Glinda and Elphaba would definitely agree that their friendship changed them for good.
Emma by Jane Austen
Emma Woodhouse is- on the surface- spoiled and self-centered but she means well. In the beginning of Wicked Part One, Galinda is much the same. Though these two characters are vastly different, they share the trait that they are more than they appear and truly want to do good in their respective worlds.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Was she wicked or did her circumstances make her wicked? This question applies to both Elphaba and the Greek goddess Circe. Where Wicked allows Elphaba to reclaim her narrative, Circe does the same for the goddess. In Circe, the goddess tells the myths you know but from her perspective so you can decide if she was truly the evil witch she is painted as.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Forbidden romance is a theme throughout Elphaba’s story- she’s not that girl that gets the guy who is off limits. At the heart of the magical competition in The Night Circus there is a forbidden romance between two powerful magicians. Can the two couples overcome the obstacles impeding their love?
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
If you loved Shiz University, you may want to pick up A Deadly Education. The Scholomance is a much darker school than Shiz but it has all of the magic of Elphaba and Glinda’s alma mater. Rather than having magic being the exception, it is the norm. Students must work together to survive the actual school. Much like Elphaba in Wicked, El in A Deadly Education doesn’t have many friends except the golden boy who takes an interest in her. There is only one way for El to survive until graduation, but she really doesn’t like that option.
