Synopsis

As the overture ends, Dorothy rushes in, troubled by an encounter with Miss Gulch. Aunt Em and 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 dream of a place where there “isn’t any trouble” (“Over the Rainbow”). Miss Gulch rides in on her bicycle to take Toto away from Dorothy. Not wanting to go against the law, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry oblige and hand the dog over to Miss Gulch. Dorothy sulks off down the road 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 he 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 any one, she realizes that the house is in the air. Many images fly by Dorothy and Toto, the most disturbing of which is Miss Gulch, who transforms into a cackling witch on a broomstick in midair. 

The storm ends as abruptly as it 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 Music Sequence” – Part 1 & 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 for 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 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 oil can, 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 them all. This is all the convincing Tin Man needs, and the new friends head off on their way to Oz (“We’re Off to See the Wizard Trio”). 

The group enter 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 their journey to the Emerald City (“If I Only Had the Nerve”). The Wicked Witch has a new plan 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 Oz”). The Wicked Witch soon arrives in the Emerald City demanding that the residents hand 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 life will be like after their wishes are granted. The Lion gets particularly carried away (“If I Were King of the Forest)”. 

During their audience with the very intimidating Wizard of Oz, the gang learns that in order to have their wishes granted, they must bring the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West to the Wizard. On their way to attempt this seemingly impossible task, the friends are attacked by the Wicked Witch and her gang of Winged Monkeys. Dorothy and Toto are captured and Scarecrow is torn to pieces. At the castle, the Wicked Witch threatens Toto and convinces Dorothy to hand over the ruby slippers. The slippers will not come off Dorothy’s feet, and the Wicked Witch realizes they never will, as long as Dorothy is still alive. The Wicked Witch turns over an hourglass to count down the time until Dorothy’s demise. Toto escapes from the castle and leads the rescue attempt with Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion (“Winkies March”). Dorothy tries to comfort herself with visions of Aunt Em (“Over The Rainbow” – Reprise). 

The Wicked Witch appears and brings Dorothy back to reality. Disguised as Winkie Guards, the rescuers sneak into Dorothy’s room to get her out (“Winkies March” – Reprise), but they are stopped by the Wicked Witch, her guards and the Winged Monkeys. Taking the prisoners one by one, the Wicked Witch starts by setting Scarecrow on fire. Dorothy grabs a bucket of water to extinguish the flames. The Wicked Witch is hit with much of the water, and she melts. The Winkie Guards hail Dorothy for this good deed and grant her request to take the broom before erupting into a great celebration (“Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead” – Reprise). 

Back in the Wizard’s chamber, the Wizard again refuses the requests of the group, instructing them to return the next day. Barking and tugging at a curtain, Toto reveal the Wizard to be a fraud. The Wizard, who is actually an ordinary man, grants the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion by showing them that they already posses that which they seek. 

Dorothy’s wish proves harder to grant, but the Wizard declares that he will take her to Kansas himself in his hot air balloon. As the balloon begins to take off, Toto leaps from the basket in pursuit of a cat. Dorothy jumps out to get him, and the Wizard is unable to stop the balloon. 

When it seems that all hope is lost, Glinda appears to reveal that Dorothy has had the power to get home all along. Dorothy says her good-byes, clicks the heels of the ruby slippers and says, “There’s no place like home!” 

Dorothy wakes up in her room surrounded by her family and friends. When she tries to explain her experience to them, they don’t believe her. Perhaps it was all a dream. Either way, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is Dorothy is home, and she is never going to leave, ever again.