The Wizard
Biographical information
Gender	Male
Hair color	White
Born	Unknown (of Irish ancestry, as stated in the novel) (heard muttering "Kansas" under his breath as stated in the Grimmerie)
Relationships	Melena Thropp (lover) Elphaba Thropp (daughter) Liir (grandson) Rain (great-granddaughter)
Title(s)	The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz Ruler of Oz
Job	Fake Wizard Ruler of Oz
Affiliation	Oz
Behind the scenes
First appearance	Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995)
Last appearance	Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995)
Portrayer	Joel Grey

Oscar Zoroaster Diggs (aka The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) is a ruler who uses deceit and trickery to hide his own shortcomings. It is revealed that the Wizard is indeed behind some of the most horrific and disastrous events in the story, with one of his accomplices being Madame Morrible, although in the musical, he is portrayed with more sympathy. Glinda and Elphaba meet the Wizard of Oz in the Wizard's Chamber in his palace at the Emerald City.

Contents 1 Life 1.1 In the Novel 1.2 In the Musical 1.3 Book vs. Musical Differences 2 Songs 2.1 Solos 2.2 Solos (In A Duet) 2.3 Solos (In A Group Number) 3 Portrayers 3.1 Broadway Production 3.2 1st National Tour 3.3 Chicago Production 3.4 London Production 3.5 Los Angeles Production 3.6 Stuttgart Production 3.7 Melbourne Production 3.8 San Francisco Production 3.9 2nd National Tour 3.10 Sydney Production 3.11 Oberhausen Production 3.12 Asian Tour 3.13 Scheveningen Production 3.13.1 Scheveningen Understudies 4 External Links 5 Comments

LifeEdit

In the NovelEdit

Maguire presents the Wizard as a con man and a hustler who happened onto a world where he could literally make himself into a king overnight. Pretending to have vast powers and all-encompassing knowledge, he rules over the Emerald City, while secretly requiring people with true magic talent such as Glinda and Elphaba to cast spells for him.

During the course of Maguire's novel and the subsequent Broadway production, it is revealed that the Wizard is

indeed behind some of the most horrific and disastrous events in the story, with one of his cohorts being Madame Morrible. The Wizard is revealed the illegitimate father of Elphaba, seducing her mother with a magical green elixir, causing Elphaba's green tone. In the musical, this fact is revealed to the character Glinda, who accosts the Wizard with this information. It is also under the Wizard's direction that the Animals of Oz — most notably the Goat teacher from Shiz University, Doctor Dillamond — are caged and placed under strict control. This cruelty causes the final split between Elphaba and the Wizard, leading to her transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West.

In the MusicalEdit

After a day of sightseeing in the Emerald City, Elphaba and Glinda meet the Wizard. He immediately reveals his true self to them and invites Elphaba to join him as his personal assistant. As a test, he asks that she give his Monkey servant, Chistery, the ability to fly using the Grimmerie, an ancient book of spells. Elphaba demonstrates her innate magical talent and successfully gives Chistery wings. The

Wizard reveals an entire cage full of monkeys who now also have wings because of Elphaba's spell, and remarks that they will make good spies to report any subversive Animal activity. Realizing that she has been used and that the Wizard has no real power of his own, Elphaba runs away with the Grimmerie, pursued by the palace guards. Elphaba and Glinda run into the tallest tower, where they witness Morrible, revealed to be the Wizard's press secretary, declaring to all of Oz that Elphaba is a "Wicked Witch" who is not to be trusted.

Some time later, Elphaba returns to the Wizard's palace to free the rest of the winged monkeys. The Wizard attempts to regain her favor by agreeing to set them free. Upon discovering a now-speechless Doctor Dillamond among the monkeys, Elphaba rejects his offer and attempts to escape, running into Fiyero and taking him with her.

In recapitulation, it is revealed that the Wizard is actually Elphaba's father. Glinda orders the Wizard to leave Oz in his balloon, and indeed he does, returning to the world where he belongs.

Book vs. Musical DifferencesEdit

No more than a con man with knowledge of how to work with human emotion and beliefs, this version of the Wizard works to maintain his own position and prestige, regardless of the pain and grief it causes to others, and is not beyond subversion or mandated murder.

The Wizard is portrayed in a slightly better light in the musical, Wicked. Instead of being very amoral, he is carried away by the belief of the people of Oz that he is "wonderful." In the play the Wizard is also more of a figurehead controlled by Madame Morrible and though he is responsible for some of the things that happen in the play he is truly not made fully aware of how his actions affect others. When he learns that Elphaba is his daughter, he expresses visible sorrow when he learns of her supposed death, agreeing with Glinda to leave Oz in his balloon.

SongsEdit

SolosEdit

• Sentimental Man

Solos (In A Duet)Edit

• Wonderful (Elphaba)

Solos (In A Group Number)Edit

• No One Mourns the Wicked (Glinda, Frex, Midwife, and Ozians) [*Note* Young Wizard, identity unknown in song]

PortrayersEdit

Broadway ProductionEdit

• Joel Grey (2003-2004)
• George Hearn (2004-2005, 2006; temporary)
• Ben Vereen (2005-2006)
• Gene Weygandt (2005; temporary)
• David Garrison (2006-2007)
• Lenny Wolpe (2007-2008)
• P.J. Benjamin (2008-2011)
• Tom McGowan (2011-2012)
• P.J. Benjamin (2012)
• Adam Grupper (Current)

1st National TourEdit

• David Garrison (2005-2006)
• P.J. Benjamin (2006-2007)
• Lee Wilkof (2007-2008)
• Lenny Wolpe (2008-2009)
• Richard Kline (2009-2011)
• Mark Jacoby (2011-2012)
• P.J. Benjamin (2012)
• Tom McGowan (2012-Present)

Chicago ProductionEdit

• Gene Weygandt (2005-2007, 2008-2009)
• Ben Vereen (2005; t/c)
• Peter Kevoian (2007-2008)
• David Garrison (2007; temporary)

London ProductionEdit

• Nigel Planer (2006-2008)
• Andy Mace (2008; temporary)
• Desmond Barrit (2008-2009)
• Sam Kelly (2009-2010)
• Clive Carter (2010-2012)
• Desmond Barrit (2012)
• Keith Bartlett (2012-Present)

Los Angeles ProductionEdit

• John Rubinstein (2007-2008)
• David Garrison (2008-2009)

Stuttgart ProductionEdit

• Carlo Lauber (2007-2010)

Melbourne ProductionEdit

• Rob Guest OBE (2008)
• Rodney Dobson (2008; temporary)
• Bert Newton (2008-2009)

San Francisco ProductionEdit

• David Garrison (2009)
• Lee Wilkof (2009)
• Tom McGowan (2009-2010)

2nd National TourEdit

• Tom McGowan (2009)
• Don Amendiola (2009-2011)
• Paul Kreppel (2011-Present)

Sydney ProductionEdit

• Bert Newton (2009-2010)

Oberhausen ProductionEdit

• Carlo Lauber (2010-2011)

Asian Tour Edit

• Bert Newton (2011-2012)
• Glen Hogstrom (2012-Present)

Scheveningen ProductionEdit

• Bill van Dijk (2011-2013)

Scheveningen UnderstudiesEdit

• Jochem Feste Roozemond (2011-2013)
• John ter Riet (2011-2013)

External LinksEdit

• The Wizard - Wikipedia
• The Wizard - Oz Wiki