The Wiz

A timid and introspective twenty-four-year-old school teacher named Dorothy grapples with feelings of isolation while preparing for a festive holiday supper. Despite the joyful atmosphere created by her adoptive parents, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, Dorothy feels profoundly disconnected from their happiness.

Encouraged by Aunt Em, Dorothy considers embracing new opportunities beyond her familiar surroundings in Harlem. However, her fears of the unknown paralyze her, creating an internal struggle that she cannot easily resolve.

Dorothy's situation takes a dramatic turn when her beloved dog, Toto, dashes out into a fierce snowstorm. In a desperate attempt to retrieve Toto, Dorothy's life changes forever as she is whisked away by a magical tornado, conjured by Glinda, the Good Witch.

Dorothy lands in a dark playground, where she meets children trapped in concrete, symbolizing their lost innocence. Upon her arrival, they reveal that she has inadvertently caused the demise of Evermean, the Wicked Witch of the East, who once cursed them.

With the Wicked Witch of the East defeated, her vengeful sister Evillene claims the title of Wicked Witch of the West. The children celebrate Dorothy as a hero, further establishing her role in this new fantastical world.

Dorothy encounters a mysterious sorceress named Miss One, who gifts her Evermean's silver slippers. Despite this newfound power, Dorothy remains overwhelmed, itching to return home and seeking wise counsel from the great Wiz in Emerald City.

On her journey along the yellow brick road, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, who laments his lack of a brain. Dorothy bravely helps free him from the crows tormenting him, and he decides to join her quest to meet the Wiz.

Dorothy and the Scarecrow reach an abandoned amusement park, where they find a rusted Tinman longing for a heart. They assist him in moving, and he expresses his wish to seek the Wiz's help, joining their growing group.

Their adventure leads them to a subway station where they meet the Lion, who reveals his cowardice. Inspired by Dorothy and her friends, the Lion decides to seek the Wiz to obtain the courage he believes he lacks.

The group navigates a perilous area known as the 'red light district' of Oz, where seductive aromas begin to intoxicate them. Although the Scarecrow identifies the danger, Dorothy and the Lion succumb to sleep, leaving the distressed Tinman to confront the chaos.

Crossing the yellow brick road across the Brooklyn Bridge, Dorothy and her friends approach the heavily guarded entrance to the Emerald City. The doorman, noticing her silver slippers, grants them immediate entry into the city.

Inside the Emerald City, Dorothy and her friends find themselves amidst stunning jewels as they meet the flamboyant Wiz. He initially appears powerful but reveals his indecisive nature, constantly changing the city’s color scheme.

Dorothy and her friends are summoned to request their desired attributes: a brain, a heart, courage, and a way home. However, the Wiz shockingly demands Dorothy's silver slippers in exchange, leading to a confrontation filled with tension.

In the depths of Evillene's lair, Dorothy stands firm against the Wicked Witch, refusing to give up her magical slippers. Using her cunning, she devises a plan that leads to the witch's demise, as her power is washed away, revealing the enslaved subjects’ true selves.

Ultimately, the group discovers that the Wiz is a mere man named Herman Smith, not the formidable figure they believed him to be. Dorothy assists her friends in realizing that the attributes they sought were always within them, and with Glinda's guidance, she prepares to return home.