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Informationen zum Autor Kirsten Anderson is a writer and actress who lives in New York City with her charming Pomeranian, Sunflower. She has written several biographies for children, including Who Was Andy Warhol? and Who Was Robert Ripley? Klappentext Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most beloved characters of our time. We're off to see the Wizard...along with Dorothy, Toto, and all of her friends as they make their way onto the What Is the Story of? list. When L. Frank Baum wrote about the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy and her pet dog in the magical Land of Oz in 1900, he wanted to create a beautiful story based on the America he knew and treasured. But he had no idea his book would become a bestseller and grow into the cultural phenomenon that it is today. After the iconic 1939 film, numerous sequels, retellings, and musicals, it's easy to see why The Wizard of Oz has been called "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale." From Baum's first book through Wicked, the story of The Wizard of Oz is as fascinating as the tale itself. What Is the Story of The Wizard of Oz? The very high point—the moment everyone in the audience waits for—in one of the most popular musicals on Broadway comes as a young woman stands alone onstage. She begins singing about how tired she is of trying to do what others want her to do and be who they want her to be. It’s time for her to believe in herself and to fight for what she thinks is right. Many of the people in the audience share her struggle. They, too, want to believe in themselves, but may not have the confidence. They feel just like the young woman singing “Everyone deserves the chance to fly!” And then she rises into the air and flies. And their spirits soar with her. This isn’t just any young woman. She has green skin, wears a tall, pointy hat, and holds a broom. She is a witch—the evil witch who battled Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz . But this is Wicked , the hit musical that tells the true story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Glinda the Good Witch. In this version, Elphaba is the star, and she is not as “wicked” as she appeared in The Wizard of Oz . This is Elphaba’s big moment, where she sings “Defying Gravity.” The song and the flying are the high points of the show, and something audiences cheer every night. Wicked opened on Broadway in 2003 and has been attracting huge crowds ever since. But the story of Oz, the witches, Dorothy, and the Wizard goes back even further. Beyond the famous 1939 movie, where Dorothy is the hero who sings about finding a special place over the rainbow. Even earlier than 1900, when a book called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published and became a beloved classic. It goes back to the 1800s. To a little boy with a big imagination, who had nightmares about being chased by a scarecrow. Chapter 1: Frankie Lyman Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856, in Chittenango, New York. His parents were Benjamin and Cynthia Baum, and he had two sisters and two brothers. Frankie, as he was known, was lucky to survive. He was born in the middle of a diphtheria epidemic. Two of his cousins and his three-year-old brother had died from the disease (which is a very serious infection) right around the time Frankie was born. The Baums had another son, Henry, known as Harry, in 1859. The Baums did not have much money when Frankie was very young. But then Benjamin started working in the oil business and became wealthy. In 1861, the family bought a mansion in the city of Syracuse. And five years later, the Baums moved to a grand estate called Rose Lawn, just outside of town. In the fall of 1868, twelve-year-old Frankie was sent away to military school. He ha...
