Everyone knows the story of young Dorothy Gale of Kansas, and her epic journey to meet the great and powerful Wizard of Oz.
And we know that along the way she “liquidates” the Wicked Witch of the West.
Back in 1995, Gregory Maguire built on L. Frank Baum’s work to create “Wicked,” the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West. “Wicked” became a moden day cultural phenomenon.
One of the several times I’ve interviewed Gregory Maguire over the years was in 2005, for his book “Son of a Witch.”
And in this interview, you’ll also hear how, in a strange turn of events, the Iraq war and the fall of Saddam Hussein helped inspire this book.
Here now, from 2005, Gregory Maguire:
The Broadway musicl inspired by Gregory Maguie’s “Wicked” recently became Broadway’s fifth-longest running show.