On a small, ramshackle farmhouse in Kansas, Dorothy, a bright, energetic young teenager, is being scolded by her Aunt Em, a farmer's wife who is disappointed that Dorothy isn't ready to accept the adult responsibilities necessary to life on a farm. Despite her strict manner, it is obvious that Aunt Em cares very much for the girl ("The Feeling We Once Had"). A tornado, played by a colorful mass of dancers ("Tornado Ballet") sweeps up Dorothy's house, and carries it to the strange, mystical and magical land of Oz, where it kills the Wicked Witch of the East. The witch's death causes quite a stir among the Munchkins and the Good Witch of the North, Addaperle, an extremely zany comic character. When Dorothy asks the Munchkins and Addaperle how she is to get back to Kansas they advise her to visit the great Oz ("He's the Wizard").
A yellow brick road appears, played by four men in yellow and orange squared costumes, but Dorothy is frightened of the journey she must take ("Soon as I Get Home"). Her fears are alleviated by a friendly scarecrow perched on a pole in a cornfield whom she frees. He tells her about his dream to have brains ("I was Born the Day Before Yesterday"). Dorothy tells the Scarecrow that the Wiz could probably help him and the two decide to join forces with the "road" on their way to the Emerald City ("Ease on Down the Road").
In a small patch of woods along the yellow brick road, they find a rusted Tinman who begs for some oil ("Slide Some Oil to Me") and tells the two he wants a heart to make his life complete. They ask him to join them and the three set out ("Ease on Down the Road - Reprise"). Their journey is interrupted by the Cowardly Lion who tries to convince them of his ferocity ("I'm a Mean Ole Lion"). He turns out to be under the psychiatric care of an owl and decides to go to Oz in hopes of finding courage ("Ease on Down the Road - Reprise"). When the Lion shows his cowardice in a fight with the Kalidahs, a frightening witch like gang ("Kalidah Battle"), Dorothy comforts him ("Be a Lion"). When the four find themselves in a poppy field, Dorothy remembers the warning that Addaperle gave her about the dangerous Poppies. She warns everyone to leave the field but the Lion succumbs to the treacherous Poppies. Luckily a paddy wagon containing four mice from the "Mice Squad" comes in and rescues the four travelers from the sensual Poppies.
After many trials and tribulations, the group arrives in the futuristic Emerald City and meets its exotically and exquisitely dressed inhabitants. All the citizens wear green glasses as part of their apparel ("Emerald City Ballet"). The four eventually meet the Wiz who makes a fantastic entrance riding in on set piece that looks like a giant tongue. He strikes a magnificent pose, which overwhelms everyone. The Wiz theatrically introduces himself to the travelers, who are thoroughly frightened by what they have just witnessed ("So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard"). The Wiz listens to their problems and though he appears very harsh with everyone's requests, he is deeply moved by the Tinman's song ("What Would I Do If I Could Feel?"). He agrees to grant their wishes if they kill Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West and the most powerful witch in Oz.
