Characters / The Wiz

The characters of The Wiz. For their original book counterparts, click here.

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Main Characters

Dorothy Gale

^{Dorothy Gale in the 1978 film}

^{Dorothy Gale in the Musical}

Portrayed by: Stephanie Mills (OBC), Diana Ross (1978 film), Shanice Williams (2015 TV version)

The central heroine of the musical. A plucky young girl living on a farm with her Aunt and Uncle, Dorothy is whisked to a magical land by way of tornado. With a fearless attitude, shiny new silver slippers, and knack for making friends, she goes on a journey to ask The Wiz for a way back home. In the film adaptation of The Wiz, Dorothy is a shy schoolteacher in her early 20s living in New York. She follows the same journey as her stage counterpart but learns a slightly different lesson.

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• Adaptational Angst Upgrade: In the 1978 film, Dorothy is a shy school teacher who fears life away from her Aunt Em’s home, learning to be more assertive and sure of herself by the end of the story. In the 2015 musical, Dorothy misses her deceased parents and wants to go back to Omaha, where her parents were and where she considers her home to be. By the end of the musical, Dorothy learns that her home is with Aunt Em in Kansas.
• Adaptational Wimp: Dorothy most situations in the musical with confidence in the musical. However, in the 1978 film, she's much less sure of herself and more prone to screaming and crying. Exemplified in the fact that in the stage play and TV special, Dorothy is the one to reveal The Lion isn't as intimidating as he seems by attacking The Lion. Toto does this instead in the film by biting The Lion's leg, whilst Dorothy sits helplessly a few feet away, scared of The Lion.
• Age Lift: In the original books, Dorothy is no older than 12. In the stage play, she’s 16 and in the film adaptation, Dorothy is 24.
• Blithe Spirit: Most of the good citizens of Oz are downcast and uninspired before Dorothy shows up. Upon arrival, she gains an array of friends, teaches at least three of them learn the value they have within themselves, and frees two different Slave Races by unintentionally killing their oppressive rulers.
• Character Development: Each of the three main adaptations of The Wiz have Dorothy learn the importance of home, but in different ways.
  • In the 1976 musical, Dorothy learns the importance of home as well as the importance of growing up and being responsible.
  • In the 1978 film, Dorothy is afraid of life away from her Aunt Em, but over the course of the musical, learns to be more assertive and knowledgeable of her strengths.
  • In the 2015 television special, Dorothy learns that home is where her family is, which is with Aunt Em in Kansas, as opposed to in Omaha, where she use to live with her deceased parents.
• Classical Anti-Hero: In the 1978 film. Dorothy is a kindhearted elementary teacher but she’s withdrawn, sullen, insecure, and emotional.
• Covers Always Lie: In promotional material for the NBC special (including the image for her trope page), Dorothy is depicted with a black jean jacket as opposed to the red jacket she actually wears in the special.
• Deceased Parents Are the Best: In the 2015 adaptation, it’s explicitly stated that Dorothy’s parents are deceased.
• Fantasy Keepsake: Unlike in the source material, Dorothy's Silver Slippers stay on her feet during the trip back home to Kansas. Before singing the final number, Dorothy outright tells her friends that maybe one day she can return to see them again with the Silver Slippers.
• Fatal Flaw: Varies by adaptation:
  • Her reluctance to grow up in the musical; she neglects responsibilities in favor of running after Toto and lives in her own little bubble, which can bother her aunt.
  • Dorothy is extremely reluctant to leave Aunt Em's home and branch out by herself in the 1978 film.
  • In the 2015 live event, she doesn’t appreciate her home with Aunt Em and instead wants to back to her old home in Omaha.
• Girlish Pigtails: In the original stage play, Stephanie Mills portrays Dorothy with two buns and red ribbons.
• The Heart: Very kind and supportive towards her three companions.
• The Ingenue: Played straight in the musical, where Dorothy is filled with childlike wonder, has an air of innocence, and wears a white dress. Averted in the film (since she's a 24-year-old teacher, she doesn't have the unworldliness required for the title of ingenue) and TV-special (coming off as a more grounded and acerbic in this version).
• Light Is Good: Wears white in the stage play and a pale shade of purple in the film.
• Little Miss Badass: Let's not forget that this teenage girl punched a lion.
• Mouthy Kid: Downplayed. While Dorothy tends to be polite and kind, she won’t hesitate on speaking if she notices something odd or unfair.
• Mythology Gag: Dorothy wears red sneakers prior to receiving the Silver Shoes in the NBC Television Special, a potential nod to the Ruby Slippers from MGM's The Wizard of Oz .
• Nervous Wreck: In the 1978 film, Dorothy’s prone to screaming and hyperventilating in frightening or scary situations. Justified, as the Oz in the film version of the wiz is Darker and Grittier than in most other adaptations.
• Nice Girl: Across all adaptations, she's kind, polite, and considerate. She can be rather snappy in the NBC version, but she's nonetheless unable to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others and goes out of her way to help and support people.
• The Paragon: See Blithe Spirit.
• Pep-Talk Song: In every adaptation, Dorothy sings "Be A Lion" to lift the Lion's spirits and encourage him to be brave. In the film, Dorothy takes The Wiz's version of "Believe in Yourself" from the stage play and sings it to her friends after they're disheartened at learning The Wiz is a fraud, telling them they have everything they wanted to ask the Wizard for. In the TV special, a new song is written, "We Got It", which Dorothy uses to encourage her friends to come with her to defeat the Wicked Witch despite the fact that they're scared.
• Plucky Girl: Dorothy’s a courageous, upbeat, and motivated protagonist.
• Prone to Tears: Most of the terrifying things in Oz prove to be too much for Dorothy in the film, often resulting in her hyperventilating, screaming, and of course, crying. She also produces a lot of tears during the finale, once she's hit with the message of her journey and sings the closing number. Averted in the stage play and TV special, where she takes all of the troubles she faces in stride.
• Red Is Heroic: Has red ribbons and accents on her dress in the original stage play. She wears a red jacket, dress, and shoes (before getting Evamean’s) in the 2015 live event.
• Tertiary Sexual Characteristics: In the original play, Dorothy has red bows accompanying her Girlish Pigtails and a headband in the 2015 event.
• The Runaway: In the 2015 live television event, we first see Dorothy running away from home. Aunt Em catches up with her and implies that this happens regularly. She misses her old home and friends in Omaha, where she lived when her parents were alive, and wants to go back there until she learns An Aesop about where her true home is in the end.
• Shrinking Violet: In the 1978 film, Dorothy shys away from her family members at the opening Thanksgiving dinner and speaks in a low voice. She learns to grow out of this state by the end of the movie.
• The Team Normal: A regular human in the company of an anthropomorphic lion, a sentient scarecrow, and a man made of tin.

Scarecrow

^{Scarecrow in the 1978 film}

^{Scarecrow in the Musical}

Portrayed by: Stu Gilliam/Hinton Battle (OBC), Michael Jackson (1978 film), Elijah Kelly(2015 TV version)

Tired of being a scarecrow and the prospect of not going anywhere, this loose-limbed hero is Dorothy’s first companion on the journey to see the Wiz in hopes he can secure a brain.

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• The Baby of the Bunch: He's the youngest of Dorothy's three companions, both literally (he's only two days old when Dorothy meets him) and in his usual casting: Hinton Battle and Michael Jackson were both just nineteen when they played the role.
• Cute Clumsy Girl: A gender bent example; Scarecrow’s eccentric body movements and tendency to fall make him very endearing.
• The Cynic: Exclusive to the film adaptation. Because of the negativity he was fed by the crows as well as the pessimistic notes he's stuffed with, Scarecrow has a very cynical view of himself and the world.
• Extreme Doormat: Though the crows that come to his field annoy him and make him feel terrible, the Scarecrow tolerates them and does anything they want him to.
• Half the Man He Used to Be: In the movie the Wicked Witch has him sliced in half with a buzzsaw.
• Keet: Energetic and moves around with passion and enthusiasm.
• The Klutz: Scarecrow’s weak limbs lead to many pitfalls or near pitfalls.
• Running Gag: In the 1978 film, The Scarecrow often pulls scraps of paper out of himself and reads the quotes written on them.
• Tenor Boy: The Scarecrow is an upbeat and likable character who sings in a tenor.

Tin Man

^{Tin Man in the 1978 film}

^{Tin Man in the Musical}

Portrayed by: Tiger Haynes (OBC), Nipsey Russell (1978 film), Ne-Yo (2015 TV version)

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• Adaptational Jerkass: Downplayed. While he’s still a nice guy, he’s rather harsh when discussing The Lion’s cowardice in the stage play and 2015 live special, no where near as soft as the Tin Man in the 1939 film or in the 1978 adaptation of the musical.
• Adaptational Job Change: In the 1978 movie adaptation, the Tin Man is a carnival barker instead of being a woodsman. In the 2015 TV version he was a construction worker.
• Awful Wedded Life: In the film, we find Tin Man trapped underneath his wife Teeny (an oversized doll), whom he deeply resents marrying.
• Brutally Honest: After the Kalidahs are defeated, Tin Man makes very sharp remarks towards the Lion regarding the terrible fight he put up against them.
• Cool Old Guy: With Nipsey Russel being the oldest member of the lead four characters in the film and with Tin Man being such a sweetheart, this trope applies.
• Meaningful Appearance: Tiger Haynes portrayal of The Tin Man in the stage play has streams of tears painted down from his eyes, symbolizing how though he says he doesn't have a heart, the Tin Man is a sentimental and compassionate soul.
• Ocular Gushers: In the film, Tin Man cries twice and releases large gushes of water from his eyes.
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Tin Man is the Manly Man to Lion’s Sensitive Guy. He’s arguably the most trained fighter of the group, a baritone, and very popular with the women.
• Serial Spouse: The Tin Man mentions being married four times in the film.
• Squashed Flat: In the 1978 movie, Evilene orders the Tin Man's body to get crushed down with a press when Dorothy refuses to give the slippers.
• Team Dad: Moreso in the film adaptation; The Tin Man is implied to be the oldest of Dorothy’s companions in all but the 2015 adaptation. He’s very compassionate, emotional, and old-timey. Instead of scolding the Lion, in the film he's the first to feel sympathy for him and his predicament of being a lion without courage.
• Tin Man: It's his name, after all. The Tin Man's heart was removed by Evamean, but he sings the incredibly soulful "What Would I Do" and obviously cares a ton for his newfound friends.
• Was Once a Man: Taken straight from the books, In the stage musical and the 2015 version, the Tin Man was a man made of flesh and blood, until he fell in love with one of Evamean's slave girls, and so she cursed his axe to chop off his body parts. In the 1978 movie, however, he is implied to be a fully artificial robot mentioning a "genius" who created him but forgot to give him a heart to complete him.

Cowardly Lion

^{The Lion in the 1978 film}

^{The Lion in the Musical}

Portrayed by: Ted Ross (OBC and 1978 film), David Alan Grier (2015 TV version)

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• The Big Guy: Mainly in the Subway scene of the film, where Lion saves each of his friends from the sentient objects in that subway by way of physical force.
• Cowardly Lion: It is his name, after all. Lion is very easily frightened but performs courageous acts for the sake of his friends.
• Despair Event Horizon: After unknowingly leading Dorothy right into the Poison Poppie’s trap in the film, he falls into this.
• Dreadlock Rasta: The Lion is given dreads in the 2015 adaptation.
• Guile Hero: Once the group encounters the dreaded poppies in the TV special, Lion plays into their trap and dances with them. He then successfully tricks them and ties them all together, giving his three friends a safe route to the Emerald City.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: The Lion has yellow fur and is an all around nice guy once you get to know him.
• Large Ham: Easily the most dramatic member of the core four.
• The Load: In the stage play and TV special, Lion contributes very little to the group's battle with the Kahlidahs due to his cowardly nature. He is called out on it by the Tin Man and Scarecrow shortly after their victory. Utterly subverted in the 1978 film, in which he heroically helps his friends from the horrors of the Sinister Subway, and fiercely destroys and beats down some of the monsters.
• Miles Gloriosus: The Lion’s intro song is him singing about how frightening he is, but the moment Dorothy slaps him or Toto bites him, it’s revealed that it was all for show.
• Named by the Adaptation: The Cowardly Lion reveals his name as Fleetwood Coupe de Ville, or "Fleet" for short. However, his friends call him simply, "Lion".
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Lion is the Sensitive Guy to Tin Man’s Manly Man. He’s the most effeminate guy in Dorothy’s group and the most prone to emotional outbursts.
• Small Name, Big Ego: Initially, The Lion presents himself as tough and ferocious to Dorothy and her friends. However once Dorothy hits him, he reveals himself to be putting on an act. This trope is inverted, as The Lion knows he’s cowardly but was presenting a false version of himself to get respect.
• Talking Animal: He’s a talking lion.

The Wiz

^{The Wiz in the 1978 film}

^{The Wiz in the Musical}

Portrayed by: Andre De Shields (OBC), Richard Pryor (1978 film), Queen Latifah (2015 TV version)

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• Adaptational Karma: Of sorts. In the 1978 movie this incarnation of the Wizard does not get Easily Forgiven for all his lies, manipulations and indirect attempted murder via requesting the death of the Wicked Witch, and he stays in Oz where he'll have to get out of his palace and make a living fairly. Dorothy encouraging him to do that is the kindest treatment he receives after The Reveal.
• The Atoner: Instead of gifting placebos and getting away on a hot air balloon, in the 1978 film The Wiz gets thoroughly scorned by Dorothy and her companions for being a phony liar, and begs them for mercy and to not leave him all alone, genuinely regretting his actions. In the end Dorothy does advise him to go out and try find his place.
• Gender Flip: The Wiz is portrayed by Queen Latifa in the 2015 TV version while being portrayed by male characters in the Broadway production and 1978 film. It is revealed that the Wiz was actually a woman all along, having been a former magician's assistant who disguised herself.
• Hair-Trigger Temper: Has almost no patience for Dorothy’s group throughout their first meeting with him, and yells at the group for various different reasons.
• The Hermit: Because of his fear of the outside world, The Wiz keeps himself inside his room in the Emerald City. In the film, despite the fact that Dorothy and her companions are mad at him after discovering he is a fraud, he is so starved for human interaction that he pleads they stay and talk with him.
• Miles Gloriosus: The Wizard is a powerful and feared figure in Oz, but by the end, it’s revealed that The Wiz is a complete fraud.
• Samus Is a Girl: The Wiz is revealed to be a woman in the NBC special.
• Secondary Character Title: As per usual for Oz adaptations. The Wiz is the titular character, but this is Dorothy's story.
• Sharp-Dressed Man: The Wiz dons a snazzy outfit for first meeting Dorothy and her friends in the play and the TV version.

Glinda

^{Glinda in the 1978 film}

^{Glinda in the Musical}

Portrayed by: Dee Dee Bridgewater (OBC), Lena Horne (1978 film), Uzo Aduba (2015 TV version)

The most powerful figure in Oz is Glinda, The Good Witch of the South. This serene yet glitzy sorceress appears at the very end of the musical to help Dorothy get home.

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• Beauty Equals Goodness: Glinda is almost unanimously considered the most beautiful witch in all of Oz.
• Big Good: Glinda is ultimately the one who tells Dorothy how to get home.
• Cold Ham: Glinda has a peaceful aura to her character and a soft voice. However, she's got quite a knack for showmanship, with introductions that alwyas rival Eveline in the drama department. To use the 1978 film as an example, Glinda appears with a choir of floating babies over a starry night sky in a glistening blue dress and sings a thunderous solo gospel number about the importance of beliving in yourself.
• Cool Crown: Wears one or a variant of one in every major adaptation.
• Foil: To Aunt Em; Glinda and Aunt Em are the most wise and maternal figures in Dorothy's life throughout the course of the musical. How these two characters differ is that where Aunt Em is a very simple and down-to-earth woman with a hot-temper, Glinda is an extravagant and theatrical witch with boundless patience. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars staging of The Wiz, where LaChanze plays the role of both Glinda and Em.
• Gold-Colored Superiority: In the 2015 version, she wears a gold dress and is considered the strongest and most beloved witch in Oz.
• Heavenly Blue: Glinda is adorned in shiny blue cloth in the film, is the most powerful witch in Oz, and is always seen in front of a night sky.
• Madonna Archetype: In the film, Glinda's character draws parallels the Virgin Mary, wearing a matching blue robe and veil paired with a crown of stars. She's surrounded by floating space babies who resemble attendant cherubs.
• Mysterious Watcher: Glinda reveals in the 2015 version that she’s been watching Dorothy from the very beginning.
• Trickster Mentor: It’s made clear that Glinda intentionally made the tornado that transported Dorothy to Oz in the film, doing all of this so Dorothy could learn her value, strength, and the definition of home.
• True Blue Femininity: In the 1978 film, she wears a blue dress and veil.
• World's Most Beautiful Woman: Glinda is almost unanimously agreed to be the most gorgeous person in all of Oz. When Dorothy first seess her in the 2015 version, the very first thing she notes is how beautiful the witch looks.

Evillene

^{Evillene in the 1978 film}

^{Evillene in the Musical}:350:

Portrayed by: Mabel King (OBC and 1978 film), Mary J. Blige (2015 TV version)

The Wicked Witch of The West

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• AM/FM Characterization: Though there is a bit of Lyrical Dissonance in "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News", with an oppressive dictator's Villain Song being in the style of Gospel (a genre known for themes of salvation and freedom), it is a very bombastic and loud song, befitting Evillene.
• Ax-Crazy: In the film, Evillene mercilessly tortures Dorothy’s companions and threatens to put Toto in a fire pit for Dorothy’s slippers. In the 2015 version, she threatens to kill all of Dorothy’s companions and even holds a knife up to Dorothy.
• Bad Boss: Evilline works The Winkies to the bone, threatens them with a whip, and doesn't allow them to have lunch breaks.
• Berserk Button: As her song states, Evillene doesn’t like learning unfavorable news.
• Big Bad: She poses the biggest threat to Dorothy and her friends. Especially in the 1978 version, as detailed in the trope below.
• The Chessmaster: All of the adversity Dorothy and co. come across in the 1978 film are working under and advised by Evelline.
• Disproportionate Retribution: Orders her messenger hung in the stage play for bringing her bad news.
• Evil Is Hammy: As loud as she is villainous.
• Evil Laugh: In every adaptation, she gives at least one wicked cackle.
• Evil Wears Black: In the original play and the 2015 version, Evilline wears a primarily black getup.
• Fat Bastard: Except for the 2015 version, Evilline is typically portrayed by a woman who’s bigger in size.
• Fingore: In the 1978 film Evilline's fingers painfully roll backwards when she attempts to take Dorothy's slippers.
• Gonk: Evilline wears tacky clothing and an unnecessary amount of make-up to exemplary this trope. Averted in the 2015 version, where she appears and dresses in a very attractive manner.
• Ham-to-Ham Combat: Has one with The Lion in the stage play, who makes disparaging comments at her expense, causing her to threaten to kill him.
• Impossibly Tacky Clothes: In the film, Evilline's gown is adorned in jewelry so heavy that it makes a stiff noise whenever she moves. Her crown is a spiky mess pointing to every direction.
• Large Ham: Evilline is always portrayed as larger than life and temperamental.
• Meaningful Name: Evil is in her name for a reason.
• No Indoor Voice: Exaggerated in the film, where Evilline almost never speaks below a shout.
• Pimped-Out Dress: Exaggerated in the film and stage play to the point where it looks tacky and unflattering. Eveline wears a lot of jewelry in the film. Played straight in the 2015 version.
• Psychopathic Manchild: Evillene's temper is just as volatile as an infant's and she's overall a very entitled, cacophonic, and whiny villainess with the power to kill all four of the heroes.
• Red Is Violent: Wears red in the 1978 film, matching her volatile temperament.
• Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Evilline serves as the Energetic Girl to Lord High Underling's Savvy Guy in the 2015 TV special. And not the Genki Girl-variant of energetic, mind you, the Hair-Trigger Temper-variant.
• Sorcerous Overlord: Both an Evil Overlord and a Wicked Witch.
• Spikes of Villainy: Evilline wears a blotchy and spiky crown in the 1978 film, blending perfectly with the ugly dress she's wearing and matching her brand of villainy.
• Suddenly Shouting: Happens often the 2015 version. Averted in all other adaptations because she never stops shouting.
  (after learning of a leak in a pipe in her factory) Well go fetch that royal plumber. AND KILL HIM! I HATE WATER!
• Uncanny Valley Makeup: Mabel King is given a big nose, large eyebrows, and excessive black eyeshadow in the film.
• Villain Song: "Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News", the Act II opener.

Addapearle/Miss One

^{Miss One in the 1978 film}

^{Addapearle in the Musical}

Portrayed by: Clarice Taylor (OBC), Thelma Harper (1978 film), Amber Riley (2015 TV version)

The first witch Dorothy meets in Oz is Addapearle, The Good Witch of the North. She's the least powerful of the three witches we see, as she has a very flimsy handle on her magical abilities. Her name is changed to Miss One in the 1978 film.

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• Adaptational Name Change: Changed from Addapearle to Miss One in the film.
• Adaptational Wimp: Addapearle had a very fragile handle on her magic in the stage play, but Miss One displays absolutely no magical prowess. She arrives in Munchkinland by elevator and because she isn't in the finale, we don't see her summon Glinda like in the stage play.
• Color Motif: In the stage play, film, and television special, blue is the most prevalent color in her costume.
• Demoted to Extra: We only see Miss One when Dorothy first arrives in Oz, she doesn't appear in the finale like in the stage play.
• The Ditz: In the film, she’s obsessed with numbers and begins talking about games while Dorothy is asking how to get home. In the stage play and 2015 version, Addapearle has a very flimsy handle on her magical abilities.
• Inept Mage: Addapearle is well known in Oz for doing magic, but her Magic Slate gives six inaccurate guesses about Dorothy's name, and she also needs to wave her wand multiple times in order to leave Munchkinland.
• Meaningful Appearance: In the 1978 film, her light blue afro is decorated with dark blue, glittery numbers, showing just how obsessed she is with numbers.
• Motor Mouth: Has shades of this in most adaptations.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: In the 2015 television event; her magic is wonky and her skills are questionable, but she gets a perfect read of who Dorothy is without Dorothy or the audience figuring it out. She sends Dorothy on a quest to meet the Wizard so she can learn the value of home.
• Plucky Comic Relief: Namely in the stage play, but present in shades through all adaptations. Addapearle is the least plot-relevant of the three (living) witches and is ripe with comedic moments because of her horrendous magic skills.
• The Trickster: Addapearle knew exactly what powers the Silver Slippers had and intentionally withheld the information from Dorothy. She does this in the NBC special so that Dorothy can learn the meaning of home.
• Verbal Tic: Miss One constantly makes mention of numbers in her dialogue.

Aunt Em

^{Aunt Em in the 1978 film}

^{Aunt Em in the Musical}

Portrayed by: Tasha Thomas (OBC), Theresa Merritt (1978 film), Stephanie Mills (2015 TV version)

Dorothy's stern but loving aunt. She loves her niece dearly but wants her to understand the importance of personal responsibility, hard work, and growing up.

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• AM/FM Characterization: Her solo, "The Feeling We Once Had", is a slow paced and old-school soul song, fitting her nostalgic and experienced character.
• Boring, but Practical: Aunt Em is the least flashy main character in The Wiz, but gets her work around her home done in a diligent and timely manner.
• Compassionate Critic: Aunt Em makes very pointed comments towards Dorothy’s shortcomings and makes it abundantly transparent that these critiques are an extension of her love.
• Cruel to Be Kind: Downplayed. Aunt Em spares Dorothy no grief when she disappoints her, but her opening song makes it clear that she's hard on Dorothy because she loves her and wants her to embrace her fullest potential.
• Fantasy Forbidding Aunt: Em's biggest gripe with Dorothy in the stage play is that she seems off in her own little world when she should be tending to her chores and assisting her aunt and uncle.
• Feminine Mother, Tomboyish Daughter: Downplayed. While Dorothy goes on an adventure in a foreign land, Aunt Em is only ever seen cooking, cleaning, attending to chores, or supporting her niece.
• Foil: To Glinda; Glinda and Aunt Em are the most wise and maternal figures in Dorothy's life throughout the course of the musical. How these two characters differ is that where Aunt Em is a very simple and down-to-earth woman with a hot-temper, Glinda is an extravagant and theatrical witch with boundless patience. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! Summer Stars staging of The Wiz, where LaChanze plays the role of both Glinda and Em.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Specifically in the musical and TV special; Em is portrayed as very strict and no nonsense. However, she explains through her song that she dearly loves Dorothy and wants nothing but the best for her.
• Meaningful Appearance: Across all adaptations, she can be seen wearing old-fashioned and practical outfits, perfectly matching her knowledgeable and responsible personality.
• Nephewism: As usual, Em is the legal guardian of her niece Dorothy.
• Pink Means Feminine: Em wears a pink house dress in the stage play and pink attire during the dinner at the beginning of the film.
• Prim and Proper Bun: She wears her hair like this in the 1978 film.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Aunt Em is a hardworking and insightful woman who tries to instill essential life values into her niece.
• Satellite Family Member: Aunt Em's primary purpose in the story is to give her niece Dorothy some advice she'll need in Oz and hint at the ultimate moral she’ll learn over the course of the story.
• Tsundere: A platonic "Tsun" to her niece; though she can be critical and stern towards Dorothy, she makes it clear that she comes from a place of love and concern.

Supporting Characters

Toto

• Adaptational Dye-Job: Both the original stage production and the 2015 TV version cast him with white fur instead of black fur, in a clever compliment to the Race Lift of all the human and humanoid characters. Averted in the 1978 film, though, where he's the traditional dark-colored dog.
• Canine Companion: Specifically in the film, where Toto travels to Oz with Dorothy. It's implied Toto is this to Dorothy on the farm in the stage play and TV special.
• Demoted to Extra: In the original L. Frank Baum book, Toto travels to the land of Oz with Dorothy. In the stage play and the 2015 TV special, Toto only appears at the beginning and end of the film. Averted in the 1978 film, where he accompanies Dorothy.

Uncle Henry

• Adapted Out: Not featured at all in the 2015 film.
• Boring, but Practical: Even more so than his wife, as he doesn’t demonstrate any of the glaring flaws or quirks his fellow characters have, staying on track with his goals.
• Demoted to Extra: In ALL adaptations. While the Oz books and most other media portray Aunt Em and Uncle Henry as having more or less the same amount of importance, Em sings the first song of the musical while Uncle Henry is lucky to have more than four lines.
• Flat Character: Henry never contributes very much to the story of The Wiz when he's featured, and as such doesn't have a very developed personality.
• The Kirk: In the Freudian Trio of Dorothy, Em, and himself, Henry is definitely the Ego (with a lean towards Superego) to his wife's moralizing and uptight Superego and his niece's emotional and energetic Id. Like Aunt, Em, Uncle Henry is all too familiar with the importance of hard work. Unlike her, he isn't prone to fussing and stays focuses on the overall goal of the day.
• Nephewism: Played straight in the stage play, where it's clear Henry plays a part in raising Dorothy, but only half-way implied in the film.
• Only Sane Man: In the stage play, Henry is the most reasonable person on the farm. Dorothy distracts herself from responsibilities and Aunt Em is very critical of Dorothy, to the point of nagging.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: He shares Aunt Em's levelheadedness and determination.

Evamean

The Wicked Witch of the East. Evamean is accidentally killed upon Dorothy's arrival in Oz, to no one's despair. She was the oppressive ruler of the Munchkins and owned a pretty neat pairs of shoes with secret, special powers.

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• 0% Approval Rating: Evamean’s subjects the Munchkins joke around and celebrate once she’s dead.
• Abhorrent Admirer: Evamean had an enormous crush on the Tin Man, but the feelings were not reciprocated.
• Always Identical Twins: In the film when Evillene shows her photo locket, we can see that Evamean looked identical to her.
• Clingy Jealous Girl: Once Evamean learns that the Tin Man is in love with another, she turns the Tin Man into… well, a tin man, taking away his heart so that since she can’t have him, no one else could.
• Dies Differently in Adaptation: In the 1978 film, she’s still squished to death, but not by Dorothy’s house, rather an OZ sign Dorothy hits on her way down.
• Hated by All: Upon learning of Evamean's death, the Munchkins cheer and shout, Addapearle laughs after pretending to be devastated (her film counterpart moves past her death with an alarming quickness), and the Tin Man is greatly relieved.
• If I Can't Have You…: She’s responsible for taking away Tin Man’s heart because he didn’t return her affections.
• Posthumous Character: As in most adaptations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this witch is killed before she's formally introduced to the audience.
• Tricked-Out Shoes: Tacky pantyhose aside, Evamean had an awesome pair of silver slippers with the ability to transport her wherever she wanted to go.

Gatekeeper

• Adaptation Name Change: See Bouncer below.
• Bouncer: His title is changed The Bouncer in the 2015 version, with a fitting personality to go along with it.
• Greed: The Gatekeeper's Fatal Flaw. In the 2015 TV special, he outright states that one way to get into the Emeralds City without a reservation is by making "a sizable donation to [his] retirement fund" In order to avoid him and get back into the Emerald City, the four heroes pretend that they have hidden some money nearby and walk away, which makes the Gatekeeper walk away from his post to look for it, allowing the four to enter without his knowledge.
• The Stoic: Has a very icy demeanor in the 2015 TV special.

Lord High Underling

• Adapted Out: Neither this character or an equivelant is featured in the 1978 film.
• Adaptation Personality Change: Lord High Underling is a cowardly and incompetent Yes-Man in the stage play. In the 2015 TV special, Lord High Underling is a melancholic Deadpan Snarker who barely hides his disdain for Evillene.
• Beleaguered Assistant: Exclusively in the 2015 version. And perfectly justified, considering he’s a slave to a loud and Ax-Crazy dictator. Lord High Underling attends to his duties monotonously and with a few sly quips at Evillene's expense.
• Composite Character: In the stage play, there's a messenger who brings Evillene the news of Dorothy's plan to kill her and is promptly sent to be hung. The messenger is omitted from both film adaptations and Lord High Underling is the one who gives Eveline the news of Dorothy's arrival in the TV special and 2023 revival.
• Death by Adaptation: In the 2023 revival, he’s the one who gets executed by Evillene after giving her bad news.
• Dirty Coward: Described as a “weak coward” in the stage play's character descriptions.
• Deadpan Snarker: Particularly in the 2015 version, where he frequently makes dry remarks in response to Evillene.
• Did You Just Flip Off Cthulhu?: Lord High Underling has no problem casually making subtle quips at the expense of the most feared figure in Oz.
• Number Two: Enforces Evelline's will upon her subjects, but isn't treated much better than them.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The dispassionate Blue Oni to Evillene's fiery Red Oni.
• Sassy Secretary: Lord High Underling demands the Winkies do Evilene’s bidding and could be considered her dragon. As noted throughout this trope page, the NBC version of the musical portrays Lord High Underling in a wry and dejected individual.
• Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: The deadpan and low-energy Savvy Guy to Eveline's Energetic Girl.
• Sycophantic Servant: Evillene's word is law to Lord High Underling in the stage play, an undoubtedly justified example of this trope, since he had no free will under the Wicked Witch. Averted in the NBC version.
• Yes-Man: When Evillene starts laughing in the stage play, Lord High Underling immediately joins her, leading the rest of the Winkies to follow him. Justified, as Lord High Underling is a slave and Evillene could very easily end his life if he did something she didn’t like.

Inhabitants of Oz

Munchkins

• Genki Girl /Keet: The Munhkins are an excitable and dynamic bunch.
• Jive Turkey: In the film adaptation, the Munchkins speak in this manner. After Dorothy inadvertently kills their oppresor, they say that they "wanna lay a little thanks on her" and are "heavy on the gratitude department".
• Speak Ill of the Dead: Upon learning that their oppressor Evamean is dead, they celebrate. In the stage play, one of the munchkins makes it known that they'll be wearing white to her funeral.

Crows

• The Cynic: The Crows depart their pessimistic views of the world to the Scarecrow and make him sing thier anthem, "You Can't Win", a song that says life is unfair and nothing you do will change that.
• Gang of Bullies: The Crows take every opportunity to collectively put down The Scarecrow's hopes, self-esteem, and ideas.
• Jerkass: The Crows bully The Scarecrow and force him to recite sayings that imply he wouldn't fare well off of the pole he resides on.

Kalidahs

• Adapted Out: The Kalidahs aren't featured in the film adaptation and are replaced by the peddler and the other monsters in the Sinister Subway.
• Glamour: In the NBC version, a Kalidah attempts to steal the Silver Shoes from Dorothy by disguising as her deceased mama, and imploring her to help her get down from a tree. Fortunately, the Tin Man alerts Dorothy of the ruse before the Kalidah can claim the Shoes.
• Shapeshifter: This is their main schtick in the TV special.
• Shapeshifter Guilt Trip: In the TV film, Kalidah shapeshifts into Dorothy's mother to try tricking her into giving up Evamean's shoes. They would have succeeded if it weren't for the Tin Man's warning.

Poppies

• One-Gender Race: Being that flowers and seduction are traditionally associated with femininity, the Poppies are played by women in all adaptations.
• Pink Is Erotic: The Poppies are the most seductive and flirtatious creatures in Oz, using their appearance to lure in victims.
• Pink Means Feminine: Every adaptation incorporates pink into their designs.
• Predatory Prostitute: The Poppies are portrayed as sex workers with a floral motif in the film adaptation but are no less dangerous than their plant counterparts, almost sending Dorothy and Lion to a lifelong sleep.
• The Vamp: They attempt to seduce anyone who comes to their fields, with the intention of putting people to an eternal sleep in the film and making them tirelessly attend to their fields until winter in the 2015 version.

Citizens of Emerald City

• Blind Obedience: In the 1978 film, The Wiz seems to spend most of his day choosing a different color for the people of Emerald City to be themed around. After this announcement is made, they change their outfits and sing about the wonders of that chosen color.
• The Fashionista: All the citizens of The Emerald City wear extravagant and vibrant clothing.

Winkies

• And There Was Much Rejoicing: Once Eveline is killed, the Winkies break out into a joyful musical number, celebrating their freedom.
• Foil: The Winkies are gloomy, fearful, and hardly speak, in comparision to their fellow Servant Race, the Munchkins, who are cheerful, blunt, and talkative. Justified, as we only see The Munchkins when they are freed and The Winkies are equally cheerful, if not more, once Eveline is killed.
• Slave Race: The Winkies work tirelessly for Eveline.

Flying Monkeys

• Adaptational Name Change: Referred to as the "Winged Warriors" in the 2015 TV special.
• All Bikers are Hells Angels: The Flying Monkeys in the film adaptation ride on bikes, which they use to chase and capture Dorothy and her friends. This is subverted after Eveline is killed, when they ride Dorothy and her friends back to the Emerald City.
• Cool Bike: The Flying Monkeys ride on motorcycles in the 1978 film.
• The Dreaded: A more lighthearted example. The Winkies respond negatively upon learning that Eveline is summoning them and Eveline herself cannot stand the odor they emit.
• The Leader: In the 1978 film, a Flying Monkey named Cheetah leads the group and is the only named member.
• Named by the Adaptation: The leader of the Flying Monkeys is named "Cheetah" in the 1978 film.

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