You know the drill: Drake & Josh characters do not belong to me. The Wicked songs and concepts don't belong to me. All the songs were written by Stephen Schwartz. The line "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" is spoken by Glinda in the Wizard of Oz movie. That's not mine either.
Don't know what Wicked is? Well, it's the true story of the Witches of Oz. It was a novel that was turned into a Broadway production. It tells the story of how the Wicked Witch of the West (in Wicked she is called Elphaba) was not really wicked and how Glinda was a shallow personuntil knowing Elphaba.
For those who are fans and freaking out about reading this because it might ruin the play for them because they haven't seen it yet, don't worry. I've avoided ruining everything. Nothing that you couldn't get from listening to the soundtrack anyway. I've seen the touring production and loved it to death (but I saw it in San Francisco and Eden Espinosa the original standby played Elphaba because Stephanie Block had an injury and couldn't do the San Francisco shows, so I don't know how good Stephanie is, but Eden is awesome).
One more thing, some might be skeptical about a high school doing Wicked as a production. Number one, copyrights aren't available (I think there's rumors of them being available soon though, but I don't know much about that). Number two, it's really expensive. For simplicity's sake, the school got a huge grant for their theater department to do a play. That's how we're going to leave it.
"Look Drake!" Josh yelled as the two step-brothers walked down the hall together. "Mrs. Lane is having auditions for the school production of Wicked! I still can't believe the school got that performing arts grant. It was so huge. I can't believe it paid for a Wicked set and copyrights!"
Drake stared at Josh. Why was he so excited about this?
"Um, Josh. Why is it so great?"
"Drake! Wicked is only one of the best and most technical plays on Broadway right now. The time dragon, the bubble, the Wizard's head, the rising platform! RISING!"
"Huh?" asked Drake. He definitely wasn't getting any of this.
"Not only that, but Wicked has music that requires a huge vocal range. Whoever has the leads better be good."
"I see," said Drake. "Well, hope they find talent."
"Drake, why don't you audition?"
"Me?" Drake laughed. "No way man. Only a loser would do that Broadway stuff, and I am not a loser."
"Drake!" said Josh. "Broadway is tough. Besides it can be cool."
"Sorry Josh, not interested."
Josh walked into auditions, he approached Mrs. Lane.
"Um, Mrs. Lane," he said. "Hi, I'm Josh Nichols. I really can't sing. However, I would be willing to help with the set and things like that."
"Oh," Mrs. Lane said. "Well, why don't you be stage manager? Would you like that?"
"Would I ever!" said Josh.
"Good," Mrs. Lane replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have auditions to take care of."
"Of course Mrs. Lane, thanks again!"
Drake walked through the halls the next day. He could not believe Josh. He was going to be stage manager of that goofy play. What a waste of time. Then, he felt a hand touch his shoulder. He turned around and found himself face to face with the choir director.
"Hi Mrs. Lane," Drake said.
"Drake," said Mrs. Lane. "I wanted to ask, well, offer you something."
"Oh, and what would that be?"
"I wondered if you would like to play Fiyero in the school's production of Wicked."
Drake stared at her.
"Why me?" he asked.
"Because the role is hard to fill," she said. "Fiyero is supposed to be cool and charming, and the only guy who's audition was good enough was..."
"Look, Mrs. Lane. I don't really have the time, with my band and everything. So, I gotta go."
Mrs. Lane stood there and shook her head.
"I cannot believe her," said Drake to Josh later that afternoon in their bedroom. "Asking if me, Drake Parker wants to be in a musical."
"Well, she offered you the coolest part in the play," replied Josh.
"Yeah right," said Drake. "If the coolest character is named Fiyero, then I don't really care to have anything to do with it."
"Drake, do you even know what the play is about?"
"Sort of...a little...no."
"It's the true story of the witches of Oz. Before Dorothy arrived. It's about how Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West, or in Wicked her name is Elphaba, were not what they seemed."
"Okay, yeah, bored already," said Drake.
"Yeah, and the part you were offered, Fiyero, he gets both girls."
"Huh?" asked Drake.
"Yep," said Josh. "He's a lot like you, doesn't care much for school, loves having fun, except he's a prince, but you know..."
"Wait a minute," said Drake. "That part doesn't seem so bad."
"You already turned it down though," said Josh. "Too bad, we'll all have to watch Hewitt play Fiyero."
"That loser!" said Drake. "That part is way too cool for him!" Hewitt and his group of chorus members had stolen Drake's song at the talent show. Something Drake could never forget.
Josh sighed, he definitely knew how to get Drake to see the light. A couple girls, a guy he hates, everything works out fine.
"Mrs. Lane!" cried Drake as he ran into the choir room.
"What is it Drake?" asked Mrs. Lane.
"About your offer yesterday, um, I think I do have time and would like too..."
"I'd forget about it if I were you Drake," came a voice.
"And why's that Hewitt?"
"The part's already mine."
"What?" Drake asked, looking frantically at Mrs. Lane.
"Now now," said Mrs. Lane. "We were just about to discuss that. Drake, if you think you've found the time I'd like to hear you sing. Can you sight read music?"
"Um, yeah," he replied.
"Good," she said, handing him a piece of music entitled "Dancing Through Life". "This is one of the numbers Fiyero sings, I'd like to hear you do it, I'll be on the piano."
"Okay," said Drake. Hewitt gave him an ugly look, which Drake graciously returned.
The trouble with schools is
They always try to teach the wrong lessons
Believe me, I've been kicked out of enough of them to know
They want you to become less callou, less shallow
But I say why invite stress in
Stop studying strife
And learn to live the unexamined life
"Alright, Drake please continue at 'Let's go down to the Ozdust ballroom' okay?"
"Sure."
Let's go down to the Ozdust ballroom
We'll meet there later tonight
We can dance 'til it's light
Find the prettiest girl
Give 'er a whirl
Right on down to the Ozdust ballroom
Come on follow me
You'll be happy to be there
Dancing through life...
"Thank you Drake," said Mrs. Lane. "I need to see you act though, so if you would, read these lines," she said handing him a sheet of paper.
Drake read the lines Mrs. Lane gave him.
"Thank you again Drake," she said. "I'll let you know tomorrow."
"Okay, thanks ma'am." Drake left and received another glare from Hewitt. Man, that guy got on Drake's nerves.