 The Ozians are cheering that the Wicked Witch of the West , Elphaba , is dead ( " No One Mourns the Wicked " ) . Glinda arrives and an <unk> asks her if she and Elphaba were friends . She admits that they knew each other , which surprises all of the Ozians , leading Glinda to tell them the story of how they became best friends . She also tells them her name was Galinda before she changed it . A flashback starts with a scene in a school , Shiz , where Elphaba arrives . Elphaba ( later known as the Wicked Witch of the West ) was the daughter of the governor of Munchkinland - but it is heavily implied that she is the product of an affair between the governor 's wife and a mysterious stranger and his bottle of " green elixir . " Elphaba was born with green skin . Her father despised her and showered his affection on her younger sister , Nessarose , who is confined to a wheelchair . The two sisters both go to Shiz University , where the pretty and popular Galinda is also in their class ( " Dear Old Shiz " ) . As their father says goodbye , he gives Nessarose a pair of silver slippers . The headmistress , Madame Morrible , decides to take Nessarose under her protection , despite Elphaba 's objections . Elphaba is now without a roommate and ends up with Galinda , to the disgust of both . Elphaba attempts to take back her sister as she is wheeled away , and her frustration manifests itself physically in an explosion . Madame Morrible recognizes that she has special powers and decides to teach her sorcery - and to teach no one else , even though Galinda had her heart set on studying with magic at school . She even tells Elphaba that her powers might allow her to work with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz , something which Elphaba has dreamed of ( " The Wizard and I " ) . 
