Invite Suzanne                                           

Suzanne would enjoy coming to speak to your community. She can present an introduction to The Wicked Truth, or she can tailor her presentation to your audience. Here are some suggestions:

What is This Feeling? From Cliques to Communities of Compassion

This talk will focus on illuminating the dynamics of cliques and bullying. We all need to know who we are, what we believe in, and the things that are important to us. But the trick is to do that without having to establish that identity over and against someone else. In other words, we need to avoid the “I am good because I’m not like you” self-definitions. The focus will be on the relationship between Galinda and Elphaba and how it was transformed from one of enmity to one of friendship through self-less giving.

When Dreams Come True: Are You Happy Now?

This talk will examine what promises our culture makes about happiness. Focusing on Glinda’s song, “Thank Goodness”, we will ask why we sometimes have an empty feeling when we have achieved our goals. The discussion will focus on how we chose our goals or dreams and what “couple of things” might have gotten “lost” along the way. Maybe the road to happiness lies with those things we sacrificed as a “cost” of our dreams – friendship, love, self-giving.

The Lies We All Believe: The Creed of the Culture of Violence

This talk will use the Wizard as a representative of the Culture of Violence, a leader who is willing to use any means to maintain his power. We will use Dr. Dillamond and the Animals as a way to understand the costs of peace bought through scapegoating violence. We will explore how the culture of violence silences its victims in order to keep us unaware and blind to its methods. The group will build their own alternative, developing a creed for a culture of peace, using as a guide the transformative power of self-giving love demonstrated in Galinda and Elphaba’s relationship.

Popular Like Me! Glinda’s Guide to Popularity

This program will take a close look at the songs, “Dancing Through Life” and “Popular”. They provide a recipe for getting boyfriends and having lots of girlfriends. They promise that your dreams and desires are more important than anyone else’s. By taking a closer look at how Galinda treats Boq and at who ends up getting Fiyero in the end (Elphaba!), we will take apart this self-centered philosophy and build up a new one centered in self-giving, loving relationships and just being yourself.

“Would You Do That For Me?” How to Get the Girl

This program will take a close look at the songs, “Dancing Through Life” and “Popular” from the boys’ perspective. In particular, we will focus on the relationship between Boq and Galinda by asking these questions: Why is Boq in love with Galinda? Why does he put up with how badly she treats him? What power does she have over him? We will ask what Boq could have done differently in two areas: choosing his love object and responding to mistreatment. How is it that Fiyero chooses Elphaba over Galinda? I will lead the boys in developing their own guide in how to choose and get the girl.