| “ | It's really... uh... sharp, don't you think? You know black is this year's pink. | ” |
| — Glinda to Elphaba[src] | ||
The hat soon became her trademark.
Galinda originally owned the hat but gave it to Elphaba as a joke.
Elphaba's hat is a tall conical hat made of black fabric with a brim. Since the 1939 adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, it has become a trademark for not only the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, but witches in general popular culture.
In the Musical[]
The hat is first introduced halfway through in Dancing Through Life and is a gift to Galinda from her grandmother. As Galinda stated it was 'hideotious'. Galinda's friends convinced her to give Elphaba the hat as a joke for the party that Fiyero was throwing at the Ozdust Ballroom. Even after she is made fun of for wearing it, Elphaba still continued to wear the hat on occasions, such as her first trip to the Emerald City. It later became one of her trademarks (along with the broom and her acidic green skin). It is one of the two items (green elixir being the other) that she leaves for Glinda after she fakes her death.
Trivia[]
- Elphaba actually has two hats, one has a microphone in it, as well as two others which are usually under her wig, and on the right side under her ear. The other is one that is used if there is no lines for Elphaba, or if the hat is going to be taken off or put on. There is a third hat that is more decorated along the brim that Galinda has before she gives it to Elphaba.
- During Shoshana Bean's first performance of Defying Gravity as principal Elphaba, her hat (which had the microphone attached to it) flew off and her voice was dimmed. Her backup mic was switched on, but the audience were unable to hear the lines "And if I'm flying solo, at least I'm flying free."
- During the catfight, Glinda takes the hat and beats Elphaba with it.