Boq

Boq is a minor character in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. He becomes a more prominent character in Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked, which purports to show the lives of some of Baum's characters from another perspective, and more prominent still in the Broadway musical Wicked which is based on Maguire's novel.

In Baum's novel, Boq is a rich Munchkin who provides shelter for Dorothy on her journey to the Emerald City.

In Wicked, Boq is a munchkin who attends school at Shiz University with Elphaba and Galinda (who would grow up to become The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch respectively). In the musical version of Wicked (but not in Baum's or Maguire's books), Boq becomes the Tin Woodman.

In Maguire's novel, Boq has very little interaction with both Nessarose and Galinda, and while he does fancy Galinda, he essentially does not become involved with either. Boq narrates a whole section of the book in the Shiz University section of the novel. However, Boq befriends Elphaba, as they were childhood playmates, and assists her in doing research for Doctor Dillamond. Boq becomes friends with Crope, Tibbett, and Avaric, although he appears to be jealous of Avaric, due to his good looks, charm, and money. His infatuation with Galinda, which never comes to more than a brief kiss, gradually lifts and they become friends. As the time goes on, Boq marries Miss Milla (another school-mate who plays a minor role.) Boq changes near the end of the book, in a way turning on Elphaba.

In the musical, Boq is the love interest of Elphaba's younger sister, Nessarose (who would later become The Wicked Witch of the East). However, the feeling is not mutual; Boq only became involved with Nessarose in hopes of impressing Galinda, whom he truly has his heart set on. Unfortunately for him, though, Galinda disregards him so much that she cannot remember his name (calling him Bic). When Nessarose eventually becomes the governor of Munchkinland, she uses her power to enslave Boq as her personal servant. When trying to cast a spell that would make him fall in love with her, she accidentally causes his heart to stop and vanish completely. In a desperate attempt to save Boq's life, Elphaba turns Boq into the Tin Woodman. Unlike in the novel, Boq plays quite a condensed role in the staged production.

Boq sings as himself in "Dancing Through Life" and "The Wicked Witch of the East". He is the Tin Man when singing "March of the Witch Hunters".

He was originally played by Christopher Fitzgerald.