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**COMPOSER STEPHEN SCHWARTZ TO RECEIVE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH MATINEE PERFORMANCE**

(NEW YORK, NY – November 8, 2010) With sales surpassing the two million mark, the Grammy® award-winning original cast recording of Wicked has officially been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Since its opening, the production has continued to captivate audiences and currently ranks in the top 20 of Broadway’s longest running shows, having played over 2,910 performances to date.

Declared “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety and “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly, Wicked is the winner of 35 major awards including the Grammy® and three Tony Awards. The acclaimed CD continues to be a mainstay on top of Billboard’s Broadway Chart and the music has very clearly made its mark on popular culture – having been performed on hit TV shows such as ‘Glee’ and ‘American Idol’.

The story begins long before Dorothy drops in, when two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

To celebrate the occasion, composer Stephen Schwartz will be presented with a commemorative plaque following the matinee performance at The Gershwin Theater on November 10, 2010. Schwartz’s storied career spans over four decades and his body of work includes scores for Godspell (1971) and Pippin (1972) as well as a number of successful films including Pocahonatas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt (1998) and Enchanted (2007).

With this honor, Wicked joins an elite group of Decca Broadway cast recordings to achieve double platinum status including Rent, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Cats.

IN-STORES OCTOBER 28^TH

DOUBLE DISC FEATURES NEVER-BEFORE RELEASED MATERIAL,

INCLUDING NEW DUET WITH DELTA GOODREM AND LEANN RIMES

Decca Broadway celebrates the 5^th Anniversary of the smash hit musical, Wicked, with a new CD deluxe package in-stores October 28^th. The double disc features the Grammy Award®-winning Original Cast Recording, plus a new bonus CD containing eight never-before released tracks, making for the ultimate Wicked listening experience.

Highlights of the 5^th Anniversary Edition include a brilliant duet with LeAnn Rimes and Delta Goodrem on the moving ballad “For Good,” produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, as well as a pop version of “I’m Not That Girl,” by current Wicked star Kelly Ellis, produced by the iconic Brian May of Queen. Wicked fanatics will also thrill to a new dance mix of “Defying Gravity” by Tony-Award winner Idina Menzel, and “Making Good,” a track that was included in early drafts the show, and captured on record here for the first time. “Making Good” features past Wicked star Stephanie J. Block, accompanied by Stephen Schwartz on piano. Elaborately designed, the deluxe package also includes rare color photographs and a new essay by composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz.

In honor of its 5^th Anniversary on Broadway, Wicked will host several special events and promotions throughout the month of October. Highlights include The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken, a one-night-only benefit performance featuring songs and scenes cut from early drafts of the musical, as well as the Empire State Building shining green on October 27^th. Several events with Wicked author Gregory Maguire, Stephen Schwartz and book writer Winnie Holzman, as well as Wicked producers Marc Platt and David Stone are also scheduled.

Declared “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety, Wicked is the winner of 20 major awards including the aforementioned Grammy, and three Tony Awards. The acclaimed CD is approaching double-platinum status, and continues to be a mainstay on top of Billboard’s Broadway Chart. Wicked currently has productions in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Toyko, Stuttgart, Melbourne, and a North American tour.