A gold certification means a recording has sold at least 500,000 units. The Wicked CD, which features original stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, is the best-selling cast recording since Mamma Mia! and the fastest-selling cast disc since Rent.
The recording is currently ranked 169th on the Billboard 200 list of the top albums in the United States, where it has resided for 25 weeks; its peak position so far has been 138.
In a statement Christopher Roberts, Chairman of Universal Classics Group, said, "Decca Broadway is proud to be a part of the Wicked phenomenon. The music and lyrics of Stephen Schwartz have created a legion of loyal fans for the cast album, which has taken on an exciting life of its own."
Available on the Decca Broadway label, the single CD runs 71 minutes and 8 seconds. Chenoweth and Menzel as witches, friends and rivals Glinda and Elphaba, head a recording cast that also includes Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey as The Wizard, Carole Shelley as the Wizard's malevolent cohort Madame Morrible, Norbert Leo Butz as Glinda and Elphaba's love interest Fiyero, Michelle Federer as Elphaba's crippled sister Nessarose, Christopher Fitzgerald as munchkin Boq, who adores Glinda and William Youmans as Doctor Dillamand, who is a professor and a goat.
The recording includes lyrics, color production photos from the musical and introductory notes by author Gregory Maguire. Maguire wrote the novel on which the musical is based. The complete track listing for the Wicked CD follows: "No One Mourns the Wicked"
"Dear Old Shiz"
"The Wizard and I"
"What Is This Feeling"
"Something Bad"
"Dancing Through Life"
"Popular"
"I'm Not That Girl"
"One Short Day"
"A Sentimental Man"
"Defying Gravity"
"Thank Goodness"
"Wonderful"
"I'm Not That Girl" (reprise)
"As Long As You're Mine"
"No Good Deed"
"March of the Witch Hunters"
"For Good"
"Finale-Wicked"
Wicked continues to play the Gershwin Theatre, located in Manhattan at 222 West 51st Street. The cast currently features Shoshana Bean, Megan Hilty, Rue McClanahan and Ben Vereen. Tickets are available by calling (212) 307-4100 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
