Photo Coverage: 'WICKED' Receives RIAA Double Platinum Certification

BroadwayWorld.com was on hand as composer Stephen Schwartz was 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).

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.

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.

Photos by Walter McBride / WM Photos

As a 14 year old youth, Walter was transfixed by his first Broadway Show, the original production of 'GREASE'. His Journey to celebrity photojournalism began that fateful night. Meeting, photographing and getting to know the cast inspired him to spend his professional life doing what he loved. Walter moved to Manhattan and for a leading role as a Photographer & Photo Researcher. Currently headlining in New Jersey with his partner Richard and family members Dali (Jack Russell) & Gala (Schnoodle). Recently he made his Broadway debut sharing the stage with Hugh Jackman in 'Hugh Jackman on Broadway' as well as receiving the Actors' Equity Association Gypsy Spirit Award. Walter McBride Photography is syndicated worldwide by Corbis/AP.

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