Menzel's 'Defying Gravity' Remix Now on UK's iTunes

According to Wicked's newsletter, a remix version of "Defying Gravity" from Idina Menzel's forthcoming studio album is now available to download from iTunes' UK store.

Menzel, who won a Tony Award for originating the role of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway and also reprised her performance in London, is currently at work on her previously announced album. The CD, set for a fall release, will be a collaboration with writer-producer Glen Ballard, who co-writes some of the pop/rock songs with Menzel.  His other credits as a writer-producer include Alanis Morisette's "Jagged Little Pill."

Menzel previously released the solo albums "Still I Can't Be Still" and "Here."

The actress, who was last seen on stage in Michael John LaChiusa's See What I Wanna See at the Public Theatre, also reprised her Tony-nominated turn as Maureen in the recent film version of Rent.  Menzel played Amneris in Broadway's Aida, portrayed Kate in Andrew Lippa's off-Broadway musical The Wild Party and appeared in the City Center Encores! production of Hair, as well as in the Actors' Fund Benefit Concert of Funny Girl.  Other film credits include Ask the Dust, starring Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek, and the upcoming Enchanted.

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked has music and lyrics by  Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman.  It is directed by Joe Mantello, with musical staging by Wayne Cilento.  Wicked is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Winner of 15 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, Wicked "is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, 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, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch," as described in press notes.

Visit www.idinamenzel.com for more on Menzel and stay tuned for more on her upcoming album.

Photo of Idina Menzel by Craig Brockman