REDWOOD Promo Recap!

Posted on by Heather

It’s been a very busy few weeks for Idina Menzel! REDWOOD began previews at the Nederlander Theatre on January 24 and will officially open on February 13. (Get tickets here & don’t forget to use code FIRSTLOOK for specially-priced tickets.)
 
 
 
A couple of weeks ago she appeared on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss the show. You can watch the portion that aired, which also includes some footage from the show & rehearsal, here. There is also her extended interview- which is also worth a watch – here. I’ve also got a Redwood playlist on Youtube that includes her miscellaneous video interviews.

Idina also stopped by TODAY to perform “In The Leaves”:

 
While there, she spoke with Jenna and Kelsea Ballerini. Last week, she stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Idina also did a number of print interviews and new photoshoots!

The New York Times:

How does she square her considerable accomplishments with her persistent angst? “I’m getting a little tired of my self-deprecation,” she said. “In a way, it’s been a crutch. It’s a way of naming a shortcoming in my life before someone else can say it. But I also recognize that it makes me vulnerable, and that being vulnerable is so important to being a great performer and being able to connect with your audience. Making mistakes and being fallible are the things that draw people to you.”

Parade:

“When I played Maureen, I didn’t know all the stuff that comes along with the theater community and the politics and the awards. I had no idea about all of that because I was kind of preoccupied with wanting a record deal and writing my own music and wanting to be a rock star for a minute,” Menzel explains. “Maureen was just full of all of that levity and abandonment and rebelliousness and my humorous side and my sexy side. Then unfortunately, like I said, [as] you become more and more known, you start to go inward and become a little bit more fearful.”

“Being here [at the Nederlander],” she says, “I miss her, and it’s wonderful because I am trying to channel that again.”“was an extraordinary experience for me,” she says, from her dressing room at the Nederlander (the same dressing room she used 29 years ago in Rent). “Getting to feel a real connection to the world in a very different way. It felt like being in a sanctuary. There’s a unique silence there and you feel like a pea. You feel so small but in the best way. It’s humbling and freeing.”

Playbill:

[Climbing a redwood] “was an extraordinary experience for me,” she says, from her dressing room at the Nederlander (the same dressing room she used 29 years ago in Rent). “Getting to feel a real connection to the world in a very different way. It felt like being in a sanctuary. There’s a unique silence there and you feel like a pea. You feel so small but in the best way. It’s humbling and freeing.”

Vanity Fair:

The show is Menzel’s first time working with an all-female creative team. “It’s a relief to be able to support each other in being extremely powerful, speaking our minds, and not having to apologize for that, while also being very sensitive and empathetic individuals who look out for each other.”

Redwood First Look Event

Posted on by Heather

On Friday, January 10 I had the incredible opportunity to attend a First Look event for Idina Menzel’s new musical, REDWOOD! I posted a lot from the event on Instagram but I still want to document it here. The event took place at the Nederlander Theatre in NYC where everyone involved is hard at work putting the show together. The orchestra was packed with tables, computers and equipment & it was pretty incredible to see how many people are involved and how complex it is behind the scenes. Tina Landau, the writer, co-conceiver & co-lyricist, warned us that everything we were about to see was very much a work in progress.

The orchestra

We made our way to the mezzanine and got settled in row A. If you’re reading this, I’ll give you a little tip on sight lines! There is a railing in front of Row A that may partially block your view. I am 5’1″ and it was in my way unless I scooted forward in my seat. I was told they took that into account while staging and most of the action won’t be blocked.

The stage

Here’s a look at the stage! There are over 1,000 LED screens set up in a circle and extending to the mezz to immerse the audience in the production. Even the stage floor will be part of the action and respond to the actor’s movements during certain parts of the show.

We got a preview of the show’s groundbreaking visuals and I can’t say enough amazing things about it. We previewed the point in the show where Idina’s character, Jesse, is awed by the redwood forest. The audience will see the forest from Jesse’s perspective and the visuals will shift as Idina moves on stage. They warned us that they are only about 50% finished but I was floored. It’s hard to explain how absolutely stunning they were. In row A of the mezz, I felt immersed in the forest. If you’ve ridden Soarin’ at Disney, it reminded me of that. (I am very prone to motion sickness and there’s a note about that on the ticket page, but I felt OK though there is definitely the illusion of movement.) A particularly striking moment that stuck with me was how they simulated light streaming through the trees. The entire scene was incredibly beautiful. I can’t wait to experience it live in the theater with the actors on stage and the communal feeling of awe in the audience.

Zachary Noah Piser (Spencer) and De’Adre Aziza (Mel) popped on stage to introduce us to the other star of the show, the giant Redwood tree named Stella, then Melecio Estrella from Bandaloop took the stage to discuss the cast’s vertical choreography(!) and how they are ensuring everyone’s safety on stage. Most of the actors, including Idina, will actually climb Stella throughout the show. There are no stage tricks here, all of them had to learn how to actually climb. There is even a point in the show where Idina climbs, sings and performs tree choreography!

When you see the show, you may note that when the actors are ready to climb, they will go through a safety check. During their pre-Broadway run in La Jolla, the checks were seamlessly part of the songs, so I imagine it will be the same in NYC. After the overview, Khaila Wilcoxon (Becca) and Michael Park (Finn) performed a very cool climbing and vertical choreography demonstration.

Sheet music for “The Stars”

Then, it was time for Idina and composer/co-lyricist Kate Diaz to take the stage! Idina performed a new song called “The Stars” where Jesse is asking the stars for help. I have anxiety and I could relate to the lyrics from that lens but I was too excited to remember more details. BroadwayDirect shared a very short clip on Instagram, though! Also, here’s the sheet music! Again we were warned that things are constantly changing and shifting, so we’ll see if this version appears on stage when previews begin on January 24. One other note about the music – there are a number of new songs since the show was in La Jolla, so expect a lot of changes if you saw it there.

Finally, they introduced the entire cast and Idina spoke for a few minutes. It’s such a big moment for her! Fifteen years ago she was inspired by the redwoods and reached out to Tina Landau to collaborate on a musical and now here they are, about to open the show on Broadway. It’s an incredible achievement and I can’t wait to be there.

Watch her speech here:

 
If you still don’t have tickets (or you want more!), you can buy specially priced tickets to Redwood here. Tickets are currently on sale through July 6.

Idina Menzel Performs Redwood’s ‘Great Escape’

Idina Menzel Performs Redwood’s ‘Great Escape’

Posted on by Heather

 
REDWOOD starring Idina Menzel begins previews at the Nederlander Theatre in NYC in less than 8 weeks! Promo is starting to ramp up & Idina & the REDWOOD team have been hard at work behind the scenes, so I figured it was a good time to recap! Idina appeared on Morning Joe to talk about the show on Wednesday. You can watch that interview on her Instagram.

On Thanksgiving, Idina performed part of the newest version of “Great Escape” at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. As with any show in development, changes are happening all the time. I listen to the live version from the La Jolla production all the time and while most changes are subtle, the biggest change is the way she ends the song. I really like the new ending and I’m excited to see all the tweaks and changes on stage. You can listen to the new version in full here. Before getting on her float, Idina spoke with Al Roker about REDWOOD and appearing in the WICKED movie. If you haven’t already done so, get your tickets to see Idina in REDWOOD here.

You can watch a “making of” video here. This is not to be missed! The video includes footage of Idina at the top of a real redwood:

 
Finally, a new commercial:

 

How WICKED’s Special Cameos Came Together

Posted on by Heather

Many years we have waited for…a WICKED movie! WICKED was officially released in theaters on November 22, more than 21 years after the Broadway musical opened at the Gershwin Theatre. As we all know, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have stepped into the shoes of Elphaba and Glinda but I know I wasn’t alone in hoping for a cameo from our original leading ladies.

So, do Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth have a cameo? The answer is:

Continue reading “How WICKED’s Special Cameos Came Together”

Idina Menzel Honored with National Medal of Arts at White House!

Posted on by Heather

Idina Menzel was one of the recipients of the 2022 National Medal of Arts at the White House yesterday! The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists by the federal government. It is awarded by the president of the United States to individuals or groups who are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.

The medals were awarded in a private ceremony inside the Oval Office. Idina’s medal was presented with the following citation:

For magical songs that lift our spirits and stir our souls. From Broadway stages to movie screens, Idina Menzel’s powerful voice has sold out shows, topped Billboard charts, and above all, empowered millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds to be strong, use their voice, and lead with their hearts.

Beautiful, right?! Here’s what Idina had to say about the honor:

“This is such an incredible honor.  I started my singing and acting career when I was a young girl in the hope of being able to entertain people but never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would one day take me to the White House to be recognized by the President of the United States.  This is such a special moment for me in my career and I’m humbled that they’re awarding me with this medal.”

After the private ceremony there was a public reception with remarks by President Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, and National Endowment for the Humanities Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo). The reception streamed live & you can watch it below. You can’t really see Idina but there was a moment when the recipients stood for acknowledgement and you can see that here. I posted a few clips on Instagram, as well.

I particularly loved this part of President Biden’s speech:

“Just let me say this – you have broken barriers, you’ve blazed new trails, you have redefined culture. You’re the truth-tellers, the bridge builders, the change seekers, and above all, you’re the masters of your craft. You have made us a better America for all you’ve done. […] Bringing new characters to life to influence who we all can be, you also help us find meaning and purpose in the ordinary, as well as the extraordinary, providing hope, wisdom and laughter when we need it and we need a way forward.”

It’s so true and a great reflection on the impact Idina and her fellow honorees have had on the world. Idina has had such a huge impact on me and if you’re here, I know you feel the same way. Congratulations, Idina on this well-deserved honor!

Reception remarks:

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