Idina Menzel Is 'Emotional' Over Returning to the Theater She Made Her Broadway Debut for Her New ShowRedwood

Mar. 15, 2025

Idina Menzel at The GRAMMY Museum on Aug. 22, 2023 in Los Angeles.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Idina Menzel at A Conversation with Idina Menzel at The GRAMMY Museum on August 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Idina Menzelis returning to her roots!

The actress, 53, is starring in thenew Broadway musicalRedwood, which is performing at the same theater she made her debut withRentnearly 30 years ago.

Idina Menzel at Open Jar Studios on Dec. 19, 2024.Bruce Glikas/Getty

Idina Menzel poses at a photo call for the upcoming broadway musical “Redwood” at Open Jar Studios on December 19, 2024 in New York City. “Redwood” will begin previews at The Nederlander Theatre January 24, 2025, opening February 13.

Bruce Glikas/Getty

Menzel made her Broadway debut inJonathan Larson’s 1996 rock musicalRent, which first opened at the Nederlander after a successful Off-Broadway run at the New York Theatre Workshop.

While speaking withThe New York Times, she said returning to the venue has been “very emotional” due to her history with the venue. “Honestly, it’s been very emotional, like a homecoming,” Menzel said, “and it’s causing me to reflect a lot on who I am and where I’ve come from.”

After making her Broadway debut, which earned her a Tony Award nomination for best featured actress in a musical, Menzel went on to perform in stage productions, likeThe Wild PartyandAida,before originating the role of Elphaba inWicked.The latter earned a Tony Award for best actress in a musical in 2004.

Idina Menzel at the Tony Award nominations in 1996.Catherine McGann/Getty

Idina Menzel, of the original cast of the Broadway musical “Rent”, poses for a photo at the Tony Award nominations in 1996 in New York City, New York. Menzel was nominated for a Tony for her performance in “Rent”.

Catherine McGann/Getty

The actress has also starred in several on-screen productions, including the Fox musical-comedy seriesGlee, the family musical movieEnchantedand A24’sUncut Gems. She also voices Elsa in the Disney animated musicalFrozenand its sequels.

Now, Menzel feels that Broadway is where she belongs. She told theNew York Timesthat “the theater will always welcome me,” noting “there are better roles for older women in theater, as opposed to worrying about your beauty and your age in Hollywood.”

Artwork for ‘Redwood’ on Broadway.Bruce Glikas/Getty

Signage during a first look presented by Broadway Direct of the upcoming Broadway show “Redwood A New Musical” on Broadway at The Nederlander Theatre on January 10, 2025 in New York City. Idina Menzel returns to Broadway & the same theater she made her 1996 Tony Nominated Broadway debut as “Maureen Johnson” in “RENT” She later won the Tony Award as “Elphaba” in “Wicked” and appears in the 2024 film of “Wicked.” “Redwood” begins previews on January 24th.

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When it comes to the N.Y.C. theater scene, she added, “I walk into what I feel is a sanctuary — the rehearsal room, or the theater — and I feel at one with myself, and comfortable. I think of it as my home, and where I feel closest to my truest self.”

The musical had its world premiere at California’s La Jolla Playhouse in February 2024, where it premiered in a sold-out run.

Tickets forRedwoodare now on sale.

source: people.com