Idina Menzel Is 'Emotional' Over Returning to the Theater She Made Her Broadway Debut for Her New Show “Redwood”

Idina Menzel is returning to her roots!

The actress, 53, is starring in the new Broadway musical Redwood, which is performing at the same theater she made her debut with Rent nearly 30 years ago.

The show, currently in previews, opens at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City on Feb. 13. In it, Menzel plays Jesse, a successful woman whose life is changed by a major event that "drives her far from everyone and everything she knows," according to the synopsis. After traveling to the California redwoods, Jesse has a life-changing, chance encounter.

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

While speaking with The 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, like The Wild Party and Aida, before originating the role of Elphaba in Wicked. The latter earned a Tony Award for best actress in a musical in 2004.

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The actress has also starred in several on-screen productions, including the Fox musical-comedy series Glee, the family musical movie Enchanted and A24's Uncut Gems. She also voices Elsa in the Disney animated musical Frozen and its sequels.

Additionally, Menzel reprised her Rent role for the 2005 movie adaptation by Christopher Columbus. More recently, she made a favored cameo in the Wicked movie adaptation with her former costar Kristin Chenoweth.

Now, Menzel feels that Broadway is where she belongs. She told the New York Times that "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."

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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 actress co-conceived Redwood with Tina Landau, who also wrote and directed the work. The show features music by Kate Diaz with lyrics by Diaz and Landau. Menzel is joined on stage by De’Adre Aziza, Michael Park, Zachary Noah Piser, Khaila Wilcoxon, Daniel Brackett, Bradley Dean, Veronica Otim and Jessica Phillips.

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

Tickets for Redwood are now on sale.

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