It’s not everyday that the Houston Symphony has an attention-starved, bisexual, green-faced, adoptive wicked mom who prefers to fly by broomstick on the Jones Hall stage. These are just some of the characters that have made Idina Menzel a household name just about everywhere.

The men love her. The gays want to be her. And the ladies drool over her husband Taye Diggs (have you seen the abs?)

Menzel’s rise to the ranks of celeb began with her 1996 Broadway role as Maureen Johnson in the original Rent, the musical that updated the story of Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme and made numbers cool via the song “525,600.“ She received a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical.

Ironically, it was Menzel yelling “fuck” emphatically after cackling the high note in the midst of her Wicked audition — “Defying Gravity” is not for the weak — that helped earn her a spot as Elphaba in that hit musical.

When it rains, it pours. Menzel won a Tony, three Broadway.com Audience Awards and a Drama Desk Award for the role. With her appearances in the TV hit Glee as Shelby Corcoran, now the former coach of rival show choir Vocal Adrenaline, the 40-year-old is at the top of her game.

We caught up with the busy actress, singer and songwriter when Menzel was in her car right outside the set of Glee. Over the phone while sitting in her car, Menzel gave us the insider scoop on her life and her  shows with the Houston Symphony this weekend (Menzel performs with the Symphony Friday, Saturday and Sunday night).

CultureMap: I can imagine that performing on a theater stage is quite different from the television set of Glee. Do you have a preference? What feels more comfortable for you? 

Idina Menzel: Technically there are a lot of differences, but there is one common denominator. As an artist and performer, whether you are on stage or on set, it’s imperative that I find the willingness to expose my vulnerabilities and connect with people.

That doesn’t change regardless of wherever I happen to be performing. So I feel it as a very similar experience even though the surroundings are quite different.

CM: In high school, did you have a favorite musical or a memorable musical experience?

IM: I went to high school in Long Island in a district that was very supportive of the arts. We did many school plays, musicals, concerts, you name it.

In 1988, we took a trip to the Soviet Union with the special honors choir. The choir was amazing. At that age, as a junior, the opportunity to see the world, meet students our own age doing the same thing in a different culture really opened my eyes.

I now know how fortunate I was to be a part of a school system that could support such a program, that had the means to raise the needed funds to send us abroad.

CM: Very important question. Who are you wearing in Houston? 

IM: That’s a really good question (laughs) and it’s bit of a long story. There was a mistake made when I went to London just last week and all my wardrobe is stuck in customs. I usually wear this gorgeous white dress.

At this point, your guess is as good as mine. As soon as I am finished with Glee today, off I go to figure that out.

I never wear shoes on stage. So that’s not an issue.

CM: No shoes? Comfort? Afraid to fall over?

IM: (Laughs) It’s more of a comfort thing. One day my ankles were hurting after lifting the stroller, suitcases, running through the airport and thought to myself, there is no way I am putting those 3-inch platform heels on. So I didn’t.

It was the best show I had performed. I felt grounded, more like myself. It’s more about have the freedom to just be me out there, and that means being comfortable.

CM: And the hair? I mean, look at you. It’s amazing. 

IM: My hair (laughs)? Gosh, I don’t have many tricks. I am lucky I had the time to shower two days in a row. I don’t feel very glamorous right now. My hormones are all screwed up from having a baby. My hair doesn’t know what it’s doing most of the time.

CM: So, you just celebrated the big 4-0 and Walker is now 2 years old. How do you balance between being a mom, a wife and a very active working performing artist. 

IM: Good question. I am learning everyday how to do it better; I struggle with finding balance everyday. As a mother, I feel empowered. I certainly can feel when I am spending too much in my career, when I need to spend more time with my husband and my child. That’s something all working women struggle with.

I feel comforted by the thought that everyday I leave the set, I do something for myself to ensure I am a better mother, a better wife. Also, performing is part of my life, it’s who I am. If I didn’t perform, I would not be the best version of myself, which translates in being a good mom.

CM: We hear you make a mean breakfast. French toast? Any other Idina Menzel signature dishes?

IM: Yes, I make really amazing French toast. I soak the bread really well in the eggs. And it’s all about the bread you use. I try not to use too much syrup, opt for agave nectar mostly. I make wicked omelets, pancakes and organic oatmeal with bananas.

Just don’t ask me to cook dinner.

CM: What are you passionate about lately?

IM: I started A Broader Way Foundation in an effort to support young people in the arts. Camp BroaderWay took 30 young inner city girls to a 10-day performing arts camp up in the Berkshire Mountains.

It wasn’t just music activities. They participated in camp fires, hikes, bunk skits, improvisation workshops and writing projects.

The students worked in a collaboration with composer Jeanine Tesori and using their ideas, they put together a beautiful original production which was performed in New York City.

I’d like the organization to grow so I can reach out more young people. I’d like more of them to have this experience and expand to Los Angeles, perhaps other cities.

CM: First time in Houston?

IM: Yes. My visit is culminating a year-and-a-half of shows. I am thrilled to stay in Houston for three nights, discover new things, see new places and meet Houston audiences. I just need to know where to go to eat.

CM: We’ll get our readers to give you restaurant suggestions.

Joel Luks – Culture Map Houston – October 13, 2011

OK Magazine (UK edition) – October 11, 2011

Though light on songs with only three numbers, this week’s episode was heavy on the action as Shelby Corcoran (Idina Menzel) decided to come back to Lima, Mckinley High specifically, so she could make amends for her mistakes. But that meant complicated feelings for her biological daughter Rachel, as well as for Quinn and Puck, the parents of the baby she adopted. (Remember baby Beth? Glad to see that the show does too. How cute is she?) Meanwhile, both Kurt’s run for class president and his attempt to get the Tony role in the school production of West Side Storyhit a snag on the issue of his… well, his perceived manliness.

Brittany really wanted to manage Kurt’s run for class president because she felt that his uniqueness made him a rare wonderful creature, like a unicorn. So along came the handmade bright pink and glitter posters and a swag bag that looked like a 5-year-old’s My Little Pony dream/nightmare exploded in it. Kurt Hummel’s Bulging Pink Fun Sack, filled with ruby slippers  and the like, was so over the top that Kurt called it too gay, saying that he didn’t want to be known as the “h” word.  (Glee may be able to say it but I sure won’t. I will say that I would love to find that unicorn headband that Brittany wore. So send me links if you find one like it.)

And even though he gave a killer performance, the play’s new directors (Coach Beiste, Emma, and Artie taking over for Schuester) questioned if Kurt could be butch enough to convincingly carry off the lead. After a botched attempt to change their minds by playing Romeo (Dude, showing up in tights and spouting Olde English was never going to help your cause with these guys), Kurt fretted that he’d never get to play coveted male leading roles as an actor. Of course, a no-holds-barred pep talk from everyone’s favorite dad, Burt, got Kurt back in a positive mood as he seemed to consider the idea that he might need to create the roles he wants rather than relying on fitting a certain mold. But that good mood disappeared when boyfriend Blaine’s amazing rendition of “Something’s Coming” caused the directors to ask him to read for the lead role instead of the supporting ones.

Shelby, hired by Sugar’s dad to start a second show choir at McKinley just for the tone-deaf student, also gave her bio-daughter a pep talk (“You will never become a star or get the lead if you play it safe”) and an audition song suggestion. And the combined  power of those two onstage singing “Somewhere There’s a Place for Us,” even briefly, was mesmerizing.

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We have to admit — despite being huge fans of Idina Menzel, we were skeptical when her extended “Glee” arc was announced this season, particularly after Ryan Murphy insisted that he was nixing the stunt guest star appearances.

But after seeing her first appearance in the Tuesday, Sept 27 episode, we’re once again sold on Shelby Corcoran. Menzel fits seamlessly into the “Glee” universe and serves to enhance the stories of the regular cast, rather than hog screen time from them.

Shelby is once again a foil to Will (Matthew Morrison), as she’s been hired to lead a competing show choir group at McKinley High. These two are worthy adversaries, and we’re looking forward to seeing how Shelby fits into the teacher’s lounge lunch group. We can’t wait to see her go toe-to-toe with Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) in particular.

As Rachel’s birth mother, Shelby also shares a bittersweet story with Lea Michele‘s character. We’re not sure where this one is going — we’re sort of hoping it leads to meeting Rachel’s dads — but we do love any opportunity to see Michele and Menzel perform together. This week, they sang “Somewhere There’s A Place For Us,” a particularly emotional choice given the current nature of their relationship.

The most important Shelby storyline, however, involves Quinn (Dianna Agron) and Puck (Mark Salling). Of course, Shelby adopted their biological daughter, Beth, at the end of Season 1. Now that she’s back in Ohio, she invites Quinn and Puck to be a part of Beth’s life on the condition that Quinn, who now smokes like a chimney and happily refers to herself as a skank, cleans up her act. After a little bit of a wake-up call from Will, Quinn washes the Manic Panic out of her hair and shows up to glee rehearsal looking as prim as ever.

It’s only once she’s been welcomed back into the group that her intention is revealed: She’s going to fake the good-girl act long enough to, she hopes, regain full custody of Beth.

Good luck with that.

Drop us a line in the comments below and let us know what you thought of Menzel’s return to McKinley High! Is she a welcome addition to the cast?

Just hours before the second episode of “Glee’s” second season hits the airwaves, Zap2it talked with Idina Menzel, who returns Tuesday (Sept. 27) as Shelby Corcoran, erstwhile Vocal Adrenalin coach, Rachel’s (Lea Michele’s) birth mother and adoptive mother of Quinn’s (Dianna Agron’s) baby.

Without giving away too much, let’s just say Menzel will be around McKinley High for a while since she’s signed on as a teacher. In Tuesday’s episode — “I Am Unicorn” — she sings a heart-wrenching duet of “West Side Story’s” “Somewhere” with Rachel and does her best to blend in although (as will be made clear in the episode) she’s bound to shake things up a bit.

Outside of “Glee,” Menzel is keeping busy with a tour — she’ll be playing Los Angeles’ Greek Theater on Oct. 22 and is flying to London later this week for a symphony-accompanied show at the Royal Albert Hall.

Some excerpts from our spoiler-free interview:

Do you have some idea of where your character ends up at the end of this season?

Idina Menzel: “I have no idea. Are you kidding? I barely have any idea what my character is doing in the next episode. But there are good vibes on the set, everybody’s working well together.”

Quinn may be waffling on her decision to give up her baby, Beth. That’s serious stuff, eh?

“As a mother, I can’t imagine having done what I did to Lea’s character. You learn that you can’t judge your own characters. They may have similarities to who we are. I’m just happy to be doing a really great story line and working with so many different characters on the show.”

Any songs you’re just dying to sing on “Glee”?

I was telling Ryan Murphy I would love to bring back some classic Whitney Houston. Several of her songs I would love to try to do justice to. Also Olita Adams, “Get Here.” It’s one of my favorite songs.

What about show tunes?

“They’ve done “Rent,” “Wicked” and are touching on “West Side Story” — there’s some Sondheim we could do. The truth is that that’s what is really terrific about the show. It’s really, I think, educating the audiences on what goes into the life of someone who has an 8-shows-a-week kind of life. It’s not the theater, but they can see how much work these kids are doing.”

Who does your character identify with more: Rachel or Quinn?

“Rachel’s my daughter, but Quinn’s more of a bada**. The person who wants to be a star in me is obviously passed on in Rachel, but there’s a real regret in the character for giving up her child so she’s going to have a lot in common with Quinn and that anger and resentment.”

There was talk earlier this year of you having your own show in development at ABC. Is that still on the table?

“Yes, absolutely, but it’s been put on hold now. It’s sort of based on my own experience as a wedding singer when I was 15-16 years old and the idea that I never got out of there and that’s what I kept doing. But right now I’m trying to focus on my son and ‘Glee.’”

Whatever type of music or theatre you’re into, chances are you’ve heard Idina Menzel‘s voice. She was part of the Broadway revolution that was Rent in 1996, was the first to immerse herself in green make-up and iconic Stephen Schwartz melodies in global hit Wicked, and more recently joined the talented and charming misfits of Glee on the small screen – and that’s not even scraping the surface of her film work and songwriting. Currently on an epic US tour, Idina is heading to London on the 6th of October to appear at the Royal Albert Hall in a special one-off concert. Lucy Thackray caught up with Idina to talk gigs, motherhood and ‘weird’ first jobs…

We are so looking forward to having you in London.

Not as much as I’m looking forward to it!

What can your fans expect from the show? I know you’ll have the Royal Philharmonic with Marvin Hamlisch conducting…

It’s basically me standing in front of a symphony and singing all the music that I love, in a city that I love very much. It’s a nice combination of thrilling orchestra meets very intimate performance, and I’m just really excited about coming over.

So is it similar to the material you’ve been doing on your US tour?

Oh yeah, I’ve been honing the material from my tour so that I can return to London and do a really good job. It’s songs from the shows that I’ve been in, which most people would expect, and some that they wouldn’t expect. There’s a selection that I’ve done on Glee, there are original things I did on my album, there are standards, Cole Porter – loads of stuff.

What do you love about being on stage alone, as yourself?

That’s a good question. You know, it’s that feeling of performing that I’ve had since I was a little kid, of being in front of a live audience. It’s hard to explain what it is; it’s just something I’ve wanted to do my whole life. There’s something really exhilarating about getting in front of a bunch of people and making yourself vulnerable to them, opening up your soul and using your voice to do it. And hopefully connecting to people, in this case in another country. That’s the gift that I get from putting myself in these situations. It’s the scariest, most terrifying thing but usually it’s very rewarding.

You have one of the most distinctive voices in musical theatre. Did you train in any specific technique to allow you to hit the sort of notes you hit in Wicked, or have you always had that belt?

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