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.
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!
Good things come to those who wait! It’s taken almost 17 years but Idina Menzel and James Marsden’s duet from the 2007 film Enchanted has leaked!
We all know Idina famously didn’t sing in the film and she’s always said that when she was hired, Nancy wasn’t supposed to sing. Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz, the film’s composer & lyricist, did ultimately write a song for Nancy and Prince Edward called “Enchanted” but it was cut from the film due to pacing. Later, Alan Menken revealed that it would be included on the DVD but that didn’t happen. Idina confirmed that they filmed the scene while promoting the sequel, Disenchanted.
The video above is a reconstruction of the scene. Enjoy!
‘Let It Go’ has been certified Diamond (10,000,000 units in the US) by RIAA! Idina Menzel was presented with the certification on American Idol Sunday night! Congratulations, Idina!! What an accomplishment!
Idina’s other RIAA certifications are:
For The First Time In Forever (Frozen) – 3x Platinum
For The First Time In Forever Reprise (Frozen) – Platinum
That Time of Year (Olaf’s Frozen Adventure) – Gold
Into The Unknown (Frozen II) – 3x Platinum
Show Yourself (Frozen II) – 2x Platinum
Some Things Never Change (Frozen II) – Platinum
Holiday Wishes – Gold
Gold certification represents 500,000 units and Platinum represents 1,000,000 units. For certification purposes, digital downloads count as 1 unit and 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams count as 1 unit.
Billboard exclusively premiered a live version of “Great Escape” from Idina Menzel’s new musical, REDWOOD! Idina also spoke with them about the show, which has its sights set on Broadway(!!).
“Ever since Rent, I have made it a priority to originate roles and shine a light on new work. It takes lots of patience and fortitude, but there is truly nothing as rewarding as seeing your kernel of an idea fully realized with a group of people you love and admire so deeply.”- Idina Menzel
I got to see the show this past weekend and LOVED it. I posted some non-spoiler thoughts and photos on Instagram. Great Escape was one of my favorite songs and the staging is spectacular. It’s definitely a WOW moment. I was really blown away by the show and how she got to use all the facets of her voice and show not just musical range but also acting range. It’s amazing that the show now exists when it was just an idea in her head years ago. What an accomplishment! All the kudos to her, Tina Landau and Kate Diaz.
