It\u2019s been several years since Idina Menzel donned the green body paint and pointy black hat of her Tony-winning role as Elphaba in \u2018Wicked,\u2019 but it seems like she\u2019s never too far away from the misunderstood heroine.<\/p>\n
Menzel plans to perform a few of her best-known songs from the Broadway musical during an orchestra-backed show at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on Sunday. It\u2019s the only scheduled local stop on a national cabaret-style tour that started this spring.<\/p>\n
But what of that long-discussed movie version of \u2018Wicked,\u2019 which is stuck in development and possibly years from fruition?<\/p>\n
Menzel doesn\u2019t rule out an appearance, but she won\u2019t be Elphaba. The part calls for a younger actress, she said, even though she thinks it would be cool to provide the voice for the school-aged character through some kind of \u2018Avatar’-like computer magic.<\/p>\n
\u2018I just loved playing her,\u2019 Menzel said, \u2018and I\u2019m still blown away that people drive down the street singing \u2018Defying Gravity\u2019 in their cars.\u2019<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t interested, though, in revisiting \u2018Wicked\u2019 during her stint on the hit TV show \u2018Glee.\u2019 She and \u2018Wicked\u2019 costar Kristin Chenoweth were both guest stars on the musical series at different times, and it could\u2019ve provided a natural platform to re-team them.<\/p>\n
\u2018I don\u2019t think anybody would\u2019ve wanted a \u2018Wicked\u2019 gimmick,\u2019 she said. \u2018We wanted to be on the show for who we are as individuals.\u2019<\/p>\n
The fact that there was no \u2018Wicked\u2019 reunion had nothing to do with any feud, Menzel said, pooh-poohing reports of bad blood between the former co-stars. \u2018She\u2019s on my list of top five most-talented people,\u2019 she said of Chenoweth. \u2018It would be nice to get back on stage with her.\u2019<\/p>\n