When Idina Menzel agreed to let a camera crew follow her across the U.S. for a new documentary, she hoped to chronicle the fulfillment of her lifelong dream of taking the stage at New York\u2019s Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n
Due out on Disney+ Friday, \u201cIdina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?\u201d captures the excitement of that 2018 concert for posterity. True to form, the Tony winner delivers goosebump-inducing showstoppers from Broadway\u2019s \u201cRent\u201d and \u201cWicked,\u201d as well as a selection of pop-rock tracks from her two solo albums. A behind-the-scenes glimpse at her evolution into a Disney princess, by way of 2013\u2019s animated smash \u201cFrozen\u201d and its 2019 sequel, is also a highlight.<\/p>\n
But \u201cWhich Way to the Stage?\u201d also looks beyond theatrics to offer a moving portrait of a working mother who at a relatable crossroads. Amid the chaos of her tour, Menzel attempts \u2015 to varying degrees of success \u2015 to prioritize moments with her 13-year-old son, Walker, whom she shares with ex-husband Taye Diggs. At the same time, she and her current husband, Aaron Lohr, are hoping to expand their family.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all performing. We\u2019re all trying to get through the day, do what we love in our work and also be present in our lives, for the people we love,\u201d Menzel told HuffPost. \u201cAs much as I want to be in the spotlight, wear sequined outfits, get the accolades and have a crowd cheering for me, it\u2019s just as important for me to be at my son\u2019s basketball game, and go trick-or-treating with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working with director Anne McCabe, Menzel looks back at her own childhood on New York\u2019s Long Island through home videos and archival photos, and revisits the reception hall where she spent her young adult years as a wedding singer with big dreams. (The 1980s and \u201990s hairstyles that mark each of those life chapters are worthy of their own retrospective.)<\/p>\n
As Menzel made a name for herself, private tribulations emerged. Her parents divorced when she was 15, leaving her with \u201ca lot of neuroses and distrust.\u201d The film\u2019s biggest revelation, however, is her experience undergoing fertility treatment while on tour as she tries to have a baby with Lohr. Ultimately, she must contend with the fact that becoming a mom for the second time \u201cwasn\u2019t meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt it was important for people, especially women, to understand that there\u2019s no shame in the failure of that process,\u201d said Menzel, who hadn\u2019t spoken publicly about her attempt to have a second child until now. \u201cIt was helpful for me to not stay the victim. I compartmentalized a lot, but having an outlet to make music with my band every night was healing. It helped me to stay true to why I do what I do, and that\u2019s to make other people feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n
These days, Menzel is busier than ever, turning in well-received performances in 2019\u2019s \u201cUncut Gems,\u201d starring Adam Sandler, and this fall\u2019s \u201cDisenchanted,\u201d the long-awaited sequel to Disney\u2019s \u201cEnchanted.\u201d She also unveiled a clothing line, Encore by Idina, this year and made her children\u2019s publishing debut this year with the picture book \u201cLoud Mouse,\u201d co-written with her sister Cara Mentzel.<\/p>\n
But the actor and singer isn\u2019t one to dwell on the past, or focus too much on a recent success. Fittingly, \u201cWhich Way To The Stage?\u201d climaxes with a chilling rendition of \u201cDefying Gravity\u201d from \u201cWicked,\u201d and like Elphaba, her character in that musical, she\u2019s eager to embrace the future with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to keep developing original roles. But I also want to travel and take my family to see the world. I want to keep showing up at my kid\u2019s games and sitting on the couch with my husband and binge-watching TV,\u201d she said. \u201cAt this point in my life, I\u2019m willing to take a little credit for being a good messenger.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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