Theatre

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RENT

1996 Original Broadway Cast

Written By: Jonathon Larson
Role: Maureen Johnson
Idina’s Run: Off Broadway, NYTW: Feb. 13 – April 1, 1996
Broadway, Nederlander Theatre: April 29, 1996 – July 1, 1997

Plot: The Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical that changed Broadway, about about a group of artists trying to survive love, loss, and disease in New York’s East Village during the early 90s. Based off of Puccini’s opera La Boheme.

Description: Idina plays Maureen, a lesbian performance artist (now dating Joanne, and who used to date Mark) – Idina worked alongside the original cast Off-Broadway with the late Jonathon Larson, and she nominated for a Tony Award in 1996.

 

The Wild Party

2000 Original Off-Broadway Cast

Written By: Andrew Lippa
Role: Kate
Full Run: Manhattan Theatre Club: February 24 – April 2, 2000

Plot: Based on Joseph Moncure’s 1928 poem by the same name, this musical adaptation focuses on a Vaudeville dancer, Queenie (Julia Murney), looking for release from an abusive 3-year relationship with her lover, Burrs (Brian D’Arcy James) – So she decides to throw an enormous party in his honor, where she will proceed to embarrass him by flirting with another guy… But things go a little too far…

Description: Idina played Kate, a “reformed” prostitute who comes to Queenie and Burrs’ party with her date, Black, but has plans of her own to snatch Burrs from Queenie.

 

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Summer of ’42

2000 Goodspeed Musicals Cast

Written By: Hunter Foster and David Kirshenbaum
Role: Dorothy
Full Run: The Norma Terris Theatre: Aug. 10 – Sept. 3, 2000 (Chester, CT)

Plot: During the summer of 1942, while America is at war in Europe, a young teenage boy, Hermie (Ryan Driscoll), comes of age after making a connection with an older woman whose husband has gone off to war. They then develop a rather close friendship that turns into something more — Based on a true story.

Description: Idina plays that above-mentioned “older woman”, Dorothy, who befriends the 15-year-old Hermie to find comfort from her loneliness at being left by her husband as he goes off to fight in Europe.

 

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Aida

Broadway Cast

Written By: Elton John
Role: Amneris
Idina’s Run: Palace Theatre: September 2001 – January 2002

Plot: A story based on the opera of the same name, it tells the story of the Nubian princess, Aida, who is captured by Egyptian’s gathering Nubians as slaves – She is put under the order of the Egyptian princess, Amneris, who befriends her. However, Amneris’s fiancee, Radames, finds himself interested in Aida too.

Description: Her character, Amneris, is a superficial princess, obsessed with clothes, fashion, and appearance — That is until she realizes there must be something more to life, and becomes inspired by her friendship with Aida.

 

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Wicked

2003 Original Broadway Cast

Written By: Stephen Schwartz
Role: Elphaba Thropp (‘the Wicked Witch of the West’)
Idina’s Run: Pre-Broadway Tryout in San Francisco, Curran Theatre: May 28 – June 29, 2003
Broadway, Gershwin Theatre: Oct. 30, 2003 – Jan. 9, 2005
West End, Apollo Victoria Theatre: Sept. 7, 2006 – Jan. 2007

Plot: Based off of the book by Gregory Maguire, this musical tells the story of Elphaba, the girl with the emerald green skin who becomes the infamous ‘Wicked Witch of the West’, and her school-girl friendship with Galinda, later known as ‘Glinda the Good Witch’.

Description: Idina’s character, Elphaba (for which she won the coveted 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical), is strong, confident and powerful, and she drives this story with grace and class.

 

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See What I Wanna See

2005 Off-Broadway Cast

Written By: Michael John LaChiusa
Role: Kesa/The Wife ‘Lily’, Young Woman/The Actress
Idina’s Run: The Public Theatre: October 11 – December 4, 2005

Plot: Official Description: A park. A thief. A priest. A psychic. A miracle. A lie. The truth. From a mysterious murder in Central Park to the miracle of a devastated city’s rebirth, New York stories of faith, loss and redemption are explored.

Description: Idina plays three very different roles throughout the telling of three different stories — the first: a Japanese mistress (Kesa), the second: the wife of a murdered man (Lily), the third: a coke-addict actress seeking faith (Deanna)

 

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If/Then

2014 Original Broadway Cast

Written By: Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey
Role: Elizabeth
Pre-Broadway Tryout: National Theatre, Washington DC: November 5, 2013 – December 8, 2013
Broadway (Full Run): Richard Rodgers Theatre: March 30, 2014 – March 22, 2015
Tour: October 13, 2015 – January 24, 2016

Plot: IF/THEN is an original musical written by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning creators of NEXT TO NORMAL and starring Idina Menzel in her much-anticipated return to Broadway after her Tony Award-winning performance in WICKED. IF/THEN also stars Tony Award winner LaChanze (THE COLOR PURPLE) and reunites Idina Menzel with her original RENT co-star, Anthony Rapp.

Description: Idina stars as Elizabeth, a woman rebuilding her life in New York City, where she discovers a world of infinite possibilities. In one moment, Elizabeth will lead parallel lives. This is the story of both.

 

Skintight
Off-Broadway
Skintight
Los Angeles

Skintight

2018 Original Off-Broadway Cast

Written By: Joshua Harmon
Role: Jodi Isaac
Off-Broadway Full Run: Laura Pels Theatre: May 31 – Aug 26, 2018
Gil Cates Theater (Los Angeles): Sept 3, 2019 – October 12, 2019

Plot: A scorching examination of beauty, youth and sex. Reeling from her ex-husband’s engagement to a much younger woman, Jodi Isaac (Idina ) turns to her famous fashion-designer dad for support. Instead, she finds him wrapped up in his West Village townhouse with Trey. Who’s 20. And not necessarily gay. But probably an adult film star. At least, according to Jodi’s son. Who’s also 20. And definitely gay. Skintight assays the nature of love, the power of attraction, and the ways in which a superficial culture persists in teaching its children that all that matters is what’s on the inside.

Description: Idina plays Jodi, a woman shocked to find her father in a relationship with a much younger man. Should age matter?

 

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WILD: A Musical Becoming

Written By: V (formerly Eve Ensler)
Music By: Justin Tranter & Caroline Pennell with contributions by Eren Cannata
Lyrics By: Justin Tranter, Caroline Pennell & V (formerly Eve Ensler)
With contributions by Idina Menzel
Role: Bea
Run: Loeb Drama Center in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts – December 5, 2021 – January 2, 2022
Note: Idina was scheduled to perform her role through December 23 but the production was cancelled on December 20 due to breakthrough COVID cases. ART allowed ticketholders to watch the show digitally.

Plot: Musical fable about a single mother struggling to hold on to her family farm and connect with her teenage daughter, whose determination to save the planet endows her and her friends with powers they never knew they had. The show explores the generational divide when it comes to the climate and other social and economic issues.

Inspired by the show’s theme of caring for the planet, the concert production embraced regenerative practice and invited the audience to use their imagination to set the scene.

Description: Idina plays Bea, a farmer on the brink of financial ruin. She is trying to figure out how to save her farm and provide for her daughter, Sophia.

 

Special Theatre Performances

HAIR – the American Tribal Love Musical

2001 Encores! Revival

Full Run: City Center Encores! on Broadway: May 3 – May 6, 2001
Role: Sheila
Idina’s Songs: “I Believe in Love”, “Easy to Be Hard”, “Good Morning, Starshine”, “The Flesh Failures”, and various group numbers

Description: One of three main players, Sheila is an NYU student and hippie protesting the war in Vietnam

The Vagina Monologues

6-week special engagement

Written By: Eve Ensler
Directed By: Joe Mantello
Role: a series of monologues, including: “Hair”, “Questions”, “Because He Liked to Look At It”, “My Vagina Was My Village”, and “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy”
Idina’s Run: March 5 – April 14, 2002

Nero

3-day workshop

Role: Poppea
Full Run: Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar: July 11 – July 13, 2008
Idina’s Songs: “Sad Wolf”, “Walk In Pain”, “The Gods of March”, “In the Bosom of the Moon”, “In Your Mother’s Arms”, “No Trace of Us”, and various group numbers

Description: As Emperor Nero’s mistress, Poppea suffers at his hand, despite the love he has for her.

Benefit Concerts & Events

First You Dream: A Tribute to Courage

2000 Christopher Reeves Benefit

Date: June 12, 2000
Place: New Amsterdam Theatre, Broadway
Idina’s Song: “Heart On My Sleeve” (original music)

Description: A night of song and dance to benefit the Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation

Broadway Bares XI – 2001: A Strip Odyssey

2001 BC/EFA Benefit Concert

Date: June 17, 2001 (2 shows: 9:30PM, midnight)
Place: the Roseland, NYC
Idina’s Song: “Ride With Me” (by Andrew Lippa), the opening number

Description: Benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS – Annual strip cabaret and showcase

Funny Girl

2002 Actors Fund Benefit

Date: September 23, 2002
Place: New Amsterdam Theatre, Broadway
Idina’s Role/Song: Fanny Brice singing “Cornet Man”

Description: Annual Benefit for the Actors Fund — This year: Famous female performers each take on the role of Fanny Brice, doing their own renditions of individual songs from the show.

Nothing Like a Dame

2004 Benefit Concert

Date: March 1, 2004
Place: St. James Theatre, Broadway
Idina’s Song: “The Wizard and I” from Wicked

Description: Broadway’s best female performers sing showstopping numbers during the 9th Annual Concert to benefit the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative

Easter Bonnet Competition

2004 BC/EFA Benefit Event

Date: April 19-20, 2004
Place:New Amsterdam Theatre, Broadway
Idina’s Song: David Friedkin’s survival anthem, “Help Is On the Way”

Description: The spring concert celebrates 6 months of fundraising efforts by Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Touring companies to benefit the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Foundation – Different shows perform various skits (and create magnificent hats & bonnets) in this final night of fundraising and awards

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