Idina Menzel interviews and articles
Congrats to Idina and Taye who have welcomed their first child, Walker Diggs, into the world.
Stephen Schwartz has commented, " although Idina's performance
style suggests that she is off-the-cuff and spontaneous, she is one of the most
diligent and hardest-working performers I have ever worked with....."
Idina Menzel Interview exclusive to MusicalSchwartz.com:
Idina Menzel, Elphaba, and the Artistic Life.
Idina Menzel is featured in Defying Gravity
Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz, from Godspell to Wicked, includes a long account of how Wicked came to life. For the book, author Carol de Giere interviewed Idina Menzel, Gregory Maguire, Stephen Schwartz, Joe Mantello, Winnie Holzman, and others. In the book, Menzel shares her experience in the production. Idina offers her insight into her journey with Wicked, elaborating her thoughts and feelings during the pre-production process including auditioning, learning the music, and rehearsing. The book includes over 200 photos and illustrations, including Schwartz's handwritten music for the Wicked Witch of the East.
Subscribe to The Schwartz Scene for Stephen
Schwartz's comments on Wicked. Back issue 13 explores the development
of the song "The Wizard and I," including Idina's influence.
You'll also find Idina photos and quotes as part of Wicked the Grimmerie. Link to: Wicked Grimmerie
www.idinamenzel.com [new
browser window] Official Website includes bio, photos, newsletter, and email
address for fan mail. Idina Menzel received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading
Actress in a Musical - Wicked.
Included in this Daily Mail article of April 2006 are Idina Menzel comments on working in London as Elphaba. Daily Mail article on Idina
Playbill.com's Diva Talk with Idina 11/25/05
Idina's comments posted on the RENT blog during filming
http://www.idina-menzel.com/ fan site
Rent (with Idina Menzel as Maureen) - November 11, 2005 release
Idina
Menzel Q and A on Broadway.com [new browser window] | Ask a Diva feature on
Playbill.com
[new browser window]
An unofficial website dedicated to Idina Menzel is at Idina
at Geocities [new browser window]. And there's an Idina Menzel fan group at
yahoo groups.
If you like the music for Idina Menzel's solo "The Wizard and I" from
Wicked, you might also enjoy the stirring song "Meadowlark" from The
Baker's Wife, belted by many divas on their CDs. Check out Liz Callway's
version. Read about Liz Callaway and her recordings
More on Wicked
Wicked
home page index - access to over 50 Wicked-related web pages
Broadway shop has posters, t-shirts etc.
Wicked Posters, green glasses like Idina wears in the Emerald City scene, shirts: Wicked, Defying Gravity, Popular, Shiz University, etc. etc
Sing along: Wicked karaoke CDs
(opens to our new sister site www.musicalsingers.com)
Sheet Music
Wicked Sheet Music: Enjoy the highly praised Wicked Sheet Music if you want to sing "Defying Gravity," and other Wicked songs.
Sheet music for Idina's shows: Rent easy/piano | More Rent - includes digital downloads: Rent sheet music
Idina Menzel Clips
Video clips of Idina
ShowBusiness - New Documentary that includes interviews with Idina Menzel
Also, there's a clip of Idina Menzel's section of SHOWBUSINESS on the DVD's official site. Look down the right side of the page at http://www.myspace.com/showbusinessmovie
DVD
with bonus features: Watch Idina Menzel rehearse and perform "For Good" from Wicked in
the DVD's special feature. PLUS a 16-minute bonus feature "Wicked:
The Road to Broadway" with production footage and
interview clips, including Idina Menzel in rehearsal, on stage, and backstage. (3 DVD discs 6+ hours total Broadway
footage) Broadway
- The American Musical - DVD Amazon.com (In Europe: Broadway...
- Amazon.co.uk)
ADORABLE: Wicked in London: For an online video of Wicked's opening night and clips of the show see: Broadwayworld- London - A collection of clips from the show plus interviews after the performance. Idina tells why she wanted to be in WICKED in London.
Older but still online: CBS special with Wicked's original Broadway cast just before the Tony Awards: WICKED Tony Awards CBS video clip - Interviews of Idina and Kristin. Idina talks about her costumes and green make up.
See Rent movie trailer RENT
List of Videotaped
interviews from Seth's Chatterbox - Seth interviewed Idina Menzel; she also
appears on the musical compilation tape.
Idinamenzel.net Fan site with links to clips of performances, etc.
Idina on Theatre Talk
Nov '03 [new browser window] - Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel speak on
Theatre Talk. The show includes clips of Wicked as
well as a Hairspray-related interview. The video is available - follow
the order tapes link
Look for Idina Menzel radio clip (Playbill.com)
Links to Photos
Pictured: Idina Menzel with Helen Dallimore during rehearsals for Wicked in London, where Idina played Elphaba. See http://www.wickedwestend.co.uk for info on the London production, including photos and link to video clip.
Links to more photos:
Idina Menzel as Elphaba in the Emerald City: Wicked Characters page - includes description of Elphaba and other characters.
(Want a witch hat like Idina wore for Wicked? Check out the witch hats on Half Price Costumes )
Articles on the official site wickedthemusical.com [open in new browser window]
Feature
story on Menzel - The Journal News | About
the green make up | Makeup
Review of Rent with photos Cinemablend.com
Idina and Taye at gala May 2007: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs
Idina and Taye at RENT concert Summer 2005 (Broadwayworld)
Photos from
the cast recording session for WICKED - Menzel and others - Broadway.com
Broadway.com
- Photos of Idina's final appearance on WICKED's stage [new browser window]
Photos with Norbert March 2005
Cute photos from the Wicked cast album recording sessions Cast album recording session - Broadway.com
Idina's site has photos - press page
About Idina
Comments on Idina's career by Morgan LaVere: Idina Menzel
literally burst onto the scene in the New York Theatre Workshop's production of
"Rent," playing Maureen, a character who has one of the best entrances in musical
theatre history. When the show transferred to Broadway, Idina was nominated for
a Tony Award as Best Supporting Actress. She followed this up with her performance
as Kate in Andrew Lippa's version of "The Wild Party" at the Manhattan Theatre
Club. More recently, Idina played "Sheila" in the Encore's production of "Hair,"
and starred in "Aida" on Broadway.
Time Magazine said of Idina Menzel's performance: "...a mix of
vulnerability and feminist passion, with a rock voice to raise the roof."
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Note for those arriving by search engine. Sometimes Idina's name is misspelled
Edina Menzel or Idina Menzell.
More Idina CDs:
Genius & Friends - Idina is one of the "Friends" who sings with Ray Charles - "I Will Be There" track 8.
Idina Menzel sings "Damsel in Distress" on Desperate Housewives -- music from and inspired by Desperate Housewives TV series. A September 2005 release.
The
Other Sister [new browser window] Menzel sings "Follow If You Lead"
on this soundtrack CD
If you find www.MusicalSchwartz.com useful, please add a link from your website
or blog.
Wicked Original Broadway Cast Album
Track List with Elphaba's songs highlighted:
- 1. NO ONE MOURNS THE WICKED - Glinda and Citizens of Oz
- 2. DEAR OLD SHIZ - Glinda and Students
- 3. THE WIZARD AND I - Morrible, Elphaba
- 4. WHAT IS THIS FEELING? - Glinda, Elphaba and Students
- 5. SOMETHING BAD - Dr. Dillamond and Elphaba
- 6. DANCING THROUGH LIFE - Fiyero, Glinda, Boq, Nessarose, Elphaba
and Students
- 7. POPULAR - Glinda
- 8. I'M NOT THAT GIRL - Elphaba
- 9. ONE SHORT DAY - Glinda, Elphaba and Denizens of the Emerald
City
- 10. A SENTIMENTAL MAN - The Wizard
- 11. DEFYING GRAVITY - Elphaba, Glinda, Guards and Citizens
of Oz
- 12. THANK GOODNESS - Glinda, Morrible and Citizens of Oz
- 13. WONDERFUL - The Wizard, Elphaba
- 14. I'M NOT THAT GIRL (reprise) - Glinda
- 15. AS LONG AS YOU'RE MINE - Elphaba and Fiyero
- 16. NO GOOD DEED - Elphaba
- 17. MARCH OF THE WITCH HUNTERS - Boq and Citizens of Oz
- 18. FOR GOOD - Glinda and Elphaba
- 19. FINALE - All
Idina is also recording an album for Warner Bros. Records.
See Idinamenzel.com for more.