Idina Menzel is headed back to Broadway. The Tony Award winner known for “Wicked” and the “Frozen” films will headline the new musical “Redwood” on the Main Stem in spring 2025. Tony nominee Tina Landau will direct the musical, which will be produced by Eva Price, Caroline Kaplan and Loudmouth Media.
“I’m so thrilled to be returning to Broadway, and the fact that I get to do it with ‘Redwood,’ a musical that means so much to me, makes it even more special,” said Menzel in a statement. “This show has lived in my bones for 15 years, from the very first time Tina and I discussed working together. Finally getting to do it on Broadway is really a dream come true.”
Conceived by Landau and Menzel, with a book by Kate Diaz and Landau, music by Diaz and lyrics by Diaz and Landau, “Redwood” follows Jesse (Menzel), a successful businesswoman, mother and wife who seems to have it all, but finds herself at a turning point. Jesse decides to leave everyone and everything behind, get in her car and drive. Thousands of miles later, she hits the majestic forests of Northern California, where a chance meeting changes her life forever.
Menzel won a 2004 Tony Award for her leading turn as Elphaba in “Wicked.” She was previously nominated in 1996 for a featured performance as Maureen in “Rent” and later in 2014 for starring as Elizabeth in “If/Then.” Menzel voiced the role of Elsa in the 2013 animated film “Frozen,” popularizing the Oscar-winning song “Let It Go,” and again voiced the role in sequels. This summer, Menzel will launch a North American concert tour, which will feature some songs from “Redwood.” Additionally, Menzel is among the stars scheduled to present during the 2024 Tony Awards ceremony.
Landau, who is currently represented on Broadway as director of Paula Vogel’s Tony-nominated “Mother Play,” will also helm the Broadway premiere of her and Adam Guettel’s musical “Floyd Collins” in spring 2025. In 2018, Landau was Tony-nominated and won a Drama Desk Award for directing the musical “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Diaz, a newcomer to musical theater, has written songs and scores for film and TV, as well as trailers and commercials. She orchestrates, arranges and produces for herself and others, and is also a session vocalist and guitarist. In addition to her duties as composer and co-lyricist of “Redwood,” she is the musical’s arranger and orchestrator.
“Redwood” was originally developed and produced by San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse, which concluded its limited-run premiere in spring 2024.
Additional creative team and cast members as well as dates and a Broadway venue for “Redwood” will be announced.
