Idina Menzel Reaches New Heights in Broadway Musical ‘Redwood’

After nearly 30 years of dominating Broadway, the new musical Redwood, somehow, shows Idina Menzel at her best. 

The Tony Award-winning actress is known for bringing her powerhouse mezzo-soprano vocals and commanding stage presence to the forefront of every role she plays — including Elphaba in Wicked and Maureen Johnson in Rent, two iconic stage characters she originated. But she reaches new heights in Redwood, leading the powerful piece as Jesse, an emotionally complex, grief-stricken and often misguided mother who flees to the forest in a desperate move for solace after the death of her son.

It’s a character unlike anything Menzel has played before, and one that calls upon her strengths as an actress and singer. She co-conceived the musical with Tina Landau, who also served as its book writer, lyricist and director. Kate Diaz, a newcomer, wrote the music. 

All received rapturous standing ovations on Thursday, Feb. 13, when the musical opened at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City after a run last spring at La Jolla Playhouse.

Among the stars in the crowd, Menzel’s Uncut Gems and You Are So Not Invited to My Bar Mitzvah costar Adam Sandler, as well as Amy Poehler, Gayle King, Ingrid Michaelson, Patrick Wilson and others. 

The special evening also brought out Menzel’s original Rent costars Anthony Rapp, Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Fredi Walker. They all posed with Rent director Michael Greif on the red carpet outside the Nederlander, where the rock opera opened 29 years earlier.

That musical launched Menzel’s career on Broadway. Redwood marks her returns to the boards for the first time since 2015’s If/Then.

Surrounding Menzel is a stellar supporting cast including stage veteran De’Adre Aziza, who plays Jesse’s grounded wife Mel with great heart. Also grieving their loss, Mel begs Jesse to return home to New York City from her Northern California sabbatical and work on their marriage. But Jesse, a frantic worrier, only heads deeper on her adventures, plagued by her troubles and flashbacks of her life before (many of which she sings about in Redwood‘s towering ballads).

Along her journey, Jesse meets senior tree expert Finn (Emmy winner Michael Park) and Becca, one of Finn’s former students and a strong nature activist (played by Six standout Khaila Wilcoxon). The two arborists are convinced by Jesse to let her join them on their research, which involves scaling the tall trees.

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Amid her first climb, Jesse feels a spiritual connection to nature and is left aching for more. belting out songs of her new revelations and ambitions. Not wanting to leave, she’s torn between her old life and a new one free from trauma.

But as everyone knows, in order to heal from pain, one must go through it — not escape it. As Jesse navigates this new world, she begins to see her son in every young man she meets. And though she’s a master at putting on a mask to disguise her true feelings, Jesse is finally forced to confront her true self and learn to forgive herself for her supposed shortcomings in order to see what lies ahead. 

For theatergoers who have been through a loss like Jesse’s, Redwood will hit at full force.

Menzel — who also provided additional contributions to the piece — effortlessly balances the different sides of her character, building something that feels deeply tangible yet fragile and completely unique. Her portrayal is raw and open, but also steadfast and tight-lipped. She crafts a character that is smart and witty, and someone one can’t help but root for.

Park and Wilcoxon are perfect complements to Menzel. The skilled stars perfectly strike the blend of comedic relief and moving moments of wisdom. 

And then there’s Zachary Noah Piser, a veteran of Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked and KPOP. As Jesse’s son Spencer, as well as a few walk-on parts, Piser is a standout, delivering a moving performance — particularly in the penultimate musical number as he guides his mother to accept reality. 

But perhaps the most awe-inspiring character in Redwood are the trees themselves, on display in LED screens that wrap the theater. In the center, an oversized monitor displaying the trunk of one tree — Jesse’s favorite and our star sapling — that rotates 360-degrees and extends beyond the audience sight-line.

Even if audiences haven’t seen a Redwood tree in real life, the stunning set design by Jason Ardizzone-West and Hana S. Kim’s realistic projections will make one feel as if they have. Adding to the rich experience is the moody lighting by Scott Zielinski and the layered outdoor sounds crafted by Jonathan Dean.

All create an environment in which Redwood‘s character’s soar — and quite literally, too, thanks to climbing choreography and vertical movement by BANDALOOP that propels the show’s actors high into the air. 

Much like the tall trees in California, Redwood is a sight to be seen. Come for Menzel — who is a blazing force — and stay for the incredible ensemble, earwormy score and inventive stage setting.

With emotional themes of burnout and grief, and the strong messages of altruism and mysticism, it’s a show that feels like a great escape of its own.

Tickets for Redwood are now on sale.