Performer Profile : Idina Menzel

One of my favorite performers to grace the Broadway Stage is Idina Menzel.  Menzel is a Tony Award winning performer that has had a diverse career on stage, in film, television, and music.

            Born and raised in New York, NY, Idina has always had a love for the stage.  She spent a lot of her childhood in musicals, taking lessons, and writing her own music.  From the time she was a little girl, Idina knew that music was her passion

            Menzel went to New York University’s School of Arts where she majored in music.  She earned her bachelor’s degree and gigged here and there to make ends meet.  She received her big break in 1993 when she was offered the role of Maureen in the musical ‘Rent’ Off-Broadway.  In 1996, the show made it to the Broadway stage, really giving Menzel the exposure she had been longing for.  She left the show in 1997, but received the opportunity to play Maureen again in 2005 when it was brought to the big screen.    I fell in love with Idina in 2004 when she premiered the Broadway show ‘Wicked’.  Her role as Elphaba brought her a Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical.  In between her on-stage work, she took on small television roles and released a few studio albums.  Recently, Menzel has gone on to appear in the Disney hit ‘Enchanted’ and the Fox sitcom ‘Glee’. 

            Idina is currently producing a special, “Friday Night is Music Night’, for BBC Radio.  The program is scheduled to air April 24^th, 2013.  She will be performing songs that she has sung throughout her career.  Idina will have an orchestra backing her up and special guests performing along side of her (Is anyone else praying for a duet between her and Kristne Chenoweth?).

            Idina Menzel is an amazing performer that I have always admired.  She is truly an inspiration and favorite in the theatre industry.