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| Broadway.com |
Tony Award winning actress, Idina Menzel, is returning to Broadway to star in the new musical If/Then. Menzel is best known for premiering the role
of Elphaba in the hit musical Wicked. With
over 17 years in the business, Idina is celebrated for her roles of Shelby
Corcoran (Glee), Maureen Johnson (Rent), Kate (Wild Party), and Fanny Brice
(Funny Girl). Now she’s originated the role of Elizabeth in If/Then
If/Then tells a story of a 40-year
old woman named Elizabeth who has moved to New York City for a fresh start. After
carefully planning her new life, a very small and random occurrence impacts her
in a way she never dreamt possible. This contemporary musical is a romantic, emotional
and smart story about taking chances and starting over.
If
that description doesn’t excite you, this star-studded cast will. LaChanze, best know for her role as Cellie in
The Color Purple, is playing the role of Kate.
Anthony Rapp plays the role of Lucas.
Rapp is best known for originated the character Mark Cohen in the
musical Rent.
The creative team also has a great
lineup of well-known industry names. The
director, Michael Greif, has directed the Broadway musicals Next To Normal,
Grey Gardens, and Rent. Brian Yorkey and
Tom Kitt teamed up for a second time to write the music. They first worked
together in the Broadway show Next to Normal, a rock musical about a mother
struggling with bipolar disorder and the effect the illness has on her
family. Next to Normal won 4 of their 11
Tony Award nominations in 2009.
There
hasn’t been much music released from the musical, but that hasn’t stopped the
building excitement around the show. The
Pre-Broadway premiere is taking place in Washington, DC from November 5th
– December 8th of this year.
The Broadway premiere is scheduled to begin March 4, 2014 at
the Richard Rodgers Theatre. With such an electric cast and team signed
on, this musical has everything it needs to be a successful show. Maybe this role will land Menzel another deserved
Tony Award.
