CATCHING UP WITH ONE OF BROADWAY’S BEST
by bill biss Idina Menzel is quite simply a “star.” Her leading roles on Broadway in RENT and
Wicked have assured her a place among the very finest in theatre history’s roster of tal- ent. She is also an accomplished songwriter who presented all of her own material in 2007 with her solo debut recording called I Stand. Most recently, television audiences were treated to her acting and singing on the television phenomenon known as GLEE. Idina is a powerhouse of exceptional skill and will bring all that and more for a one- night-only performance at The Orange County Performing Arts Center on November 7 at 3:00 p.m. in her only Southern California appearance this year. The Rage Monthly spoke with the very delighted mother of one and wife of Taye Diggs. But, most of all, an entertainer with great heart.
The Rage Monthly: You’ve been touring in your one-woman show for a year if not more now. Though, there’s a break from March 28, 2009 to April 4, 2010… and would that be because of your new son, Walker? Idina Menzel: Yes (laughter).
Rage: Now that he just turned one, how do you manage this? IM: Well…you know. Life’s changed and it’s a great
thing. How do I manage it? The touring is not like every day or on a bus every night of the week. It’s on the week- ends for the most part. So, I’ll take him with me or I’ll fly out real quick to a show and come back.
Rage: It’s not like you are away from him for long distances of time.
IM: No. I wouldn’t even have that. I would take him with me or I wouldn’t want to take him from his dad [Taye Diggs]. I can’t be away from him too long…I start to go crazy.
Rage: You had the honor to perform in front of our President and his wife this past summer and the special broadcast on PBS aired in October. Will you please share a bit of that experience and the songs you performed? IM: Yes. I performed “What I Did For Love” with
Marvin Hamlisch and I also did “Defying Gravity.” It was a surreal experience, to be quite honest. It was in such a small room. The President and the First Lady and the two daughters…everyone was sitting right in the front row, in spitting distance, literally. It was just one of those times in your life where you just have to step out of yourself and say, “Wow. I can’t believe that I’m here and doing this.” And really try to enjoy it and take it in. I got to meet them and they were just wonderful, warm and supportive. It’s really exciting that they are encouraging the arts and bringing them into their own home.
Rage: I read that you were in a London West End production of Chess: In Concert. I remembered Elaine Page in that. In research-
ing, I went to Elaine’s website and noticed she released a CD called Elaine and Friends and you duet with her on one song. IM: We’ve become friendly and I’m a huge fan of hers. She asked me to sing a duet with her on her album. I was really excited to do that.
Rage: You sing, “Take a Bow” together. Is that the Madonna song? IM: Yes, it is. It’s a different rendition of that song.
Rage: I’m still enjoying your 2007 CD called I Stand so much. You have an incredible ability with your writing of lyrics. Have you been continuing to write new songs for another album? IM: I’m about to get in the studio and start that creative
process again. Actually, I’ve been focusing more on the new arrangements for the orchestra and the different orchestrations. How best to present myself in this new context, how to take a lot of my own original music or tunes from shows and songs that are old standards and how to rearrange them with the orchestra. That’s been my focus. How to maintain the intimacy of the performance
I like to give while standing in front of a huge majestic orchestra. It’s been not as exactly difficult as I thought. It’s a really nice organic merging of the two. It feels really good and right.
Rage: When you first started performing with just you and the orchestra, I bet the sensation was pretty cool. IM: Yes! It’s thrilling and it’s nice to rediscover the old music with new arrangements. It’s also pointing me in the direction of the kind of album I want to make next. Which will be a more classic kind of album and have these more lush orchestrations.
Rage: How has it been developing a repoire with the live audi- ences? IM: That’s funny. That’s something I’ve been learning through the years. It’s sort of the difference between
NOVEMBER 2010 | RAGE monthly 37
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