A Musical Powerhouse of Broadway, Film and Television Kicks Off Her Heels
Mmm… nice. Idina Menzel is
wowing audiences across the country, right now with her very first Television special, available now on DVD or CD and now your local PBS stations. For the performance presented on the CD, Idina Menzel LIVE: Barefoot at the Symphony, the Tony Award-winning singer and actress steps up alone, with a full symphony to offer her very own special brand of songs. And, as Mrs. Diggs is the proud mother of a small child, two-year-old son, Walker gave her a bit of inspiration. That is… to perform barefoot on stage. On each and every stage during her tour, almost since she started out, Idina Menzel performs barefoot. It did wonders for the artist to NOT
wear heels while performing live. And perform she does! From the opening number, “The Life of the Party” all the way down the wire to the closing of her signature song, “Defying Gravity,” Menzel’s amazing vocal gifts and personality shine through. Here for The Rage Monthly magazine, she proves beyond a doubt, her fireball of talent is still glowing strong.
by bill biss
How are you? I’m good… I’m in Dallas and about to go live to premiere the PBS special.
Excellent. Well, let’s get going. You’re a busy woman. That’s okay.
This is a two-part question. For starters, performing live barefoot… No splinters yet? No!
With all the stops on your tour, is there a clause in your contract about clean and smooth stages? That’s a good question. (Laughter)
No one’s ever asked me that. No clause, I just take the risk. I think they take good care of their theatres and stages so we haven’t had a problem.
Good. Your voice on Idina Menzel LIVE: Barefoot at the Symphony CD sounds as beautiful and powerful as ever. As you have just recently started performing with a full orchestra alone on stage, what have been your initial experiences on working with a full orchestra? Yeah… it is thrilling. It’s a little
30 RAGE monthly | APRIL 2012
daunting and surreal but it’s just a beautiful experience. That’s as much as I can describe really.
Is your conductor, Marvin Hamlisch on every stop with you? He’s on a considerable amount
and has been on a considerable amount. We met a year and a half ago at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Virginia. We were doing a show together. From then on, we purposely made sure our schedules coincided, so we could do this together. We feel pretty good about each other.
“Yeah… it is thrilling. It’s a little daunting and surreal but it’s just a beautiful experience. That’s as much as I can describe really.”
Have you ever heard of a Broadway singer by the name of Ella Logan? I don’t think so. Who’s that?
She starred in Finian’s Rainbow on Broadway in 1947. When you sing “Love for Sale” on your concert CD, her voice reminds me of you.
Huh… thank you. I perform the
song, “Look to the Rainbow” on the DVD. It’s not on the CD. So, it’s funny. I thought you were going to talk about that.
Really. No, I haven’t seen the DVD yet and am really looking forward to that. I’m gonna check her out. Thanks. I
love it.
On the CD though, I can sense the excitement. Your story about The Kennedy Center and performing during the tribute to Barbara Streisand, that’s hilarious! Thank you (laughter). The entire
weekend was quite an event. I think the biggest learning experience from it all was about my husband [Taye Diggs] and I and how different we approach being together in those situations.
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