Idina Menzel to star in ‘Redwood’ on Broadway
The new musical, which premiered at California’s La Jolla Playhouse earlier this year, will mark the Tony Award winner’s first return to Broadway in 10 years.
UPDATE: Redwood on Broadway, starring Idina Menzel, will play the Nederlander Theatre beginning on January 24, with opening night on February 13. The below article has also been updated to include the newly announced creative team.
She’s seeing the forest for the trees! Tony Award winner Idina Menzel will return to Broadway in 2025 in the new musical Redwood. Performance dates and a theatre have yet to be announced.
Menzel is best known for her Tony-winning performance as Elphaba in Wicked, and her other Broadway credits include Rent (Tony nomination) and Aida. Her most recent Broadway performance was in the musical If/Then, which ran from 2014-15 and earned Menzel her third Tony nomination. Now, she returns to the stage for the first time in 10 years.
“I’m so thrilled to be returning to Broadway, and the fact that I get to do it with Redwood, a musical that means so much to me, makes it even more special,” Menzel said in a statement. “This show has lived in my bones for 15 years.”
The musical follows Jesse, a successful businesswoman, wife, and mother who seems to have it all, but feels broken. She suddenly decides to leave everything behind, driving thousands of miles to northern California. There, a chance meeting and a leap of faith change her life and help her find community and healing.
Redwood was created by Menzel (concept and additional material), Tina Landau (direction, book, and lyrics), and Kate Diaz (music and lyrics). Landau, represented on Broadway in spring 2024 with Mother Play, will return to direct the musical after staging its world premiere in La Jolla, California, earlier this year.
The Redwood creative team also includes music director Haley Bennett, set designer Jason Ardizzone-West, costume designer Toni-Leslie James, lighting designer Scott Zielinski, sound designer Jonathan Deans, and media designer Hana S. Kim. Vertical movement and vertical choreography are by Melecio Estrella/BANDALOOP.
Additional cast and creative team members have yet to be announced.
Photo credit: Idina Menzel in Redwood. (Photo by Emma Anderson)
Frequently asked questions
Where is Redwood playing?
Redwood is playing at Nederlander Theatre. The theatre is located at 208 West 41st Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue), New York, 10036.
How long is Redwood?
The running time of Redwood is 1hr 50min. No intermission.
What is Redwood about?
See Redwood the musical on Broadway starring Idina Menzel. A new musical, Redwood in New York is “visually stunning and immersive” (San Diego Magazine).
How do you book tickets for Redwood?
Book tickets for Redwood on New York Theatre Guide.
What's the age requirement for Redwood?
The recommended age for Redwood is Ages 12+. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted..
What are the songs in Redwood?
Redwood is a fully original musical and features songs by Kate Diaz. Director/playwright/co-lyricist Tina Landau and Idina Menzel scouted her online when searching for a composer outside of the musical theater genre.
Who wrote Redwood?
Kate Diaz wrote the music, Tina Landau wrote the book, and both contributed to the lyrics.
Who directed Redwood?
Tina Landau, who received a 2018 Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Musical for SpongeBob SquarePants, directs this new musical.
Is Redwood appropriate for kids?
This show is recommended for ages 12 and up. Redwood contains strong language and themes of loss and addiction.
Is Redwood good?
Based on reviews from the La Jolla Playhouse run, the show is quite special: “Redwood feels like the American musical of tomorrow,” San Diego Union-Tribune said.
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