Idina Menzel
Idina Kim Menzel (pronounced /ɪˈdiːnə mɛnˈzɛl/; née Mentzel; born May 30, 1… Read Full Bio ↴Idina Kim Menzel (pronounced /ɪˈdiːnə mɛnˈzɛl/; née Mentzel; born May 30, 1971) is an American actress, singer and songwriter. She is widely known for originating the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked, and for voicing the character Elsa in the Disney movie Frozen.
Idina was born on Long Island, New York, to a Jewish family. Her mother, Helene, is a therapist, and her father, Stuart Mentzel, worked as a pajama salesman. She was raised in Syosset, New York, with her younger sister Cara, and later changed the spelling of her last name (Mentzel) because of constant mispronunciation.
When Menzel was 15 years old, her parents divorced and she began working as a wedding and bar mitzvah singer. A job she continued throughout her time at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Drama at NYU.
In 1995, Menzel auditioned for Rent, which became her first professional theater job and her Broadway debut. Rent opened off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on January 26, 1996. The show moved to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre due to its popularity. For her performance as Maureen Johnson in the original cast, Menzel received a Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her final performance in the musical was on July 1, 1997.
Following the success of Rent, Menzel released her first solo album entitled "Still I Can't Be Still" on "Hollywood Records," Menzel also originated the role of Dorothy in Summer of ’42 at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, starred as Sheila in the New York City Center Encores! production of Hair, and appeared on Broadway as Amneris in Aida. Menzel earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance as Kate in the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2000 off-Broadway production of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Her other off-Broadway credits include the pre-Broadway run of Rent and The Vagina Monologues.
In 2003, Menzel starred with actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth on Broadway in Wicked, a musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman loosely based upon the popular 1995 Gregory Maguire novel. Menzel received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. On her third-to-last performance of Wicked on January 8, 2005, she fell through a trap door and cracked a lower rib. The injury prevented her from performing in the January 9 show. Menzel did, however, make a special out-of-costume appearance at that performance, performed her final song, and received a 5 minute long standing ovation. Menzel was replaced by Elphaba standby Shoshana Bean.
Following Wicked, Menzel appeared off-Broadway in the Public Theater's production of See What I Wanna See, a Michael John LaChiusa-penned musical whose run ended in December 2005, for which she received Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award nominations. She reprised her Tony Award-winning role as Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked when it opened at London's Apollo Victoria Theater on September 7, 2006. During the run, she joined the ranks of highest paid female performer in the West End at $30,000 per week. Menzel finished her West End run on December 30, 2006. She was succeeded by Elphaba standby Kerry Ellis.
Menzel played the role of Florence in the 21st Anniversary concert of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall, London from May 12–13, 2008, alongside Kerry Ellis, Adam Pascal and Josh Groban.
In 2008, Menzel headlined the Powerhouse Theatre's reading of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical Nero from July 1–11. She performed the role of Nero’s mistress Poppea.
Menzel's film roles include appearances in Just a Kiss, Kissing Jessica Stein, Tollbooth, Water, Ask the Dust, Enchanted, and Rent, in which she and five other original cast members reprised their stage roles. As a singer Menzel is known for her wide vocal range, and her use of the 'belt' technique.
Menzel performed at the 1998 Lilith Fair summer concert festival and continues to write and perform original music. She has toured extensively and frequently performs in various venues throughout New York City. She produced and released her debut album, Still I Can’t Be Still, for Hollywood Records in 1998. One single from the album, "Minuet," made the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Tracks chart at #48 in October 1998.
Her second album, Here, was released independently by Zel Records in 2004. Menzel has contributed to soundtracks, including those for the film The Other Sister and the ABC television dramedy Desperate Housewives. In 2007, she appeared on the Beowulf soundtrack singing the end credits song, "A Hero Comes Home." Also in 2007, Menzel's powerful singing voice lead her to be asked to accompany the baritone British X-Factor runner-up Rhydian Roberts on his debut album, duetting on the song "What If."
Her third solo album, I Stand, was released on January 29, 2008. The CD includes many new songs, including the lead single, "Brave," the title track "I Stand," and a song released on EP, "Gorgeous." The album debuted at #58 in the Billboard 200 making it the first solo album by Menzel to make the charts. There are five versions of this album: the original version, the special limited edition, the iTunes version, the Barnes & Noble edition, and the Borders edition.
On April 1, 2008, Menzel kicked off her "I Stand" tour in support of her new album.
On November 11, 2008, Menzel released a new single in conjunction with Major League Baseball. The single is entitled "Hope" and all proceeds go to Stand Up 2 Cancer.
On November 27, 2008, Menzel performed "I Stand" on the M&M Candies float as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
On December 10, 2009, it was confirmed that Menzel was in negotiations to have a recurring role on Glee. In Spring 2010, Menzel began playing the role of Shelby Corcoran, the coach of the opposing Glee club, Vocal Adrenaline. She was also revealed as Rachel Berry's biological mother.
When asked about 'Defying Gravity' being sung on Glee, Idina was asked about her musical future. She said that the long-rumored movie version of 'Wicked' would probably not be green-lit until there's a dip in its Broadway grosses.
Idina also said that she had met with Andrew Lloyd Webber about taking the role of Betty Schaefer in his much delayed Sunset Boulevard film adaptation. As of February 2010, it is widely believed that Idina is no longer part of Sunset Boulevard as she wanted the role enlarged, to the refusal of Lloyd-Webber.
Menzel married actor Taye Diggs, her co-star from the original Broadway production of Rent, on January 11, 2003 after 7 years of dating. They have a Yorkshire Terrier named Sammy Davis Jr. and two cats named Ella and Coltrane, whom they call their "Jazz Cats" because they were named after famous jazz performers. On December 6, 2004, it was reported by the New York Post that Menzel and Diggs were threatened with harm in a series of letters because of their interracial marriage. Their son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, was born on September 2, 2009.
Menzel was an Honorary Chair of the Imperial Court of New York's Annual Charity Coronation Ball, Night of A Thousand Gowns on March 21, 2009. Other Honorary Chairs for the evening's charity event included Sir Elton John CBE, Patti LuPone, John Cameron Mitchell, Joan Rivers and Dame Robin Strasser.
Idina was born on Long Island, New York, to a Jewish family. Her mother, Helene, is a therapist, and her father, Stuart Mentzel, worked as a pajama salesman. She was raised in Syosset, New York, with her younger sister Cara, and later changed the spelling of her last name (Mentzel) because of constant mispronunciation.
When Menzel was 15 years old, her parents divorced and she began working as a wedding and bar mitzvah singer. A job she continued throughout her time at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Drama at NYU.
In 1995, Menzel auditioned for Rent, which became her first professional theater job and her Broadway debut. Rent opened off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on January 26, 1996. The show moved to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre due to its popularity. For her performance as Maureen Johnson in the original cast, Menzel received a Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her final performance in the musical was on July 1, 1997.
Following the success of Rent, Menzel released her first solo album entitled "Still I Can't Be Still" on "Hollywood Records," Menzel also originated the role of Dorothy in Summer of ’42 at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, starred as Sheila in the New York City Center Encores! production of Hair, and appeared on Broadway as Amneris in Aida. Menzel earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance as Kate in the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2000 off-Broadway production of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Her other off-Broadway credits include the pre-Broadway run of Rent and The Vagina Monologues.
In 2003, Menzel starred with actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth on Broadway in Wicked, a musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman loosely based upon the popular 1995 Gregory Maguire novel. Menzel received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. On her third-to-last performance of Wicked on January 8, 2005, she fell through a trap door and cracked a lower rib. The injury prevented her from performing in the January 9 show. Menzel did, however, make a special out-of-costume appearance at that performance, performed her final song, and received a 5 minute long standing ovation. Menzel was replaced by Elphaba standby Shoshana Bean.
Following Wicked, Menzel appeared off-Broadway in the Public Theater's production of See What I Wanna See, a Michael John LaChiusa-penned musical whose run ended in December 2005, for which she received Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award nominations. She reprised her Tony Award-winning role as Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked when it opened at London's Apollo Victoria Theater on September 7, 2006. During the run, she joined the ranks of highest paid female performer in the West End at $30,000 per week. Menzel finished her West End run on December 30, 2006. She was succeeded by Elphaba standby Kerry Ellis.
Menzel played the role of Florence in the 21st Anniversary concert of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall, London from May 12–13, 2008, alongside Kerry Ellis, Adam Pascal and Josh Groban.
In 2008, Menzel headlined the Powerhouse Theatre's reading of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical Nero from July 1–11. She performed the role of Nero’s mistress Poppea.
Menzel's film roles include appearances in Just a Kiss, Kissing Jessica Stein, Tollbooth, Water, Ask the Dust, Enchanted, and Rent, in which she and five other original cast members reprised their stage roles. As a singer Menzel is known for her wide vocal range, and her use of the 'belt' technique.
Menzel performed at the 1998 Lilith Fair summer concert festival and continues to write and perform original music. She has toured extensively and frequently performs in various venues throughout New York City. She produced and released her debut album, Still I Can’t Be Still, for Hollywood Records in 1998. One single from the album, "Minuet," made the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Tracks chart at #48 in October 1998.
Her second album, Here, was released independently by Zel Records in 2004. Menzel has contributed to soundtracks, including those for the film The Other Sister and the ABC television dramedy Desperate Housewives. In 2007, she appeared on the Beowulf soundtrack singing the end credits song, "A Hero Comes Home." Also in 2007, Menzel's powerful singing voice lead her to be asked to accompany the baritone British X-Factor runner-up Rhydian Roberts on his debut album, duetting on the song "What If."
Her third solo album, I Stand, was released on January 29, 2008. The CD includes many new songs, including the lead single, "Brave," the title track "I Stand," and a song released on EP, "Gorgeous." The album debuted at #58 in the Billboard 200 making it the first solo album by Menzel to make the charts. There are five versions of this album: the original version, the special limited edition, the iTunes version, the Barnes & Noble edition, and the Borders edition.
On April 1, 2008, Menzel kicked off her "I Stand" tour in support of her new album.
On November 11, 2008, Menzel released a new single in conjunction with Major League Baseball. The single is entitled "Hope" and all proceeds go to Stand Up 2 Cancer.
On November 27, 2008, Menzel performed "I Stand" on the M&M Candies float as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
On December 10, 2009, it was confirmed that Menzel was in negotiations to have a recurring role on Glee. In Spring 2010, Menzel began playing the role of Shelby Corcoran, the coach of the opposing Glee club, Vocal Adrenaline. She was also revealed as Rachel Berry's biological mother.
When asked about 'Defying Gravity' being sung on Glee, Idina was asked about her musical future. She said that the long-rumored movie version of 'Wicked' would probably not be green-lit until there's a dip in its Broadway grosses.
Idina also said that she had met with Andrew Lloyd Webber about taking the role of Betty Schaefer in his much delayed Sunset Boulevard film adaptation. As of February 2010, it is widely believed that Idina is no longer part of Sunset Boulevard as she wanted the role enlarged, to the refusal of Lloyd-Webber.
Menzel married actor Taye Diggs, her co-star from the original Broadway production of Rent, on January 11, 2003 after 7 years of dating. They have a Yorkshire Terrier named Sammy Davis Jr. and two cats named Ella and Coltrane, whom they call their "Jazz Cats" because they were named after famous jazz performers. On December 6, 2004, it was reported by the New York Post that Menzel and Diggs were threatened with harm in a series of letters because of their interracial marriage. Their son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, was born on September 2, 2009.
Menzel was an Honorary Chair of the Imperial Court of New York's Annual Charity Coronation Ball, Night of A Thousand Gowns on March 21, 2009. Other Honorary Chairs for the evening's charity event included Sir Elton John CBE, Patti LuPone, John Cameron Mitchell, Joan Rivers and Dame Robin Strasser.
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Idina Menzel Lyrics
A Hand For Mrs. Claus Every December, we always remember To celebrate the fella in…
A Hero Comes Home Out of the mist of history He'll come again Sailing on ships…
All Hail The Queen Mother, be like the Northern Sky Open and wide You should …
All I Ask Of You I don't want a lot for Christmas There is just one…
All Of The Above I am your sexy girl I am your baby girl…
Always Starting Over Liz: In my life I never thought I'd get a second…
As Long As You're Mine Kiss me too fiercely Hold me too tight I need help believing…
Asleep On The Wind Love is a glass of wine It's balanced on the side-rail…
At This Table At this table, everyone is welcome At this table, everyone i…
Auld Lang Syne Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind…
Baby It's Cold Outside I really can't stay Baby, it's cold outside I gotta go away …
Baby It’s Cold Outside I really can't stay (Baby it's cold outside) I gotta go…
Better to Have Loved Better To Have Loved Ooh Better To Have Loved... Ooh If the …
Brave Don't know just where I'm going And tomorrow, it's a little…
Cake One man's drama is another man's dream One man's torture is…
Caroling Caroling Ding, dong, ding, dong Ding, dong, ding, dong Ding, dong, di…
Christmas Just Ain't Christmas (Merry Christmas, have a merry Christmas) Ah, yeah (Merry Ch…
Christmas Time Is Here Christmas time is here Happiness and cheer Fun for all that …
Coffee I had just finished shooting a coffee commercial National sp…
Damsel In Distress Ooh, you got big muscles rippling Underneath your shirt I'm …
December Prayer In the touch of a friend, in the breath of…
Defying Gravity Elphaba, why couldn't you have stayed calm, for once! Instea…
Do You Hear What I Hear Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you see…
DON Where do you go? When you're alone and in your head Why…
Dream Girl I don't care, this is life It's not fair, it's not…
Everybody Knows I can feel you breathe Hear your heartbeat I love the sound,…
Extraordinary I probably had a bit too much to drink It's a…
Finale No one mourns the wicked Now at last she's dead and…
Finale B There is no future There is no past Thank God this moment's…
Follow If You Lead In this jury There are peddlers and disbelievers In this…
Fool Out Of Me Hey, Just when you think you are the shit Well, you…
For Good I'm limited Just look at me I'm limited And just look at you…
For the First Time in Forever The window is open So's that door I didn't know they did…
Forever The window is open! So's that door! I didn't know they did…
Forevermore These are just the three degrees of Failing. First it's in…
God Give Me Strength Now I have nothing, So God give me strength, 'Cuz I'm weak…
Gorgeous In a perfect world, in another time In a far off…
Gorgeous - Scotty K Vocal Club We will be gorgeous We will be gorgeous We will be gorgeous …
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be li…
Heart On My Sleeve She will never be invincible She will never be some…
Heaven Help My Heart If it were love I would give that love Every second I…
Here Woo Sweet revelation got me Levitating over ground Life know…
Holly Jolly Christmas Have a holly, jolly Christmas It's the best time of the…
I Do Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you see…
I Feel Everything Like a prima ballerina I tip toe, tip toe around you…
I Have A Dream I dreamed a dream in time gone by When hope was…
I See You I lie awake looking back God knows this life goes fast Each…
I Stand When you ask me, who I am What is my vision?…
I'll Be Home for Christmas I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love Even more than…
I'm Not That Girl Hands touch, eyes meet Sudden silence, sudden heat Hearts le…
If I Told You If I told you that I lie sometimes, If I told…
Into the Unknown (Oh, oh, oh) I can hear you but I won't Some look…
It Only Hurts When I Breathe Well guess who I saw today Sitting outside my favorite cafe…
Jealous Tryin' just to rise above, But it's inevitably sinkin' low.…
Kesa Tonight I kissed my lover for the last time He comes…
Larissa's Dragon Down in Larissa's lagoon She sits by the light of…
Larissa's Lagoon Down in Larissa's lagoon She sits by the light of…
Last Time I'm sorry if I wasn't there Or acted like I didn't…
Let It G The snow glows white on the mountain tonight Not a footprint…
Let Me Fall Where do you go? When you're alone and in your head Why…
Life Of The Party Who needs money? Not me. Who needs fortune or fame? I don't …
Like Lightning Looking for a girl I used to know She used to…
Louie Remember where you found me Working at the hat shack Slummin…
Love For Sale/Roxanne Honestly, when you walk with me That's the best feeling that…
Love Power If we ever needed magic, we could use it now And…
Love While You Can We're none of us getting any younger You can feel the…
Material Girl Some boys kiss me Some boys hug me I think they're ok If…
Minuet If we move in together Will I still be a…
My Own Worst Enemy In the roses, in the spring, I remember There was a…
No Day But Today There's only us, there's only this Forget regret, or life is…
No Good Deed Fiyero! Eleka nahmen nahmen ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen Eleka…
Nothin' in This World Later on, when the embers cool down When I catch my…
O Holy Night/Ave Maria O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Ocho Kandelikas Hanukkah linda sta aki Ocho kandelas para mi Hanukkah linda …
Once Upon A Time All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't…
One Short Day Come with me to the Emerald City One short day In the…
Over The Moon Last night, I had a dream I found myself in a…
Penny Don't know much about practicing what I preach, Don't know h…
Perfect Story Jack and Jill went up the hill, a bucket full…
Perfume and Promises A crack in the smile But she's always in style while…
Planet Z Sitting in my easy chair I got no friends but…
Poker Face I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas please Fold…
Popular [GLINDA] You see Elphie, now that we're friends, I've decide…
Queen of Swords You mistake my passion for anger Should I sit polite in…
Reach Slowly, softly Please serenade me I'm here Restless, reviv…
Ring in the Season It was long ago They would ring the bell We could hear…
River It's coming on Christmas They're cutting down trees They're …
Seasons of Love Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes Five h…
Show Me Heaven knows I went through hell Trying to trust somebody el…
Show Yourself Every inch of me is trembling But not from the cold Somethin…
Silent Night Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yo…
Sleigh Ride Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling to…
Small World I'm standing in the field My feet lift off the ground No…
So Beautiful Sometimes I watch you while you're sleeping. I see you're ha…
Still I Can't Be Still Well I don't believe in god But she talks to…
Straw Into Gold I wonder if you sleep right now Do you realize…
Summer's Grace What will it take to Make them quit calling? You change yo…
Take Me Or Leave Me Every single day I walk down the street I hear people say,…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
The Life of the Party Who needs money? Not me. Who needs fortune or fame? I don't …
The Moment Explodes The engine stops The plane drops The moment explodes A sudd…
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year It's the most wonderful time of the year With the kids…
The Wife's Statement What do you want me to say? I killed him, my…
The Wizard And I Oh, Miss Elphaba Many years I have waited For a gift like…
Think Too Much Do you think about the moon? Made you feel real…
tomorrow The sun′ll come out tomorrow Bet your bottom dollar that tom…
what are you doing new year's eve Maybe it's much too early in the game Ah, but I…
What If You stop and say hey to a stranger And where will…
What Is This Feeling Dearest darlingest momsie and popsical My dear father Ther…
what the f**k Hey you there with that face in the mirror What the…
When We're Together Sure, it's nice to open a gift that's tied up…
When You Wish Upon a Star When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you…
Where Do I Begin Where do I begin my love? Starting with the things I…
White Christmas I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I…
Wind Beneath My Wings It must have been colder in my shadow To never have…
Winter Wonderland/Christmas Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is…
Wonderful I never asked for this or planned it in advance I…
You Learn To Live Without You learn to take your coffee black You learn to drink…
You'd Be Surprised You'd be surprised at all that I've become. You'd be surpris…
You're You Kiss me too fiercely Hold me too tight I need help believing…
レット・イット・ゴー The snow glows white on the mountain tonight Not a footprint…