5 reasons to see Redwood on Broadway

The verdict5 reasons to see Redwood On Broadway

Yes, Idina Menzel flies while he sings again. But also, this new musical is strikingly transported.

There is something so special about a completely new, original musical. You don’t know what to expect, because the music and the story are completely fresh. But it can create some of the most magical moments in a theater, when something you never predicted really delighted. And there are many treats, surprises and magic (well, fly) in the new musical Redwoodwhich was opened at the Dutch Theater on February 13.

The job is co-created by the Tony Award winner Idina menzel (whoever stars) and Month (Who directly directed and wrote the book and wrote lyrics together). The music is composed by newcomer Kate Diazwho also wrote the lyrics with Landau. Menzel interprets Jesse, a woman who finds herself on a crossroads in a Redwood Forest in Northern California after a life-changing event.

Of course, you might read it and think, “Idina menzel is in it, I’m there.” But for those of you who need a little more convincing are five reasons below to see Redwood In the Dutch Theater.

1. Idina Menzel withholds gravity (again)

It is clear that the reason why there is a tremendous interest RedwoodAnd why it sells so well is because of Menzel. After all, the last time the beloved artist was on the Broadway stage was a decade ago in another original musical, If/then. Any opportunity to see one of Broadway’s brightest live on stage is one to take, especially in a musical that is clearly a passion project for her. Menzel was the one who planted the seed for the show; 15 years ago, she brought the idea of ​​doing a musical about a woman living in a redwood tree to Landau. Now that seed has grown into a full -fledged production, complete with an impressive tree in the middle (more on this later).

But not only will you see that Menzel’s numerous attacks of vocal acrobatics in Redwood (show that her voice has lost nothing from his power), you will see how she is acting real acrobatics. Yes, the show is about a woman who climbs on a redwood tree, which means that Menzel also climbs on a redwood tree. If your favorite Idina Menzel show is Evilthen come to Redwood To see how Menzel braves gravity again (and hang – and sing! – also down).

2. The set design is beautiful

In RedwoodMenzel’s character Jesse runs away from her cosmopolitan life to a family tragedy. She then ends up in a redwood forest and the show follows her efforts to work her away with nature’s help. The set of Redwood (of designer Jason Ardiizone-West) Is truly transported, and takes you seamlessly from Jesse’s turbulent domestic life to the Redwood forests of California. And what a bush it is. There is a specific moment, with the help of Hana S. Kim’s projection design, where it feels like you are flying through a redwood forest and in the trees’ canopy. This helps the stage and box-seated boxes covered with floor-to-feeder screens, allowing the forest to completely cover the vision of the audience.

The piece of resistance of the Design is a recreation of a Redwood Kaving Bak, named Stella and may be this author’s new favorite aptitude on Broadway (regret to Maybe happy ending‘s hwaboon). Stella is texture and beautiful – if Menzel embraces her, she can only reach a small portion. When the actors of the show climb up and down ropes, the tree is never overshadowed. There is a moment in the show where Stella can be at risk, and I sat there in the hope that she would be in order, proof of her impact on the characters and the audience.

3.. The outstanding score

Menzel chose the composer Kate Diaz by hand to compose the music Redwood. And the newcomer in the musical theater writes perfectly to Menzel’s strengths – expecting their high notes and vocalizations to rise in abundance. It’s not just power ballads – Diaz’s score also performs in quieter moments, such as when Michael ParkThe character Finn sings “roots”, over the large interwoven root system of the Redwoods. The song provides information, but in such a melodically striking way.

As the music rises, the lyrics of Diaz and Landau keep the show based on rights human interests and emotions; If Menzel sings, in ‘No Repair’, ‘there is no end to your sadness, because there is no end to Your love,’ the line is ending because of how simple it is, but also how true. The songs not only give a tone, it helps you understand the person they sing while talking to a more universal emotion – in other words, ideal musical theater. It is always a pleasure to discover a talented new musical theater voice and Redwood Do American musical fans a service by introducing us to Diaz.

4.. The supporting cast

While the show prominently contains menzel as the lead role, the supporting cast is also high. There is Michael Park as Redwood expert Finn, who teaches Jesse to climb the stage exclusively by pulling himself on a rope (I want to know how his arms feel at the end of each show). There is Khaila Wilcoxon as another Redwood expert named Becca-She also gets some heavy belt moments in the show and delivers them all with such an emotion that her applause after the song was often almost as hard as Menzel. De’adre Aziza than Jesse’s wife, Mel, balances the more tragic elements of the show with the most playful.

A striking cast is Zachary noah pis Play a variety of roles, especially Jesse’s son Spencer. Pis gets the 11 -hour number ‘Still’, one of the best songs in the show, both because of its messages (‘While you are still alive, living’), but also because Piser sings it with so much emotion that it also wants to climb a tree. If your pis has not yet seen in any other show, Redwood Make this young artist truly someone to keep your eyes.

5.. It is a moving showcase of sadness

Although Redwood takes place in a forest and has a beautiful tree in the middle, the true heart of the story is how to overcome sadness – and the realization that sadness is not something to overcome, but something you learn to live with. The message will sound to anyone who has ever lost someone important. If Menzel sings ‘no recovery’, and eventually puts words on her own pain, I could hear sobs in the theater. But although the performance is about sadness, it also leaves a lot of room for joy, cunning and discovery. It is a moving takeaway for anyone who goes through a rough patch in their own lives – you can still laugh.

And even if you don’t, even if you just want a nice evening in the theater, Redwood Also deliver on it by truly transporting the audience to a forest. To see RedwoodYou want to take a page of Jesse and touch a tree. You may even want to make a wonderful escape to the Redwoods in California. If someone from California, I can confirm, are they are more wonderful than you can imagine.

Click here to make your wonderful escape and buy tickets for Redwood.