After nearly a decade, Idina Menzel is back on Broadway. The Tony Award-winning NYU alum you’ve seen in “Wicked” and “Rent” and heard in “Frozen” now stars in “Redwood,” a new musical she co-created with Tony Award-nominee Tina Landau, who wrote the show’s book. Featuring a stirring representation of grief and the horror of wildfires, the project highlights the strength, bravery and power of community.
In “Redwood,” Jesse (Menzel), is grieving the tragic death of her 23-year-old son, Spencer (Zachary Noah Piser). Her marriage to her wife Mel (De’Adre Aziza) is also fractured, so she flees New York City and finds herself among the redwood trees of Eureka, California. Thanks to an encounter with arborists Finn (Michael Park) and Becca (Khaila Wilcoxon), who are studying the tree species, she eventually scales a mighty redwood. Deciding to sleep within the tree, Jesse endures a night of recurring fear and panic, amplified by a terrifying local wildfire.
A massive redwood set piece, which the characters repeatedly climb, and numerous giant LED screens — complete with sweeping visuals of the forests and cosmos — form the set, bringing the stunning forest to life. Actors spend considerable time interacting with the tree, even belting and dancing horizontally while swinging around its trunk. The production creatively uses the space at New York City’s Nederlander Theatre. From dim and illuminated to fiery and serene, the musical brings a unique kind of engagement to the stage — utilizing its environment to accentuate both the volatile environment and its quiet solitude.
Something that isn’t quiet in “Redwood,” however, are the vocal performances. Whether you’re sitting in the front orchestra or rear mezzanine, you’ll feel every beat. The vocals boom and command your attention — the sheer power of Menzel and Wilcoxon could generate enough electricity for the tristate area, particularly in songs “Great Escape,” “In the Leaves” and “Becca’s Song.” The instruments and sound effects are loud and deep, transporting you to the world of “Redwood.”
Like its sound, the lyrics of “Redwood” are not so quiet, with music by Kate Diaz, who wrote the lyrics with Landau. They are very literal, like in “Little Redwood,” where Becca sings, “They’re a metaphor for resilience / For our ability to survive and live and love.” With writing that leans expositional, the narrative is squeezed into distinct moments that segment the development of each character arc, leading to outcomes that feel expected.
Menzel and company earn both laughs and tears in “Redwood” as the cast of five convincingly deliver the material. Wilcoxon, who plays passionate college graduate Becca, and Piser are cast standouts. Wilcoxon’s showstopping vocal performances and characterization of Becca are highlighted not only by big moments like “Little Redwood,” but also more contemplative ones, like when Becca shares with Jesse her story of both loss and purpose in the standout number “Becca’s Song.” A truly exceptional performance from Piser — the highlight of “Redwood” and most representative of its heart — is wholly consuming. It’s an experience you can only have in the theater.
“Redwood” deals thematically with tragedy and grief, particularly as it relates to the circumstances of the early death of Jesse’s son, which are heartbreakingly expounded upon. The catastrophe of a wildfire is explored — the character Becca movingly shares her experience with this ecological terror, powerfully relating it to her advocacy for the environment.
The musical resonated with me, especially in light of the catastrophic wildfires in my hometown of Los Angeles. Judging by the get-out-the-tissues tears of folks sat near me at last Friday’s performance, “Redwood” is connecting with theatergoers. I left the performance somewhat like Menzel’s Jesse — looking for California.
Contact Luke Vrba at [email protected].