Idina Menzel is a force, an entertainer to be reckoned with on stage, in the studio and on screen. She made her Broadway debut in 1996 as Maureen Johnson in “RENT,” later reprising the LGBTQ+ role on film, and hasn’t slowed down since.
The performer has originated some of pop culture’s most iconic roles throughout her career. They include Elphaba in “Wicked,” for which she won the Tony for Best Actress, and Elsa in Disney’s “Frozen” franchise. For her contributions to the Walt Disney Company, which include singing the Oscar-winning phenomenon “Let It Go,” she was named a Disney Legend in 2022.
That same year she starred in “Disenchanted” on Disney+, revisiting her role from 2007’s “Enchanted,” all while continuing to work on her own music. Menzel is an accomplished recording artist in her own right, having released six studio albums. Her next is a dance project called “Drama Queen,” scheduled for release in August. The first two singles were intentionally released by early June.
“I’m so thrilled that the first single, ‘Move’ is coming in time for Pride Month,” Menzel announced in May. “It’s a celebration of love in all its forms. The LGBTQIA+ community has always been so inspiring to me — watching friends and fans live so courageously, so authentically.”
That’s particularly evident in the video seen below:
It’s also been obvious during Menzel’s Pride tour this year, which included a headlining performance at California’s WeHo Pride June 2 and extends overseas to Pride in London July 1. She performed at St Pete Pride for the celebration’s Friday Night Concert on June 23 at Jannus Live as well, joined by local drag entertainers.
View Watermark’s photos from the concert here and read our interview with Menzel conducted ahead of her St. Pete stop below. She discusses her iconic career, commitment to equality and more.
WATERMARK: What comes more naturally for you, performing on stage or screen?
Idina Menzel: Performing on stage is probably more natural for me. I’m not sure why, but it just is.
Do you think it’s having a live element?
Yes, it’s the live element. I’ve thought about this a lot but it’s hard to put it into words, because there is a live element to being on a set as well, since there are a lot of people around who are waiting for you to get it right; the time and money is running, so there is a sense of pressure in that. I just think that anytime you have to make yourself vulnerable as an artist, it’s scary and exhilarating. It’s also what endears you or humanizes you to your audience.
Touching on [late “RENT” creator] Jonathan Larson’s legacy, why do you think his work continues to resonate with audiences?
I think he wrote from his heart; he wrote from his own experience. I think that the things he wrote about are still important today. They’re about community and loving who you want to love; they’re about artistic integrity and embracing the moment, living for the day. All of that — along with the loss of Jonathan Larson, which was sort of life imitating art — is so profound that it has had exponential effects through the years.
You’ve revisited some of your roles in recent years, like in “Disenchanted” and “Frozen 2.” What’s it like returning to a familiar character with new content?
It’s really fun as a performer. Actually, particularly with “RENT” and getting to do the movie version 10 years later, that juxtaposition was pretty exciting for me because “RENT” was my first big job on stage and I was so young. So with that I brought this exuberance and freedom to everything that I was doing.
Then, 10 years later I was able to bring more life experience, more process and understanding of how I like to get inside of my characters and develop them. You also don’t want to change what was inherently special about what you already did — trying to repeat something always takes something away from that, I think — so that was an important exercise for me as a performer in how to balance both of those things.
“Frozen 3” was announced earlier this year. Is there anything you can share about the next installment?
I don’t know much at all, I just know that they want to do it. (Laughs.) I haven’t seen any script, so actually it’s hard for me to speak to.
Would you be interested in returning to play any of your stage roles?
I don’t think so. I think what’s really wonderful, and what’s been so rewarding about the roles I’ve played, is that they played an important role in my life at that time. They maybe taught me a lesson or something I needed to learn, experience or go through at that time in my life.
Revisiting that isn’t necessarily something I feel the need to do. Do I love all those characters so much, and do I miss them sometimes, and more importantly the cast and the group that I created them with? Of course. That’s often more of what I miss, the developmental process with my friends and the creative team and the magic of putting on a new show. That’s the part that I like to keep coming back to.
Of your famous characters, Who do you think is the biggest drama queen?
Probably Maureen! Or for those that really know my resume, probably Kate from “The Wild Party.”
Why is now the right time for you to release “Drama Queen?”
I want people to feel like they can move, dance and get out of their seats when they hear my music. I wanted to make sure that I still was able to use my voice — sing big melodies, not have to dial it down — and I feel like Dance/Disco music is a really great bed for that kind of singing. I was inspired by some of my favorites like Donna Summer or even Barbara Streisand, who had a Disco phase, and Gloria Gaynor. These huge voices. Cher even came back to Dance music.
How do you describe the album?
It’s fun, it’s exciting, it goes through great chord progressions, the music has modulations and big string arrangements with great grooves. They still tell a big story and even though it might seem unexpected, I feel like it’s a natural transition for me.
And the fact that it’s coming out coinciding with Pride feels really serendipitous for me, because I feel like a lot of the themes in “Drama Queen” are things I needed and wanted to write about; having to embrace my own power and not sort of diminish my self worth to make other people feel better about themselves. I think that a lot of that perhaps resonates with my friends in the queer community.
What’s it been like connecting with fans at Pride events?
I really am excited about the opportunity to express my gratitude to my friends in the LGBTQ+ community. They have inspired me and taught me through their courage how to aspire to live my life authentically.
I want to be an ally and if they will have me, I want to perhaps alleviate some of the responsibility that’s put on the community — especially the youth — of having to fight every day to be seen for who they are. I feel like there’s plenty of fight, so we as allies can get out there on the front lines and try to use our voices to confront all of the cruelty, hypocrisy and ignorance that we are all experiencing today.
This is my opportunity to express that gratitude — but to also celebrate, because what I love so much and what moves me the most is the community’s ability to remain optimistic and joyful through all of this strife. I want to share that and revel in that with everyone.
What message do you have for LGBTQ+ fans, especially in Florida?
My message is to know that they’re not alone. To know that we are all furious with the legislation being passed, with the attacks on our friends in drag, our trans youth, about the ignorance surrounding education and representation in schools and teachers and storytelling. That no matter what, even if they feel like they don’t have a home, that they do have a home with all of us. We are here for them and we’ll keep fighting.
What else do you want to share about coming to St Pete Pride?
I’m just really excited to get there, share my music and have a great time connecting with the audience and seeing my friends. I feel that this community has always supported me and embraced my creativity and my choices as a performer and as an artist — I don’t feel like I would be the same person or have the same career without them.
Relive Menzel’s St Pete Pride concert here before listening to “Drama Queen,” available Aug. 18 wherever music is streamed or sold. Learn more about the album and Menzel at IdinaMenzel.com.
