Idina Menzel, who will soon be seen reprising her Tony Award-nominated performance as Maureen in the film version of Rent, has signed a solo artist record deal with Warner Bros. Records, according to The New York Post's Liz Smith.
The record deal will not be Menzel's first foray into the world of pop music. The belter, who performed at the Lilith Fair summer concert festival in 1998, previously recorded an album for Hollywood Records: Still I Can't Be Still. The album features some of Menzel's original songs, as does Here, on which she sings 6 of her pieces (co-written with Jamey Jaz).The performer, who will next appear in Michael John LaChiusa's See What I Wanna See at the Public Theatre, received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her turn as Elphaba inWicked. In addition to creating the role of Maureen in Rent, Menzel played Amneris in Broadway's Aida, portrayed Kate in Andrew Lippa's off-Broadway musical The Wild Party and appeared in the City Center Encores! production of Hair, as well as in the Actors' Fund Benefit Concert of Funny Girl. The burgeoning film actress will also be seen in Ask the Dust, starring Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek.
Menzel can be heard on the Rent soundtrack, which recently climbed to #99 on the Billboard 200, and is #3 on its Top Soundtracks chart.For more information, visit www.idinamenzel.com.
