Idina Menzel Talks GLEE, Summer Tour, & Future Plans

In an interview with TV Squad, Idina Menzel talks about her recent work on GLEE, plans for the future, and possibly seeing her husband on the musical series.

On tonight's episode, "Dream On", Menzel sings 'I Dreamed a Dream' from LES MISERABLES --- a duet with Lea Michele. Menzel is no stranger to this Broadway ballad; she belted it out numerous times in her days as a wedding singer. "It was one of my specials. And I used to use it as a barometer as to how well I did that night. You normally don't get applause when you're a wedding singer -- nobody's usually paying attention to you. But when I would sing that song, people would actually stop eating their salad or whatever and applaud. So it's funny when he wanted me to sing that song. I don't even have to prepare; I know it in my sleep.", says Menzel.

As for her similarlities to her character, Shelby, the star says: I'm definitely hard-working and driven, for the most part. I wouldn't say ambitious -- I tend to get intimidated in situations, and I'm much more comfortable with someone finding me as opposed to me knocking someone over the head with myself. So I'm a little bit more self-deprecating. I mean, I'm tough -- I can be a tough girl and have a lot of strength, but I can also be pretty hard on myself."

To read the full Q&A, click here.

Menzel says she would love to return to GLEE, but the call is really up to Producer Ryan Murphy. As for her musically talented husband, Taye Diggs, Idina is putting in a 'good word' to get him on the show.

Idina's upcoming summer tour starts in Jacksonville, FL on April 24 and runs through the Fall. Her next endeveur? "Mostly, I'm focusing on being a good mommy. That's my thing that I do right now, and I don't want to work so much to the point that I can't balance that and be with my son, because I'm pretty addicted to spending as much time with him as I can. So it's about finding the right job that would fit in with you know, mommyhood and the symphony concerts, they're great, because they're on weekends, I take him with me. And I would love to do more TV and film."

Idina Menzel won a Tony for Best Actress for her role as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the original production of 'Wicked' on Broadway (she originated the role in 2003 in San Francisco before Wicked's Broadway run). Prior to her appearance in 'Wicked', she originated the role of Maureen in 'Rent' on Broadway, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Following Wicked, Menzel appeared off-Broadway in The Public Theater's production of 'See What I Wanna See', for which she received Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award nominations. She also appeared Off-Broadway in 'The Wild Party'. Film credits include the role reprisal of Maureen in the film adaptation of 'Rent', the Oscar-nominated fable 'Enchanted', and Robert Towne's 'Ask The Dust'. She went on to reprise her role as Elphaba in the West End production of 'Wicked' at London's Apollo Victoria Theater in 2006. Menzel has released three solo albums, the latest of which is 'I Stand', produced by Glen Ballard. Menzel is scheduled for a spring guest star appearance on the TV series GLEE.

Idina returns to GLEE tonight, May 18. GLEE airs Tuesdays at 9 pm Eastern, 8 pm Central on FOX. To see Idina's full interview with TV Squad, click here.

Photo Credit: Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Patrick Ecclesine/FOX