Photo Special: Happy Birthday Idina Menzel - Part 1; WICKED, RENT & More!

By: Robert Diamond May. 30, 2015

As the star embarks TONIGHT on a new world tour, we'll celebrating Idina Menzel's birthday with a look back into the BWW Photo Archvies! Below, scroll through photos from WICKED, RENT & more and stay tuned for Part 2!

Menzel rose to prominence when she originated the role of Maureen Johnson in the hit Broadway musical Rent, a role which she reprised for the 2005 feature film adaptation of the musical. She received a Tony Award nomination in 1996 for her performance in Rent.

In 2004, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for originating the role of Elphaba in the blockbuster Broadway musicalWicked. She made her return to Broadway in the 2014 musical If/Then. She is currently a nominee for the 2014 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance.

Menzel is also known for her recurring role of Shelby Corcoran on the musical comedy-drama television series Glee, the 2007 Disney movie Enchanted and as THE VOICE of Elsa the Snow Queen in the 2013 Disney animated film Frozen, which is the highest-grossing animated film of all time, in which she sang the Academy Award-winning song "Let It Go". The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Solo albums include Barefoot At The Symphony (a live recording of her PBS special by the same name), I Stand, Here, and Still I Can't Be Still. She recently starred in If/Then at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre.

Photo Special: Happy Birthday Idina Menzel - Part 1; WICKED, RENT & More!

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth arrive in style. from WICKED: Opening Night Photo Coverage on 10/31/2003 by Linda Lenzi

A Wizard, two Witches and a kiss...Oh My! Menzel and Chenoweth plant one on Grey. from WICKED: Opening Night Photo Coverage on 10/31/2003 by Linda Lenzi

Idina and Kristin do their imitation of the Wicked logo. from WICKED: Opening Night Photo Coverage on 10/31/2003 by Linda Lenzi

Idina Menzel (Wicked), Drama Desk Nominee for Outstanding in a Musical from Photo Coverage: 49th Annual Drama Desk Awards on 5/18/2004 by Linda Lenzi

Oz's favorite team, Jennifer Laura Thompson and Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Broadway on Broadway '04 on 9/14/2004 by Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Idina from Photo Coverage: Broadway on Broadway '04 on 9/14/2004 by Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs from Photo Coverage: 2005 Tony Awards Red Carpet on 6/6/2005 by Ben Strothmann

Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: 2005 Tony Awards After-Party on 6/7/2005 by Linda Lenzi

For the first number, they were cheered on by Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms & Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Cast Performs on The Today Show on 8/4/2005 by BWW News Desk

from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Cast Performs on The Today Show on 8/4/2005 by BWW News Desk

Adam Pascal, Tracie Thoms, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs and Rosario Dawson from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Cast Performs on The Today Show on 8/4/2005 by BWW News Desk

from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Cast Performs on The Today Show on 8/4/2005 by BWW News Desk

Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, & Rosario Dawson from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Cast Performs on The Today Show on 8/4/2005 by BWW News Desk

Katie Couric, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, & Rosario Dawson from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Cast Performs on The Today Show on 8/4/2005 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Cast Performs on The Today Show on 8/4/2005 by BWW News Desk

Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel and Adam Pascal from Photo Coverage: Cast of Rent Film Performs in Broadway For Life at Bryant Park on 8/5/2005 by BWW News Desk

Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, and Wilson Jermaine Heredia from Photo Coverage: Cast of Rent Film Performs in Broadway For Life at Bryant Park on 8/5/2005 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs from Photo Coverage: Cast of Rent Film Performs in Broadway For Life at Bryant Park on 8/5/2005 by BWW News Desk

Adam Pascal and Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Cast of Rent Film Performs in Broadway For Life at Bryant Park on 8/5/2005 by BWW News Desk

Idina, Taye and Adam from Photo Coverage: Cast of Rent Film Performs in Broadway For Life at Bryant Park on 8/5/2005 by BWW News Desk

from Photo Coverage: Cast of Rent Film Performs in Broadway For Life at Bryant Park on 8/5/2005 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel and Joe Mantello from Photo Coverage: Broadway's Celebrity Benefit for Hurricane Relief on 9/28/2005 by Linda Lenzi

Idina Menzel signing a quilt to be auctioned off for the victims of Hurricane Katrina from Photo Coverage: Broadway's Celebrity Benefit for Hurricane Relief on 9/28/2005 by Linda Lenzi

Best Nominee Idina Menzel (Wicked) and three-time Tony Winner Audra McDonald from Celebrity Freeze Frame! Exclusive pictures from Tony Winner, Jeff Marx on 6/4/2004 by BWW

Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs from Photo Coverage: A Wicked Good Time! on 6/9/2004 by BWW

Andy Pellick and Joe Mantello talking to Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: A Wicked Good Time! on 6/9/2004 by BWW

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: RENT Film Premieres at the Ziegfeld Theatre on 11/18/2005 by Ben Strothmann

Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: RENT Film Premieres at the Ziegfeld Theatre on 11/18/2005 by Ben Strothmann

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Stars Perform at Apollo Theatre on 11/23/2005 by Ben Strothmann

Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, Tracie Thoms, Anthony Rapp, Idina Menzel, and Taye Diggs from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Stars Perform at Apollo Theatre on 11/23/2005 by Ben Strothmann

The cast comes out on stage to an Apollo welcome. from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Stars Perform at Apollo Theatre on 11/23/2005 by Ben Strothmann

from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Stars Perform at Apollo Theatre on 11/23/2005 by Ben Strothmann

Tickets were placed under five seats in the audience. Five lucky high school students won the Soundtrack on CD, and got to come up on stage and meet the cast. from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Stars Perform at Apollo Theatre on 11/23/2005 by Ben Strothmann

Seasons of Love! from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Stars Perform at Apollo Theatre on 11/23/2005 by Ben Strothmann

from Photo Coverage: Rent Film Stars Perform at Apollo Theatre on 11/23/2005 by Ben Strothmann

Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs from Photo Coverage: RENT's 10th Anniversary Concert on 4/25/2006 by Craig Brockman

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: RENT's 10th Anniversary Concert on 4/25/2006 by Craig Brockman

Idina Menzel, Adam Garcia and Helen Dallimore from Photo Flash: London Wicked Rehearsals Begin on 7/31/2006 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel and Helen Dallimore from Photo Flash: London Wicked Rehearsals Begin on 7/31/2006 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel, Nigel Planer, Helen Dallimore, Martin Ball, Miriam Margolyes, Adam Garcia, Katie Rowley Jones and James Gillan from Photo Flash: London Wicked Rehearsals Begin on 7/31/2006 by BWW News Desk

Producer David Stone, Helen Dallimore, Nigel Planer, Martin Ball, Miriam Margolyes, Joe Mantello, Katie Rowley Jones, Idina Menzel, Adam Garcia, James Gillan and producer Marc Platt from Photo Flash: London Wicked Rehearsals Begin on 7/31/2006 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel from Photo Flash: London Wicked in Previews on 9/15/2006 by BWW News Desk

Adam Garcia and Idina Menzel from Photo Flash: London Wicked in Previews on 9/15/2006 by BWW News Desk

Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: WICKED Flies Into London! on 9/28/2006 by Craig Brockman

Prince Charles, Idina Menzel and Helen Dallimore from Photo Flash: London 'Wicked' Royal Variety Performance on 12/8/2006 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel from Krieger & Shanley, Townsend, Etc. Part of NYSF Season on 5/11/2007 by BWW News Desk

Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel from 'ShowBusiness' Fantastic Peek Behind the Curtains on 5/11/2007 by James Sims

Idina Menzel from Menzel, Orfeh, Karl, Etc. Set for Romantic Poetry Benefit on 5/10/2007 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel from Idina Menzel to Release New Solo CD in the Fall on 3/15/2007 by BWW News Desk

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Public's Romeo and Juliet Party on 6/20/2007 by Walter McBride

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: 'Enchanted' World Premiere on 11/19/2007 by BWW

Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs from Photo Coverage: 'Enchanted' World Premiere on 11/19/2007 by BWW

Idina Menzel & Taye Diggs from Photo Coverage: Red Carpet at the Tony Awards on 6/11/2007 by Walter McBride

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Red Carpet at the Tony Awards on 6/11/2007 by Walter McBride

Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs from Photo Coverage: Songwriters Hall of Fame on 6/8/2007 by BWW

Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Bette Midler's 'The Showgirl Must Go On' Opening Night on 2/21/2008 by BWW

Idina Menzel from An Interview with Idina Menzel on 2/26/2008 by Robert Diamond

Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs from An Interview with Idina Menzel on 2/26/2008 by Robert Diamond

Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel from An Interview with Idina Menzel on 2/26/2008 by Robert Diamond

Idina Menzel from An Interview with Idina Menzel on 2/26/2008 by Robert Diamond

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Betty Buckley & Idina Menzel CD Signings on 2/14/2008 by Peter James Zielinski

Idina Menzel at Borders at Time Warner Center from Photo Coverage: Betty Buckley & Idina Menzel CD Signings on 2/14/2008 by Peter James Zielinski

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Idina Menzel Releases 'I Stand' CD at Virgin on 1/30/2008 by Walter McBride

Idina Menzel and the band from Photo Coverage: Idina Menzel Releases 'I Stand' CD at Virgin on 1/30/2008 by Walter McBride

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Idina Menzel Releases 'I Stand' CD at Virgin on 1/30/2008 by Walter McBride

Idina Menzel from Photo Coverage: Idina Menzel Releases 'I Stand' CD at Virgin on 1/30/2008 by

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