Idina Menzel If/Then

[Broadway212]

I went to if/then today and Idina was not in it. This is the third time in two months that she has not been in. Does anyone know what's going on?

[ebontoyan]

3 times out in 2 months?! That's a pretty good record! I saw If/Then on 3/1 and Idina was there with her amazing voice. It was snowing that day and my friends and I were making bets if she would show up. But she was there!

[bwayboy22]

She's probably just exhausted, she's been doing this very challenging show for a year and she's only missed 3 times in the past 2 months. That's pretty impressive! It hardly calls for you to think there's a problem.

[MaddieBB12]

Well, in the past two months, the Grammys, the Superbowl and the Oscars occurred. I know for a fact she was at the latter two, not totally sure she at the Grammys, but I assume she was.
I don't think today was a planned absence, but it happens: people get sick, including Broadway actors and actresses.

[Pootie2]

She's been sick since Wednesday (easy to spot unhappy tweets when she's out, both shows Wed and Thurs). Menzel performed Friday and both shows Saturday, and there were tweets commenting about how she sounded sick, so I assume it's a cold. Looks like doing both shows Saturday did her in today.

Winter, kids, kissing three different people on stage. Kids. Petri dish kids. (I always blame the kids.)

[Broadway212]

Jackie Burns was excellent as always! I only ask because I heard she went on yesterday. I saw the show 5 times 3 times with Jackie which im not complaining because she is very good! I will try one more time in a few weeks hopefully she is feeling better.

[Pootie2]

I certainly hope she doesn't get sick again, because there are only two weekends left!

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

I would say Idina's track record has been very good - especially considering she is on stage almost the entire 2.5 hour show and sings in all but two songs. I agree it seems like going on Friday and twice Saturday probably left her needing to rest today.

I echo Pootie2's sentiments - she's got a little kid at home who goes to school and I'm sure brings home a million germs, plus all the kissing!

[delongpre]

I actually wanted to see Jackie perform once more (already have tix for the show later in march) and I have been looking to see when Idina is out. It seems that the Understudy tweets never mention Idina being out. Where can I find out about her absence?

[Auggie27]

I'd love to hear singers talk about the demands of the role. To my ears, it's a bitch, vocally as full-throttle as much of what's out there. I saw the show twice, 9 months apart, both times Sunday matiness, and Menzel landed the role and the songs and made the theater rock. Of course, it's written in Menzel's range and with her strengths built in. But 8 times a week since November of 2013 (the National in DC) must still be a challenge. And one certainly hears, and often, how she doesn't like to appear when she can't thrill people. Many are put off by her perfectionism, but many are also put off by her failure to hit notes. Can she win? No. I suspect she doesn't show up only when she knows she cannot deliver.

[Pootie2]

delongpre, the only way I think anyone can find out is to be at the theater at that time. Or check Twitter and look for tweets about Menzel being out (within 5-10 minutes of start, seriously). Not including the Ticketmaster exceptions, of course, but I doubt they're doing anymore of that.

Auggie, I'm certainly curious where the role of Elizabeth lands compared to other female leads in terms of meatiness (book/song ratio, so on).

[veronicamae]

delongpre, check fansofjackieburns on tumblr - they usually report a bit in advance (I don't know how they get their info), so if you catch their notice in time, you can get there.