Idina Menzel Opens Cincinnati Pops Season, 9/24-26

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recently announced that Tony Award-winning actress and singer, Idina Menzel will make her Cincinnati Pops debut at Music Hall for the Orchestra's 2010-11 season opener on September 24, 25 and 26, performing diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album, I Stand. Bernadette Peters was initially scheduled for the Pops opening concert, but is now scheduled to open the following Pops season, Sept. 16-18, 2011 in Music Hall.

Last year, Idina Menzel concluded a national tour promoting her album, I Stand. A skillful songwriter, she writes and performs her own music. She released the Glen Ballard-produced album for her record label, Warner Bros. Records, and played to sold out houses around the United States. Menzel performed her show in New York as part of the Mastercard Soundstage series, which aired on PBS. PBS also aired the concert version of Chess: The Musical, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall where she shared the stage with Josh Groban.

In film, Menzel appeared opposite Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams in Disney's hit, Enchanted, directed by Kevin Lima. Prior to that, Ms. Menzel was seen in director Chris Columbus' film adaptation of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning musical Rent, in which she reprised her role as Maureen. This was on the heels of her co-starring role in Robert Towne's Ask the Dust, opposite Salma Hayek and Colin Farrell. In television, Idina Menzel recently completed an arc on the Grey's Anatomy hit spin-off, Private Practice on ABC.

In September 2006, Idina premiered the Broadway hit, Wicked in the West End in London to rave reviews and received the Theatregoers Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She starred in Michael John LaChiusa's musical See What I Wanna See directed by Ted Sperling at The Public Theater. This role garnered Ms. Menzel a Drama Desk Award nomination as well as a Drama League Award nomination. Menzel completed her Tony Award-winning performance, for Lead Actress in a Musical, in Wicked in December 2005. Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Joe Mantello, Wicked played to packed audiences at the Gershwin Theatre since it opened in October 2003. Additionally, Ms. Menzel was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her role as the misunderstood green girl.

Tickets, $26-$99, go on sale Aug. 11. For reservations and more information visit www.cincinnatipops.org or call 513-381-3300.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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