"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
#1"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 8:59am
"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?", is a new documentary that was released today on Disney+, focusing on her concert at MSG and career.
What are your thoughts for those who have seen it?
#2"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 11:40am
I just finished it.
I thought it was great. If you're not a fan, this probably isn't going to convert you but if you enjoy her, this is real treat. A lot of great archival footage and backstage stuff. Idina comes across as really genuine, charismatic and very vulnerable. I do wish they focused a bit more on her theatre stuff, as it's sort of just glossed over, but I get that the point was to try and show her as a versatile performer who does a bit of everything.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#3"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 12:00pm
Had no intention on watching this but your post prompted me to check out the trailer and now I’ll make time to watch it. Very telling how when RENT happened for her she was riding that wave - record deal, enormous popularity, etc. Then she sold no records and her career just stalled then FROZEN changed it all up years later. The fantasy is always far from the reality. One day you’re the flavor of the month and your career is soaring then it fizzles and you go 10 plus years taking any job that pays. The backstory on performer’s real lives are blurred by the momentary successes. You appear on an episode of a network sitcom as a neighbor and everyone thinks you now own a penthouse on Central Park West yet you took an Uber home after the taping and that job just paid that month’s rent.
Lola Getz2
Stand-by Joined: 7/17/22
#4"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 12:16pm
BrodyFosse123 said: "Had no intention on watching this but your post prompted me to check out the trailer and now I’ll make time to watch it. Very telling how when RENT happened for her she was riding that wave - record deal, enormous popularity, etc. Then she sold no records and her career just stalled then FROZEN changed it all up years later. The fantasy is always far from the reality. One day you’re the flavor of the month and your career is soaring then it fizzles and you go 10 plus years taking any job that pays. The backstory on performer’s real lives are blurred by the momentary successes. You appear on an episode of a network sitcom as a neighbor and everyone thinks you now own a penthouse on Central Park West yet you took an Uber home after the taping and that job just paid that month’s rent."
Not certain, Brody, but I believe she did a little show called Wicked before Frozen. 
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#5"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 12:47pm
Again, you’d assume winning a Tony Award in a huge 2003 Broadway musical like WICKED would explode her career, but it didn’t whatsoever. 2013’s FROZEN is was brought her global attention and when her career ignited.
#6"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 12:52pm
Yes, she was just a sad little theatre kid trying to scrape by…she didn’t release albums, tour the world with her own music, have a family, continue to do theater, or any career whatsoever between 2004 and 2013. Very accurate summary of her career. (sarcasm)
I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.
Phantom4ever
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
#7"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 1:32pm
Any other way to watch this besides Disney +?
Lola Getz2
Stand-by Joined: 7/17/22
#8"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 1:50pm
BrodyFosse123 said: "Again, you’d assume winning a Tony Award in a huge 2003 Broadway musical like WICKED would explode her career, but it didn’t whatsoever. 2013’s FROZEN is was brought her global attention and when her career ignited."
But I would hardly say that after Rent her "career just stalled". Starring as the lead in one of the biggest blockbuster musicals of all time and winning a TONY is hardly stalling in my opinion. It is not as if she fell off the face of the earth before Frozen. How many people would love that kind of career "stall"?
#9"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 1:50pm
BrodyFosse123 said: "Again, you’d assume winning a Tony Award in a huge 2003 Broadway musical like WICKED would explode her career, but it didn’t whatsoever. 2013’s FROZEN is was brought her global attention and when her career ignited. "
You really don’t think Wicked (which she won the Tony for) paved the way for Frozen?
Not to mention the Rent movie, touring the world, reprising her role role in London, shooting Enchanted.
Many would kill for just one of those career highlights.
Lola Getz2
Stand-by Joined: 7/17/22
#10"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 2:01pm
Phantom4ever said: "Any other way to watch this besides Disney +?"
They may have a free trial period if you don't want to subscribe.
defscott627
Understudy Joined: 10/21/05
#11"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 2:04pm
TotallyEffed said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Again, you’d assume winning a Tony Award in a huge 2003 Broadway musical like WICKED would explode her career, but it didn’t whatsoever. 2013’s FROZEN is was brought her global attention and when her career ignited. "
You really don’t think Wicked (which she won the Tony for) paved the way for Frozen?
Not to mention the Rent movie, touring the world, reprising her role role in London, shooting Enchanted.
Many would kill for just one of those career highlights."
Agreed. I would say Wicked was really what paved the way for her. She was the highest paid performer in West End history when she did her run for Wicked in London. She had a recurring role on Glee when it was still quite a popular TV show. She toured the world with her own music, performed at the White House, etc.
Frozen certainly made her even more of a household name, but to say that Wicked didn't spark her career "whatsoever" I think is quite an understatement.
#12"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 2:17pm
Lola Getz2 said: "Phantom4ever said: "Any other way to watch this besides Disney +?"
They may have a free trial period if you don't want to subscribe.
"
Disney+ removed the free trial period prior to the release of the Hamilton proshot.
Grab your torches, head back to camp. Goodnight.
Lola Getz2
Stand-by Joined: 7/17/22
#14"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 6:53pm
God forbid I defend Brody, but Idina has talked many, many times about how she felt her career had lost all momentum, and then she got Frozen.
#15"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 8:53pm
I guess it's just perspective. In my mind, Idina had a fantastic career before Frozen and was a majorly beloved and popular theatre actress, but she had her own goals and expectations for herself that may have made her feel differently.
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#16"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 8:58pm
Should have been titled "Witch Way to the Stage?"
#17"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/9/22 at 10:12pm
You’re only as hot as your last project and Idina huge dry spells especially after RENT. While yes she’s had an incredible career, it’s very hard for theatre actors to cross over. Being a working Broadway actor doesn’t pay as well as many think or get you the visibility you hope for. Tony’s don’t even help anymore.
I thought Idina was fire in RENT and then I listened to her CD and didn’t like it. I totally let go of her. Forgot she existed. Many people did. Her pop career never happened. She’s not a cookie cutter beauty that can get plugged into TV or film easily. She has worked hard for everything she has and always hustled. Her success is a result of perseverance. She could have easily faded away.
I have tremendous respect for her.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
Nycat63
Broadway Star Joined: 10/31/16
#18"Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?" on Disney+
Posted: 12/10/22 at 7:29pm
Lola Getz2 said: "Well, that sucks!"
It is correct there is no free trial, but if you have Hulu you may be able to add Disney+ Basic for $2 per month as an add on. Basic has ads (also note roku devices don’t support Basic), but there weren’t many ads and they were short.
Videos