THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES To Close December 21, 2025 — Page 19

goldenboy said: "It's a musical that just didn't work. Stop beating up our wonderful creatives."

The wonderful creatives failed miserably with QOV. Not beating anyone up, just speaking the obvious truth. This show was a horrible mess, and the subject matter was extremely tone deaf. The "wonderful creatives" failed miserably by not listening to any feedback from the out of town tryout--

Updated On: 12/24/25 at 08:00 PM

It's been interesting to note now often Redwood is cited as context. Yet other than the obvious connection to Chenoweth, its a show with almost zero parallels to Queen. In content, style, and comparatively modest presentation, not similar at all. It offered a relatable tale of a grieving woman's journey to self-forgiveness if not closure. We can mock its wide-eyed belief in Thoreau's Walden for spiritual and corporeal reinvention, its New Age twee-ness (naming of a tree as a character). But the show invited us in, and in its earnest endorsement of transcendence, moved many. I saw a Wednesday matinee with a house full of sniffles at the end.

And one random annotation if we're highlighting post-Wicked trajectories: Menzel came back to limited acclaim (and a Tony nomination) in If/Then, which ran a year, and even toured. A Best Musical nomination, no less, which some forget. No, not a hit. Not beloved (full disclosure: I liked the score a lot). But certainly respectable. My subjective take: If/Then feels like Company next to Queen.

Updated On: 12/24/25 at 09:15 PM

Soaring29 said: " him being assassinated was a terrible moment."

Only if you're a MAGA asshole.

If/Then was nominated for Best Score and Best Actress. (Mea culpa) It ran for 430 performances, March 2014 - March 2015, the star remaining with the show and then touring for part of the national, Jackie Burns, her standby, remaining. Though it did not recoup, it was not a mostly successful return to B'way for Menzel after Wicked. And of course, Frozen. Which is my bigger point. Arguably, Queen falls more into the If/Then category than Redwood in terms of assisting an original book musical from the ground up, post-Wicked.

We all fairly recently learned that Chenoweth turned down Death Becomes Her, which might've been a commercial mistake if not - according to the star - an artistic one. She found the material too similar to her earlier roles. I certainly respect Chenoweth for aiming for a character outside her wheelhouse (though was Jackie? As played? An open question for another time.)

What's next for her, beyond concerts? She's been exceedingly well used in sitcom, traditional and cable. My guess is, B'way won't be attempted for a while. Yet who knows? If she asked me, I'd say, "get back on stage in NYC sooner rather than later, remain a Broadway star independent of this show." The voice sounds a rich as ever. She lives in NYC. Says she's a stage creature. Hell, do an Encores! A lot of folks will be rooting for her to get back on the horse.

Soaring29 said: "She's insanely overdue for a second Tony win and absolutely is one of the greatest talents of all time."

Not for QOV, she isn’t!!

Auggie27 said: "If/Then was nominated for Best Score and Best Actress. (Mea culpa)It ran for 430 performances, March 2014 - March 2015, the star remaining with the show and then touring for part of the national, Jackie Burns, her standby, remaining. Though it did not recoup, it was not a mostly successful return to B'way for Menzel after Wicked. And of course, Frozen. Which is mybigger point. Arguably,Queen falls more into the If/Then category than Redwood in terms of assisting an original book musical from the ground up,post-Wicked.

We all fairly recently learned that Chenoweth turned down Death Becomes Her,which might've been a commercial mistake if not - according to the star - an artistic one. She found the material too similar to her earlier roles. I certainly respect Chenoweth for aiming for a character outside her wheelhouse (though was Jackie? As played? An open question for another time.)

What's next for her, beyond concerts? She's been exceedingly well used in sitcom, traditional and cable. My guess is, B'way won't be attempted for a while. Yet who knows? If she asked me, I'd say, "get back on stage in NYC sooner rather than later, remaina Broadway star independent of this show." The voice sounds a rich as ever. She lives in NYC. Says she's a stage creature. Hell, do an Encores! A lot of folks will be rooting for her to get back on the horse."

She’s currently recurring on the NBC sitcom Stumble. She’s also working on a pilot for NBC in which she’d be the main character.

I also hope she comes back to Broadway soon. Encores is a great suggestion. I’ve also thought it would be interesting to see her in a straight play. A little bit of me has also thought it would be cool if she reprised her role from the screen on the upcoming stage production of Schmigadoon.

Updated On: 12/26/25 at 01:54 PM

Chenoweth left DBH extremely early in its development, before the writing team was even attached. Whatever state the show was in then, it was likely not at all recognizable as the show it is now. And, frankly, Chenoweth isn’t right for it.

Kad said: "Chenoweth left DBH extremely early in its development, before thewriting team was even attached. Whatever state the show was in then, it was likely not at all recognizable as the show it is now. And, frankly, Chenoweth isn’t right for it."

If I recall, the very first industry reading included KC, back when Alex Newell was Viola. Before Nicole. I believe she got sick and Julia Mattison played Madeline. KC was def involved with the writing team.

Soaring29 said: "She's insanely overdue for a second Tony win and absolutely is one of the greatest talents of all time."

My hot take is she should’ve won in 2015 for On the Twentieth Century. Then, we wouldn’t have gotten this Queen of Versailles mess.

Soaring29 said: "Sutton Ross said: "Soaring29 said: "She's insanely overdue for a second Tony win and absolutely is one of the greatest talents of all time.

Did I say she was worthy of an award for this? No, I didn’t see the show and have only listened to some of the music that is available now. But she absolutely deserves a second Tony due to how strong her work has been since 1999.

Other than possibly On The 20th Century, there is absolutely nothing in her portfolio which suggests that she is woefully -- or whatever word you used - overdue for a Tony. She is not. The fact that you are obsessed with her does not make her woefully overdue. Her Broadway credits are absolutely a mixed bag.