Why Idina?

Her three most notable roles are from RENT, AIDA, and WICKED. Three shows that have young teenage fanbases.

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The age group that's sort of "adopted" Idina since Wicked has a large percentage of kids who identify with Elphaba, as the outcast. For the most part, they're even younger than what seemed to have been the majority of Rentheads in the first place. She's pretty. She has talent. (I said it, so shoot me.) It looks like the craze that's come over about her lately has to do with people who discovered her in Wicked and then in turn discovered Rent, not the other way around. She's *good* but I think it's the association with the show, when you're talking about a good lot of her (young) teenaged fanbase. I'm talking like... 13 year olds.

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Personally, I think she has a lot less talent than most actresses in the theatre world today - but she's done roles in shows that have huge fanbases.

Just_John--

How do you know? Do you know her personally? How actors behave at the stage door has nothing to do with their real personality, whether they are friendly or stand-offish.

In any case, I think that she has her appeal, but her babyish pop voice has its limitations.

Updated On: 6/7/06 at 08:25 PM

If you've heard any of her solo music, I think THATS why some people(outside the teenybopper Wicked fanbase) see her as a role model. Her music is very down to earth and it makes you feel like shes a real person, with real issues too. It's refreshing and inspiring.

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I actually quite enjoy her solo music... I wish she'd do more of that and less of Wicked.

"Well, she screams as loud as she can and she's really good at it...".

That's my impression as well. I don't get her. In the film "Rent" she had a man and a woman fighting over her. I couldn't figure out why. And that screaming screeching yelling
"performance art" song was awful.

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She's undeniably talented, but I think what makes her more of a draw than other actresses that might attract young girls (Kelli, and Sutton, for example,) is her vulnerability. She's just so damn vulnerable on stage at times (seen more in Elphaba, and her concerts) and I think that really endears her to the audience.

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If you saw See What I Wanna See at the Public Theatre then I think you would ave more respect for her. She belted out the dramtic and jazzy songs, but was able to be very refined through her voice and really, did not waste a moment on stage. And I was most blown away by her acting during SWIWS.

I'm a huge fan of Idina's and have respected her work since I discovered her first solo CD not too long before Wicked came about. Personally, while I think as far as some technical things acting-wise and vocally she can improve, she's one of the most talented performers around today. Her connection to all her work always seems utterly geniune, heartfelt, vulnerable and she really layers her acting roles and makes some really interest choices. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the artist that she is. I think what she may lack in petty mechanics (minor, at the most, anyway) she makes up for in substance of her performances.

To be perfectly honest, though, while I know a handful of others who also truly respect her work and always have, I can't help but get the feeling that the craze over her is more because of the teenage facination with Elphaba and belting than it is because of a fascination with Idina's talent.

I also think that the over-zealous fans turn a lot of people off from Idina, which is a shame, because I truly think she's undeniably talented and the hatred towards her on this board wouldn't be so bad if some of the fans were a little less "OMG she totally deservd the tony becuz she belts a high f every nite and thats SO HARD."

Updated On: 6/7/06 at 10:42 PM

If I cared more about what people thought I'd be afraid to say that I have a lot of respect for her, think she's fabulous and was blown away by her work in See What I Wanna See.

I own her solo albums and I think they're beautiful, honest, and moving.

I also agree that I cringe every time I see one of "those" posts about her because that just makes it that much harder for people to enjoy her when the insanity is just...

Anyhow, I'm not cool enough to jump on the "anti-Idina" bandwagon - if I like something and it becomes "popular", I'm just going to have to suffer through the repricussions of that.

And I'll see anything she does. I think she's beautiful onstage. She's got this really quiet dignity that's developed over the past year or two that is very calming to watch.

And I think PART of the reason people are so insane about her is how open she is at things like her concerts. She just comes right out and talks to the room like it's full of her friends - which is refreshing, but I think some of the younger fans then feel like they actually know her - vicious cycle.

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Too add my 2 cents...

Honestly, I am a big Idina fan. I've seen quite a bit of her work from The Wild Party, to Wicked to See What I Want to See. And while I enjoy all her work, I think it's her solo albums, her concert performances and her smaller theater work that really attracts me. I saw her in SWIWS and was left amazed, she was truly incredible in each role, from the larger 'Wife' character to the significantly smaller 'Deanna' role.

I think that most (notice I say most) of the television interviews she has given has left audiences with a sense of her poise and personable nature. Also, I think her stance on topics such as interracial marriage, AIDs, etc. endear her to many people. She appears as a very down-to-earth, real, emotional, non-judgmental person. And while this attracts so many people, especially emotionally needy teenage fans, it repels others who don't want to be part of a 'fad' or be part of the 'popular concensus'. And while that's fine, I don't feel that it's right to criticize others' opinions because people don't want to be percieved as 'uncool' and can't on a very basic level even admit that she is talented or beautiful.

In response to those who criticize her stagedoor behavior or interaction on the street, really, how would you feel if you couldn't walk 2 feet out a door without being accosted by screaming kids, crazy adults, etc. Not to mention, any person she comes across could be one of those 'psychos' that send her death threats because of her marriage. Like my mom always said, "Until you walk a mile in someone else's shoes..." you know the rest.