There were plenty of surprises in store at Broadway’s Redwood on Thursday, April 3 — including a big one for its star, Idina Menzel!
After finishing the performance of the acclaimed new musical, the actress was surprised on stage at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City by longtime friend and former Wicked costar, Kristin Chenoweth.
PEOPLE was in the crowd for the special moment. It happened post-curtain call, during a speech made by the cast in support of the theater industry’s annual spring fundraising campaign, in which casts of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring shows appeal to audiences for donations to Broadway Cares — a nonprofit that provides essential services to a variety of causes including HIV/AIDS, healthcare and hunger relief.
Chenoweth, who wore a sparkly black jumpsuit, was brought to the stage by Menzel’s costar Michael Park, who was leading the Broadway Cares speech. Seeing one another, an emotional Chenoweth and Menzel immediately embraced for a sweet hug.
Rebecca J Michelson
But then Park introduced another twist: Menzel, 53, and Chenoweth, 56, would be singing a duet, for the highest bidder in the audience. The winners would even get to come up on stage, sing along, and have “a little meet-and-greet.”
An auction quickly ensued, with bids starting at $1,000. Redwood cast members De’Adre Aziza, Zachary Noah Piser and Khaila Wilcoxon all helped Park spot potential bidders.
In the end, two women who both bid $8,000 each, won out to share in the experience. They stood behind the pair of Tony winners as they then performed “For Good,” the iconic duet that from Wicked that closes out the musical.
“I’m going to forget the words,” Menzel said before the performance before saying, “But maybe you can help me.”
What ensued was nothing short of magical. Not only did Menzel and Chenoweth sound as strong as ever, but they were also playful and fun throughout the performance — even starting over a few times during parts of the tune.
“I don’t sing that? Do I do that part?” Menzel said at one point. “Do we do that together? Oh no, we do it together!”
Despite the snafus, the audience jumped to their feet for a standing ovation following the performance and showered the stars with a rapturous applause.
Rebecca J Michelson
Menzel and Chenoweth originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda when Wicked first premiered on Broadway in 2003. Menzel went on to win the Tony Award for best actress in a musical, thanking Chenoweth — already a Tony winner for You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown — in her speech. “You are the grace and the light on that stage every night,” Menzel said. “This is something we built together and I love you.”
In the year since then, the two have remained friends, reuniting a handful of times publicly, including co-hosting a Wicked 15th anniversary special on NBC. They were also together for the 20th anniversary performance of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City, and to perform “For Good” in 2021 for the Tony Awards’ Broadway’s Back event.
Most recently, in November, Menzel and Chenoweth attended the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked: Part One — the film adaptation of the still-running Broadway hit. The two cameoed in the movie, too, for an expanded part in “One Short Day” written specifically for them.
“Sisterhood all around,” Menzel later wrote on Instagram, after she and Chenoweth posed on red carpet alongside their screen counterparts, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Fans will have to wait to see whether Menzel and Chenoweth appear in the second-installment of the film — titled Wicked: For Good, after the aforementioned tune. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters on Nov. 21.
In the meantime, fans can catch Menzel on Broadway in Redwood. The musical, which she co-conceived with Tina Landau, tells the story of a complex, grief-stricken mother (played by Menzel) who flees to the forest in a desperate move for solace after the death of her son.
Landau penned the book for the musical, and also directs it. It features music by Kate Diaz with lyrics by Diaz and Landau. Additional contributions were made by Menzel.
Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for Murphy Made
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Chenoweth will also be back on Broadway soon. She’s leading The Queen of Versailles, which will begin performances at the St. James Theatre on Oct. 8, ahead of an official opening on Nov. 10.
Tickets for Redwood are on sale now.
