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The Daily OrangeShowstopper: Broadway star Idina Menzel belts her hits in Goldstein Auditorium
By Shayna Meliker
Posted: 3/20/09, 1:37 AM EST Section: Feature
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Menzel, the Tony-award winning singer, actress and songwriter, performed before a crowd of approximately 1,400 people in Goldstein Auditorium of the Schine Student Center Thursday night.
Her 90-minute set included songs off her January 2008 solo album, "I Stand," and a few of her trademark Broadway ballads. Menzel is best known for her lead Broadway roles starring as Elphaba in 2003's "Wicked" and Maureen in the stage and film versions of "Rent."
"I was feeling a bit sad today, so it was great to be able to come out here and just sing my own stuff at my own pace," Menzel said after the show. "I had a great time. It made me feel better."
Menzel is married to fellow actor and "Rent" star Taye Diggs, who is a 1993 alumnus of Syracuse University's drama program.
"I feel so honored to be here," Menzel said of her husband's alma mater. "He can't stop talking about (SU), really. There's something really special up here. I hope you guys are getting as much out of it as he did."
Menzel opened the show with the title song from "I Stand," introducing her pop sound to audience members only familiar with her musical theater work. The album is her third solo venture, and the first of her albums to make mainstream music charts.
One of the more popular performances of the night included "Brave," the third track off her album. Menzel sat on the edge of the stage, belting the power ballad with closed eyes.
Nick Smiroldo, a sophomore political science major at SU, said "Brave" was his favorite song. He skipped his music and judicial process classes to be the first person in line, and had been sitting outside the doors to Goldstein Auditorium since 10 a.m. for the 8 p.m. show.
"It was absolutely amazing," Smiroldo said. "To be front row center, and have her make eye contact with me for five full seconds. It was amazing."
Before performing "Heaven Help My Heart," Menzel told of a trip to London she took last year to record a concert version of the musical "Chess" with country singer Josh Groban and actor Adam Pascal. He's her "buddy from 'Rent,'" she said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Nathan
posted 3/20/09 @ 10:05 AM EST
"country singer Josh Groban"
really?
Kristina
posted 3/20/09 @ 11:17 AM EST
I believe the title is Devorah....
Tori
posted 3/20/09 @ 11:26 AM EST
Was anyone else as uncomfortable as I was during this concert? Idina seemed off her rocker... completely inappropriate...so depressed... I for one was disappointed. (Continued…)
evelyn paige
posted 3/20/09 @ 7:44 PM EST
josh groban is not a country singer
Marie
posted 3/21/09 @ 11:17 AM EST
Ha! Ha! You mixed up the great Josh Groban with Josh Gracin. Probably, if Josh Groban wanted to sing country, he could.
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