Now, four years later -- at the same venue, no less -- Menzel takes the stage as a bona fide, mainstream superstar. So what changed? It's thanks in large part to the monumental, global success of 2013's "Frozen" (an animated movie that you've undoubtedly heard about if you've spent any time around children recently). By voicing Queen Elsa and performing the film's award-winning anthem "Let It Go," Menzel is officially on the map and has become a hero to even more millions of fans worldwide. If that didn't make her a household name, the whole John Travolta thing probably did; thankfully, she had a sense of humor about it.
This humor serves Menzel well and makes her very accessible. She's the people's diva, if you will, unlike the standoffish behaviors of the old-guard grande dames like Streisand and LuPone. From the start of Tuesday night's concert at Red Rocks -- the latest stop on her world (yes, world) tour -- she possessed a genuinely appealing stage presence. After opening with the show-stopping "Defying Gravity" from "Wicked" (hard to sing at any point, let alone right at the beginning), she joked about her inability to sing as well at a higher altitude. Menzel described herself as too competitive to let something like altitude keep her down, so she would hold the notes for even longer if she had to. Though she did sound a bit winded during her first few numbers, she powered through and achieved her usual resonance as the night went on.
Her banter with the crowd kicked into high gear after admitting she likes saying she's from Denver, despite never living here, because she has a lot of family in the area ("more specifically Boulder... most specifically, Louisville"). Quirky moments like being surprised to see herself on the video monitor and having to move her own chair up and down the stage would seem awkward or even desperate from other entertainers, but Menzel pulled them off with self-deprecating flair.
Part of me was worried that this show would be a replica of the aforementioned 2011 Red Rocks concert, where she was backed by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and guest-conducted by legendary composer Marvin Hamlisch. As great as that show was, this one would need to be different enough to indicate her ongoing growth as an artist. While there was some carryover in the selections (mainly the Broadway standards and her "Wicked" repertoire), this performance felt almost entirely new in light of her rapport with the audience and her endearingly unfiltered personality. She even let her hair down and swore very briefly -- advising small children in sparkly blue dresses (a.k.a. "Frozen"/Disney fans) to cover their ears occasionally -- but the mild profanity made her seem more down-to-earth and more legitimate as a live performer.
In addition to her Broadway pedigree, Menzel's set list offered up several surprises. A few of her original songs found their way into the show (from her solo albums "Still I Can't Be Still" and "I Stand"), and it was good to see another side of the multi-faceted singer. During her famous "Rent" duet, "Take Me Or Leave Me," she borrowed various members of the audience to fill the second voice, making the evening both interactive and unpredictable.
Perhaps most impressive were her unique choices for popular songs to cover. Although Menzel is known for a voice that could quite literally bring down the house, she demonstrated lovely restraint and lush vocal runs during her version of Joni Mitchell's "River." After telling a witty story about an upcoming medley's inception during her vocal interpretation class in college, she breathed new life into the classic Cole Porter tune "Love For Sale" by mixing it with The Police's "Roxanne." While this particular mash-up was in fact part of her 2011 set list, the added origin story and the motivation behind it made this rendition more engaging.
The true highlight of the show was an unplanned moment that allowed Menzel to shine both musically and personally. During her grand, stunning cover of Radiohead's "Creep" (complete with the original F-bombs), she was kneeling dramatically on the stage and hitting the big notes of the song's bridge when the wind blew right up her dress. While nothing delicate was actually seen beyond her upper thighs, a visibly flustered Menzel made several jokes at her own expense, assuring the crowd that she was indeed wearing underwear and laughing about her forthcoming infamy on YouTube. Undeterred, she and her band took the song back a few measures and finished it perfectly like nothing had happened. Her ability to laugh at herself is one of many winning attributes that sets her apart from the perfectionist demands of the industry, and she is a better entertainer because of it.
Near the end of the show (before closing with the earworm of "Let It Go," of course), Menzel took a few minutes to give a touching tribute to the late Jonathan Larson, the creator of "Rent." She thanked him for giving her a chance and ultimately giving her a career, and it was nice to see someone who has accomplished so much still be in touch with their roots and give credit where it's due. Menzel may be the people's diva, but she's still just a person as human as the rest of us.
In case you were worried that I hadn't gotten my fill of Menzel (which I probably never will), Denver theatergoers will be able to see her perform the lead role in "If/Then," a musical that was written with her in mind, when it launches its national tour here this fall. As a Denver Center subscriber, I was already thrilled that such a new production was part of the regular season package, but that thrill quickly turned ecstatic when it was later announced that she had been booked for those performances. You can expect to hear a lot more about Menzel and "If/Then" when she rolls through town again in October. And for the record: yes, Operation Meet Idina is already in motion!
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