“So evil and sorcerous.” Idina Menzel tells the story that led her to land this nefarious role and use the atomic bomb

Broadway musical talent Idina Menzel made history by originating the role of Elphaba in long-running Broadway show Mean. It was the best musical project by an American actress, allowing her to showcase her bagpipes and show the complexity of her character in a way that delighted audiences and stimulated a new generation of musical theater fans. The Daytime Emmy winner explains how “evil and witchy” she was when it came to landing the career-defining role that involved a nuclear bomb.

A Menzel fan account recently shared a file Instagram videoand the actress recalled singing “Defying Gravity” for her. Mean callback. However, singing this powerful song in your room is not the same as practicing your beloved song at home. As she shared:

Then I went in there and sang. I was practicing a really high note and I got to the point where you go, ♩You won’t put me down♩And I sang beautifully the whole time. Then I got to ♩You won’t bring me!♩ (voice cracks) and I completely choked, I just said the F-word as loud as I could!

I can’t blame Idina Menzel for having an F-bomb audition moment, considering how frustrated I would have been with the high note I had managed to work out in practice earlier. It’s definitely not an easy song to sing. However, considering all the high notes she achieved when she made her Broadway debut in the Jonathan Larson musical Rent, (her regular role in Frozen) apparently it was just a minor audition hiccup that happens to even the best musical actresses.

One of the best ways to impress casting directors during an audition is to show glimpses of the character you’re auditioning for while being yourself. That’s exactly what Idina Menzel did, being “so evil and witchy” when she played the liner notes “Defying Gravity”:

Then I looked at the accompanist and said, “Don’t start playing any more, or you’ll interrupt me!” And then I took a breath and said, ♩Me!♩ and I just did it. And then Joe Mantello said I got the role because he thought I was evil and witchy!

This is truly the best way to prove you have a “wicked” sense of talent to create Elphaba! No one can bring this incredibly talented actress down. “Defying Gravity” is an appropriate audition track because it was such an emotional impact in stage play and film. We see Elphaba demonstrate that she is a force to be reckoned with by standing up to the Wizard and being the “Wicked Witch” as we know her. Without giving up on the auditions, it could be argued that the role of the Shiz University student was made for Menzel, who won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for it Mean efficiency.

Because Idina Menzel was incredibly crazy playing that green and hitting every note perfectly, the talented actress’s career continued to grow after Mean. Menzel decided to give movies a chance, reprising her debut Broadway role in the show classic movie musical Rent and lent her voice as Elsa in one of the films best movies about disney princesses Frozen. Her strong vocals singing “Let It Go” for the animated film has truly become the new “Defying Gravity” for Disney and music fans. For now, Joy actress returns to Broadway as the lead in an original musical Redwood about a woman pursuing a path of self-discovery in a redwood forest.

Idina Menzel was “so evil and a witch” during it. Mean auditioning teaches us how important it is to show your unique interpretation of the role while remaining yourself. By doing this, you show what makes you the perfect fit for the project and more than capable of bringing the character to life. Not to mention Enchanted the actress didn’t let one sour note ruin the entire performance. He is a professional who was born to play Elphaba, if I may say so.

Be sure to check out Menzel’s new musical Redwood hit the stage of the Nederlander Theater on February 13. Should also be added The film will premiere in 2024 With Mean to your watchlist. It’s playing in theaters now.