Culture Junkie: Books, Music & Movies

Cool blue light spilled across the stage as the orchestra warmed up at Segerstrom Hall earlier this evening.  The lights on their music stands shimmered like tiny gold flecks against the warm red light behind them.  A perfect atmosphere for an evening of stories and musical magic.

Idina Menzel performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center today.  As was somewhat predicted by an LA Times article last week, Menzel did not disappoint.  She put on an AMAZING show.  

Now, I feel I should disclose that I am most definitely a fan of Menzel & have been for quite some time, but even with that said I was absolutely blown away by one specific moment in the show.  Menzel placed the microphone on its stand and moved it off to the side. She then stood in the center of the stage & sang a section of the song “For Good”** from Wicked while a silent orchestra sat behind her.  No mic, no music - just her voice.  It was the most incredible moment in the show to be able to hear her so perfectly in this relatively large theater (and for me from relatively high up).  It was the kind of moment that makes you hold your breath as you watch for fear that exhaling would utterly ruin it. 

Menzel also kept the audience laughing with the stories she told about many of her selections.  The stories provided an interesting glimpse into how the audience was familiar with her as well.  For example when she mentioned Rent* as she introduced the song “No Day But Today” (also known as the finale song of Rent) there was much clapping, but it seemed scattered throughout the theater in contrast to when she sang “Poker Face” and told a story about her guest appearances on GLEE and much of the audience (particularly the younger people seated around me) went absolutely bananas.  Any mention of Wicked created an audience reaction similar to the mention of GLEE. 

Bottom Line:  If you have the opportunity to see her in concert, GO!  You will not be disappointed.   

*This will take you to the official site for the film version of the musical (which is excellent) as an official site for the stage musical could not be found.

**I wrote a personal note about this song / moment in the show on my personal blog.