Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage?

Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? is a 2022 documentary film that shows viewers the story behind the star herself, as she has played many lead roles in many performances throughout her career. The documentary film culminated in her headlining a concert at Madison Square Garden in her hometown of New York City after a nationwide tour. Viewers see in this documentary where the star went during auditions for roles in her career.

The documentary switches back and forth between the past and the present, as we see old photos of her growing up in her hometown. The subtitles of still photographs from her childhood indicate her age, the year she recorded her auditions, and the people who helped her make her dreams and career come true. She participated in musical theater at a young age, eventually performing in Broadway shows like Rent and Wicked. In fact, many people know the star from her performances in Rent and Wicked. There are also voiceovers as she discusses her auditions and performances in lead roles.

Idina Menzel joined The Walt Disney Company when she got the role of Nancy in Disney’s Enchanted (2007). During the production of Frozen (2013), she landed the lead role of Elsa. The documentary film shows clips of her in a recording studio recording her lines in the first Frozen movie. Her song “Let It Go” has won many Oscars. A clip of her playing a remix of “Let It Go” on stage in a live show is shown to viewers. She reprises her role as Elsa in the animated movies Ralph Breaks the Internet, Frozen Fever, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, and Frozen II. Her most recent performance as a lead character is Queen Nancy in Disenchanted, where she sings “Love Power.” Her song “Love Power” has references to her previous performances in Wicked and Frozen.

Idina Menzel considers New York City her hometown. A map with red push pins is shown to the viewers, indicating where she went on her tour. She states that she attended NYU in Manhattan because she feels at NYU you don’t have to fit in; she has the freedom of standing out despite being judged. The documentary film concludes with her performance at Madison Square Garden in NYC.

Overall, Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? is beloved among many musical theater fans. She has become an icon in today’s pop culture. Viewers see a strong representation of women in this documentary, as Anne McCabe is a female director and the star herself is the executive producer of the documentary.