Book by Tina Landau, Music by Kate Diaz
Lyrics by Kate Diaz and Tina Landau
Conceived by Tina Landau and Idina Menzel, with additional contributions by Idina Menzel
Originally produced at La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, CA
February 12 – March 31, 2024
Synopsis:
"I hear my great escape calling."
Broadway icon Idina Menzel makes her La Jolla Playhouse debut in the world premiere of Redwood, a one-of-a-kind theatrical event about one woman’s journey into the precious and precarious world of the redwoods.
Idina plays Jesse, a successful businesswoman, mother and wife. She seems to have it all, but inside, her heart is broken. Finding herself at a turning point, Jesse leaves everyone and everything behind, gets in her car and drives… and drives. Thousands of miles later, she hits the ancient forests of Northern California, where a chance meeting and a leap of faith change her life forever. In the presence of the magnificent, towering redwoods, Jesse finds strange and powerful connections, an unexpected sense of community, and a chance at healing.
Acclaimed writer and director Tina Landau (Beauty) brings this immersive and cinematic new work to life with lush visuals and a soaring score from Kate Diaz. You will travel with Jesse into an intoxicating environment of dense greenery, fractured light and dizzying heights – a place where nature can help us heal, if only we don’t destroy her first.
An exhilarating new musical featuring one of Broadway’s greatest stars, Redwood will awaken your sense of adventure and lift you higher than the treetops.
“Now underneath a canopy of stars, I call out to the night. Please keep me safe and show me this is right. I’m scared of letting go of everyone I know.” Jesse, Redwood
Artistic Statement: La Jolla Playhouse and the Edgerton Foundation share a deep commitment to the development of new work. We are truly grateful for their support that provided crucial additional rehearsal time for Redwood by Tina Landau, Kate Diaz and Idina Menzel. The funding for an extra week of rehearsal will allow the creative team and technical staff to coordinate the immersive multimedia design as well as rigging and climbing elements to ensure the safety of performers and clarity of storytelling. - Christopher Ashley, the Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse\
Grant Statement: La Jolla Playhouse’s 2023/24 Season of six productions featured all world premieres. It is through the support of the Edgerton Foundation that the Playhouse is able to consistently provide the extra time, care, and intentionality required to develop each of these new works in preparation of its first foray in front of an audience. We are grateful for the Edgerton Foundation’s dedication to expanding the American theatre canon. - Debby Buchholz, Managing Director of La Jolla Playhouse
Creative team:
Director: Tina Landau
Cast:
Additional funders:
Production Sponsors: Denise and Lon Bevers
Supported in part by the Frank Young Fund for New Musicals, a program of National Alliance for Musical Theatre