Idina Menzel to Serve as National Ambassador of Kids' Night on Broadway 2014

The Broadway League has announced that Idina Menzel from Broadway's new musical If/Then will serve as the 2014 KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY National Ambassador. The 18th KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY will take place Monday, February 24, 2014 to Sunday, March 2, 2014.

"When I first went to Broadway, it was a life-changing experience. There's something magical about walking through the theatre district and seeing the marquees and the lights. Nothing compares to a live Broadway performance! As an adult, I still have that nostalgic feeling I had as a child. It's important that kids come to theatre because they get to see life through different characters. The arts are so important in general," said Idina Menzel, "and I'm so grateful that my career awards me with so many special opportunities to connect with young people. I'm honored to be the Kids' Night on Broadway National Ambassador and extra thrilled that this year's cause-related component is our arts-centered foundation, A Broader Way, which enables expression, empowerment, and enlightenment. As does Broadway."

Idina Menzel made her Broadway debut in the Pulitzer Prize-winner, Rent, for which she was nominated for a Tony Awardâ and followed that with her Tony Award-winning performance in Wicked, which she subsequently brought to London's West End. Other New York stage work includes See What I Wanna See (Public), The Wild Party (MTC), and Hair (Encores). She will make her highly anticipated return to the Broadway stage this March in the new musical, If/Then. Menzel's voice can currently be heard in the hit Disney animated film, Frozen. On film, she recreated her role of Maureen Johnson in Chris Columbus' film version of Rent, and has appeared in movies as varied as Enchanted and Ask the Dust. On television, Menzel recurred over multiple seasons of "Glee" and has guest-starred in numerous other shows. She starred in her own PBS special, "Barefoot at the Symphony," with an accompanying album. Menzel recently concluded a highly successful international concert tour with a sold out performance at Carnegie Hall. In addition to cast albums, Menzel's prolific recording career includes solo albums: PBS Special; I Stand; Here; and Still I Can't Be Still.

In 2010, Idina Menzel founded "A Broader Way Foundation," a not-for-profit dedicated to offering girls from urban communities an outlet for self-expression and creativity through arts-centered programs, with an emphasis on building self-esteem, developing leadership qualities and striving for personal and social achievement. Kids' Night on Broadway is proud to salute A Broadway Way Foundation as this year's cause-related component. Visit ABroaderWay.org for more information.

KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY is when kids ages 6 to 18 can see Broadway shows for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult. A KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY ticket includes restaurant discounts, parking discounts, educational programs, and some very special events still to be announced!

KIDS GO FREE AT MADAME TUSSAUDS NEW YORK with a Free Child All Access Pass (ages 4 -12) with the purchase of a Full Price Adult All Access Pass when presenting theater tickets to a participating Kids Night on Broadway show. For more information, please visit kidsnightonbroadway.com/fans.

KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY will also take place in multiple cities around the country, with different shows and venues putting their own spin on the event, on numerous dates throughout the year. Check kidsnightonbroadway.com/across for specific dates and locations.

The 18th KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY kicks off in New York City from Monday, February 24, 2014 to Sunday, March 2, 2014. Tickets to participating shows will be available to the public starting Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 10 a.m. ET.

Participating shows* (to date) include:
BROADWAY: Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, The Bridges of Madison County, Bronx Bombers, Chicago, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Matilda the Musical, Motown the Musical, Newsies, A Night with Janis Joplin, Once, Outside Mullingar, The Phantom of the Opera, Pippin, Rock of Ages, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, Wicked. OFF-BROADWAY: Avenue Q, iLuminate, Murder for Two, Stomp.
(*subject to change, and some shows not available for all performances)

Many Times Square area eateries will offer specials for Kids' Night on Broadway ticket-holders.

Participating restaurants (to date) include:
Blue Fin, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Casa Nonna, Ceci Italian Restaurant, Connolly's Pub and Restaurant, Glass House Tavern, Guy's American Kitchen and Grill, Havana Central, Hurley's, Le Rivage, Matt's Grill, Nanking Asian Fusion, Pergola Des Artistes, Playwright's Tavern, Playwright's Celtic Pub and Restaurant, Ruby Foos Times Square, Ruby Tuesdays, Schnipper's, Southern Hospitality BBQ, Tasti-D-Lite, The Lambs Club, Toloache, Trattoria Tre Colori, Virgil's Real BBQ.

KIDS' NIGHT ON BROADWAY, a program of The Broadway League, is generously presented by The New York Times and is officially sponsored by WABC-TV, and Official kids' media partner, KidzVuz. Media partners are Z100, Telemundo Nueva York, and Metro-North Railroad. Additional support is provided by Madame Tussauds New York and Schmackary's, the official cookie of Kids' Night.