2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown: #10 - Idina, WICKED & RENT

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on a triple-threat Tony-winning talent famous for originating starring roles in two Broadway mega-hits, RENT and WICKED - Idina Menzel!

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Over The Moon

Throughout the first act of Jonathan Larson's multi-Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning RENT, characters constantly reference the enigmatic Maureen, building anticipation to an almost fever pitch. Then, she arrives, complete with an impossibly fabulous flourish. A similar story could be told of Idina Menzel's arrival on the scene in full splendor essaying the role of Maureen in RENT back nearly twenty years ago now - and, since then, she has made an even bigger mark thanks to her supremely impressive work Off-Broadway in THE WILD PARTY and SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, as well as in the replacement cast of AIDA, to say nothing of her roles on GLEE and elsewhere. RENT may have very well been a major milestone in her career - as such a seminal musical would be to any actor starting out - but the pinnacle of Menzel's impressive resume thus far is a little more green.

WICKED is a phenomenon the likes of which are only seen on Broadway once or twice in a generation - and, ten years after its debut, the show still fills the Gershwin Theater and remains one of the most popular attractions on Broadway. Many may forget that the show was not initially warmly received on the Great White Way, yet the dynamic central performances by Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel went a long way to making it a winner - with Menzel, who, after having been nominated in the Featured Actress category back in 1996 for RENT, winning this time around for Best Actress In A Musical as a result of her unforgettable performance as proto-Wicked Witch Elphaba in the show.

Of course, since WICKED, Menzel has reached a whole new audience through her exceptional work on FOX's hit musical dramedy series GLEE and will next be seen in animated form as part of Disney's forthcoming FROZEN, yet Broadway is where she will always belong to the Broadway babies among us.

We always knew she could defy the odds - and gravity, too.

The 2013 Tony Awards air Sunday, June 9, at 8 PM on CBS. More information is available at the official site here.

Making Good

So, let's look at some of the most memorable Tony Awards moments as pertaining to the enchanting Idina Menzel.

First up, here is Ms. Menzel's first Tony Awards appearance, all the way back in 1996, joining the original cast of RENT in medley of songs from the LA BOHEME-based rock musical in this collection of clips from that year's telecast.

Next, witness the reunion of the original cast of RENT in 2008.

Now, see what all the fans are screaming about with Menzel's "Defying Gravity" from WICKED - with some help from Kristin Chenoweth and the Wizard himself, Joel Grey, who introduces the divas.

Menzel and husband Taye Diggs present Best Score at the 2007 Tony Awards.

Also, Menzel tearfully accepts her Tony Award for Best Actress In A Musical, available here.

So, what has been your favorite Idina Menzel Tony Awards performance to date? What would you like to see her perform on a Tony Awards show in the future - especially next year, when her new musical, IF/THEN, premieres?! We will have to wait until this time next year to know for sure!