Interview: Idina Menzel Talks WORLD TOUR, IF/THEN, Online Backlash, and More!

Idina Menzel will perform in Montreal tomorrow and at the Sony Centre in Toronto this Wednesday as part of her 2015 world tour. Menzel is of course best known for her work in WICKED and FROZEN, and also recently concluded a Broadway run in her star vehicle IF/THEN which she will take on tour this fall.

"Yeah, I am insane... I feel insane!" says Menzel about her world tour and IF/THEN schedule. "There's a month and a half or so before my LA gig (and Canada), so I'll take some time off and actually dip my toe back into the IF/THEN world and see how much I remember."

"I wouldn't have planned it to be that on top if each other but I feel passionate about both projects and it's just the way it had to go down. It's just important to me."

Menzel's tour is taking her all over North America and multiple cities in Europe and Asia. When asked about all the travel she's done and has coming up, she notes her favorite part of it all is seeing new cities - when she has the time.

"Sometimes you don't get to see the city you're in if you're preparing for a show. My favorite thing is bonding with my musicians, getting to know them and becoming a family. I think it's similar to when I'm in the theatre and when I bond with the cast."

"I think I like the whole built in family. I like exploring the world with this built in family."

"The worst part is just being tired and worrying... worrying about being in the best voice and if you're going to get a cold... How to navigate through all that. It's the constant worry you have as a singer."

Audiences at Menzel's shows may also be treated to songs from an upcoming album Menzel is working on, she teases during the interview - though she wouldn't give any details.

She comments regarding her writing process that "I'm just writing, coming from the heart. I'm actually trying to not overthink it right now and just be free and open and not put any limitations on myself. No matter how old you are there are still common themes we can identify with each other."

Over the last two years Menzel has become a house hold name, a considerable increase in notability from her time as a Broadway star. She's had a hit single, starred on Broadway, performed sold out shows at Radio City Musical Hall, and will release a new album in the near future.

However, with notability comes scrutiny - and following her Academy Awards performance, Menzel faced backlash over what some people considered to be a botched high note. We spoke a bit about the pressure of getting negative comments from fans.

"There's no auto-tune happening here..." she says, laughing. "Times have changed because what (people) hear in a recording is not always what's going down. I feel the need to educate people in that. And yet, live performance is stronger than ever. My audiences, I feel, are very sophisticated and give you the benefit of the doubt. It's the rest of the world that needs a little talking to."

"It gets to me. Sometimes I read something and it's hurtful but I try to focus on my family, my son... They're much more important in my life. You've just got to keep on getting up. I believe in myself, I believe in what I'm doing. You just do the best you can and keep trying to connect with people. That's all you can do."

"It's hard for me because I want to be perfect all the time..." she concludes. "The imperfections make things more interesting, true and honest. You can hear the texture in their voice - and those are the people we love, that have moved us and changed us. If I occasionally have to endure criticism because I miss a high note... then as much as that hurts my feelings that's what I have to do."

"I'm not going to stop singing!"

For more information on Idina Menzel's World Tour, tickets to the Toronto and Los Angeles concerts, and more information on the IF/THEN tour, visit www.idinamenzel.com.

Photo: Robin Wong / Courtesy of PMKNBC