Broadway Says Goodbye to “Redwood”

Photo: Redwood (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

Well, Redwood is closing—and it stings a little. The original musical starring Idina Menzel will play its final performance on May 18 at the Nederlander Theatre, just two months after officially opening. The announcement comes days after the Tony Award nominations were revealed, and Redwood found itself completely shut out. Not one nod. And in a Broadway season stacked with high-profile revivals and movie-to-stage adaptations, that kind of snub can be the nail in the coffin for a new show.

Let’s be clear: Redwood was trying something bold. This was a brand-new story. New music. No jukebox score, no familiar IP safety net. Just a cast and creative team taking a swing—and that matters.

The show follows Jesse, a successful businesswoman and mother who is grappling with the unimaginable loss of her teenage son. Seeking clarity and healing, she sets off alone into the redwood forests of Northern California. There, among the towering trees, she reconnects with nature, with strangers, and slowly—with herself. The story was deeply personal, co-conceived by Idina Menzel and director Tina Landau, with music by Kate Diaz and lyrics by Diaz and Landau. It was more meditative than splashy, more emotional than explosive.

And yes, the reviews were mixed. But even in a crowded spring season, there was something admirable about the ambition of Redwood. The immersive set design was beautiful, and Menzel gave a raw, grounded performance that reminded audiences why she’s a Broadway icon. For better or worse, the show didn’t play it safe.

What hurts most is that Redwood had the potential to grow. It felt like the kind of show that might’ve found its audience given a little more time—a quiet, thoughtful piece that resonated on a human level. In the rush of Broadway commerce, sometimes those stories don’t get the runway they need.

Still, it was an original musical that made it all the way to Broadway. That’s no small feat. And even if its run was short, its courage to exist at all deserves to be celebrated.