The Broadway musical Redwood, starring Idina Menzel, has announced it will close on May 18, just days after being notably absent from the Tony Award nominations. The show, which opened at the Nederlander Theatre on February 13, has struggled with mixed reviews and declining ticket sales, and its closing marks the first major casualty following the announcement of the Tony nominations.
“While we had of course hoped for a longer run, we’re incredibly grateful to have been able to tell this beautiful story for the time we’ve been given,” said producers Eva Price and Caroline Kaplan in a statement. “Redwood has been a labor of love since the very beginning of this process, and we are immensely proud of the incredible work our cast, crew, and creative team have wholeheartedly poured into this production.”
The musical, directed by Tina Landau and featuring music by Kate Diaz and lyrics by Diaz and Landau, tells the story of a grieving mother (played by Menzel) who climbs a massive redwood tree in the woods to process her grief. While the concept was ambitious, Redwood failed to garner the widespread acclaim it hoped for, receiving mixed-to-negative reviews. However, the show did earn a critic’s pick from The New York Times, which acknowledged its emotional depth but couldn’t prevent it from facing downward-trending box office numbers.
By the time the show closes, it will have played 127 performances, including 17 preview performances. Last week, the production played to just 75 percent capacity, a worrying sign for a show looking to build momentum.
A Difficult Blow After Tony Nominations
The timing of the closing announcement is telling. With the Tony nominations released just days prior, Redwood’s absence from the list is seen as a significant blow, especially considering the show’s reliance on a possible nomination—or even a win—to help boost its financial prospects. Broadway productions often rely on Tony recognition to drive ticket sales and sustain their run, and missing out on nominations can be a fatal blow to a production’s chances of survival.
Despite the setback, the cast and crew have remained proud of their work. Idina Menzel took to Twitter to reflect on the experience, highlighting the all-female creative team behind the show.
“Creating @RedwoodMusical with @TinaLandau and Kate Diaz has been my proudest professional accomplishment,” Menzel wrote. “It is an all-female-led team, who are fearless risk-takers and gorgeous human beings. I will be eternally grateful to our stunning cast whom I love so friggin’ much. I’ll be singing Kate’s music for years and years to come.”
In addition to Menzel, the cast of Redwood includes De’Adre Aziza, Michael Park, Zachary Noah Piser, and Khaila Wilcoxon, with Daniel Brackett, John Hemphill, Veronica Otim, and Jessica Phillips rounding out the ensemble.
Themes of Connection and Community
While the show may not have achieved the commercial success it aimed for, the themes of connection and community resonated deeply with those who saw it. Menzel’s portrayal of a mother processing grief struck a chord with many, and the intimate nature of the musical allowed for personal, emotional connections with its audience.
As Redwood prepares for its final curtain call, its creators and cast will take pride in what they accomplished despite the short run. With an all-female creative team, the musical pushed boundaries and tackled emotional and universal themes in a way that is sure to leave a lasting impact on its audience and those involved in its production.
