How Idina Menzel Got Ready To Present the Tony Award for Best Musical

In a grand Elphaba meet-up last night, Idina Menzel and Cynthia Erivo presented the Tony Award for Best Musical to The Outsiders. (Menzel originated the role of Elphaba when Wicked debuted on Broadway in 2003; while Erivo stars as the character in the upcoming Wicked film with Ariana Grande.) It was a magical moment of “green girl power,” as Menzel called it, but both actresses left the emerald hues at home for the ceremony. On Broadway’s biggest night, Menzel wore a Naeem Khan dress, Gismondi 1754 jewels, Stuart Weitzman heels, and a Tyler Ellis clutch to the 77th Tony Awards.

It has been a big month for Menzel, whose new musical Redwood just announced to have a Broadway transfer after premiering at La Jolla Playhouse this spring. Menzel originated the project with director Tina Landau 15 years ago. Redwood, which opens next year, will mark the first time Menzel has starred on Broadway since the 2014 production of If/Then. “It’s about a woman at a crossroads in her life as she finds herself in the mystical Redwoods,” Menzel tells ELLE.com exclusively. “It’s about the power of resilience and the ability to heal. I hope it does just that for the audience. I hope it resonates with people.”

To kick off her Broadway bid, Menzel allowed ELLE.com to come behind the scenes and get ready with her for the Tony Awards. Below, she talks through her awards show beauty routine, highlights her talented team, and recounts the night she won her Tony for playing Elphaba.