American Tony Award winner Idina Menzel’s unique voice rang off the walls of the Center for the Arts Nov. 3 for a personal performance for her devoted fans. Menzel is currently touring across the United States after the launch of her debut album, in which she penned nine of the 10 songs.

“I’ve always dreamed of performing my own music since I was little,” Menzel said. “It’s a way of expressing myself, and my take on the world.”

Photo illustration by Jessica Vretenar

“I Stand,” released Jan. 29, saw Menzel teamed up with Glen Ballard, Grammy Award-winning producer. Menzel was given creative freedom with Ballard, who encouraged her during the writing process, Menzel said.

“I went in with a clean slate; Glen helped guide me and I could sing openly and write about whatever I was feeling,” Menzel said. Menzel took a five-month break during writing for her album to tour with Wicked, which helped her decide which songs she would ultimately pursue for her album.

Menzel is best known for her performances as Maureen in RENT, and the Tony Award-winning performance as Elphaba, “the green one” in Wicked. Menzel has also held several acting jobs, most recently as Nancy, a love interest for Patrick Dempsey.

“I love performing,” Menzel said. “Acting has given me a chance to express myself in a different way. I like the challenge, and the different things I’ve discovered about myself.”

Her versatility as an actress/singer/songwriter has given Menzel a strong fan following. Since her first professional job as the outspoken Maureen, Menzel’s powerful voice has helped her make a name for herself outside the characters she made known.

“She’s so unique, her voice is so powerful,” Kortney Hannes, senior business administration major, said. “I’ve been a fan since before RENT, I saw her in RENT and she blew me away.”

Menzel started working as a wedding singer at the age of 15. Her parents encouraged her singing, but purposefully discouraged her from a life in the limelight in order for her to lead a normal life.

“They were so encouraging, and always supportive of me taking lessons and pursuing the arts,” Menzel said. “Going to summer camp, discovering boys, I wouldn’t of had those great memories otherwise.”

She pursued her bachelor’s degree in drama at New York University, and in the winter of 1995 Menzel auditioned for a role that would change her life, “a little off-Broadway production some people know as RENT.”

Menzel engaged her audience from the start of her show, sharing personal stories from her songs and her life. She brought the audience to their feet during “No Day But Today,” a powerful ballad from RENT. She had the audience on their feet again during her well-known single, and album title, “I Stand.”

“She’s crazy, she’s entertaining, she has such a beautiful voice,” Erica Lichter, senior middle level education major, said. “She didn’t sing to us, she sang for us. It was amazing.”

Menzel’s fans saw a throaty, rocker version of her song “I Feel Everything,” which was initially how she intended the song to be heard.

“It’s much more fun to perform it this way,” Menzel said as she kicked off her shoes and belted her powerful lyrics.

Menzel’s energy on stage was unstoppable, and her voice unfaltering. Between songs she shared stories and jokes with the audience, and even reacted to several shout-outs from her fans.

“This has been so much fun for me, I love getting the chance to play my music and travel, none of this would be possible without all of you,” Menzel said before ending her show with the famous “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.

Menzel will continue touring for her album, singing her own music and performing for her fans. She plans on returning to the theater, as well as more film roles. Although nothing is decided, there are several women she would love to portray on stage.

“Life is so fleeting, I try to stay in the moment and enjoy the simple things,” Menzel said. “I’m not nearly finished. I’m just being myself and enjoying every minute of it, I don’t want to wake up one day and realize I’ve missed all this.”