“Previously slated to continue through August 17, the production’s final performance was May 18. At the time of closing, Redwood will have played 17 previews and 127 regular performances. The show was one of 13 productions left empty handed when nominations for this year’s Tony Awards were announced and becomes Broadway’s first casualty of bad luck with the honors.

Redwood explores themes of loss, grief, addiction, and finding strength and resilience. Jesse, a successful businesswoman, leaves her life behind and travels to the redwood forest after her son’s death, seeking solace and a new purpose. The score is by Kate Diaz, with lyrics by Diaz and Tina Landau. The music is a blend of cinematic orchestral scores and pop/rock songs.”

Diane, Katie, and I liked Redwood with Idina Menzel belting out songs while climbing a giant redwood tree while swinging around on ropes wrapped in climbing equipment.  While the special effects are impressive, the mawkish plot gets a little syrupy for my tastes. The performance we saw was a sell-out, but the rumors were already swirling that they were going to pull the plug if they didn’t get any Tony nominations. And…they didn’t.

Despite that decision, Irina Menzel says that Redwood was one of the highlights of her career. “Creating [Redwood] with Tina Landau and Kate Diaz has been my proudest professional accomplishment,” writes Menzel. “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. You are all my family. Making music and telling this beautiful story with you has been the highlight of my career. In fact, being back in NYC with the entire Broadway community at the Nederlander, of all places, is my ‘little Idina’s’ dream come true over and over again.”

Sometimes risky musicals just don’t succeed. GRADE: C