Idina Menzel talks world tour, new album, 'Let It Go'

Idina Menzel admits it: "I am insane."

After a whirlwind couple of years that saw her make a Tony-nominated return to Broadway, lay down the vocals for one of the best-selling singles of all-time in "Frozen's" "Let It Go," perform the national anthem at the 2015 Super Bowl, release a Christmas album and sing for the president, Menzel is not resting on her laurels.

She's in the midst of a summer global tour, which will be followed quickly by her stage return in a touring production of "If/Then" this fall.

Menzel performed at the Borgata in Atlantic City July 10 and at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel on July 12.

"I'm not afraid of hard work," Menzel says during a teleconference with reporters before kicking off her global tour. "People in the theater are like athletes, especially singers. We have to train and stretch and build up our endurance and be able to perform under all different kinds of circumstances. I have high expectations. It keeps me at a certain level of what I expect from myself."

The tour promises a blend of Menzel's powerhouse performances from "Rent," "Wicked" and other musical theater favorites, pop hits and numbers from her personal catalog.

"You know, it's funny, although 'Let it Go' is my only 'quote unquote' hit song, hit radio song in my career, I've noticed that I sort of consider songs like 'Defying Gravity' and songs from 'Rent' to be my other hit songs because my barometer for that is if I can put the microphone out and the audience can sing every word, then that's my hit song," she says. "So I make sure I include those songs that I think people would really want to hear. And then I challenge myself, I pick other songs I've always to sing or do a new interpretation of. I might even try a new original song here and there in different cities."

Each tour date promises to shake things up a bit.

"I want every city and every show, every audience, to feel like they got something that was particular and specific to that evening alone and that I don't do the same exact thing every night," she says.

Changing up her repertoire also allows Menzel to keep things fresh, as well as grow as an artist, she says.

"Every song, every show, every character, project, it's a different part of the chronology and time of your life," she says. "It makes me reflect and it changes. A certain song can hit me in a different way on a different night or different time of my life. I think that's what so beautiful about what I do. I leave myself open in that way and a lot of times I discover things in front of thousands of people."

'Let It Go'

And sometimes those artistic discoveries come from the most unexpected of places. "Let It Go" has had a major impact on Menzel's life, she says, and not just because the multiplatinum song introduced a much wider audience to her work.

"I knew it was a beautiful song when they sent it to me to learn, but I had no idea it would have this effect and become this kind of phenomenon.

"The beautiful thing about it is that as much as it speaks to young people, it also speaks to me as a woman, and as a reminder for myself, the things that I think are important and the things that I need to learn," Menzel says. "For instance, the idea of really not hiding those things that make us really powerful. Women, those things that might set us apart or make us a little different are those things that really make us extraordinary and set us apart in the world.

"I think that's something we grapple with, especially strong, fierce women," she continues. "We can somehow suppress that or take a step back because we're afraid of seeming threatening or being disliked. When a role or a song or a project has such reciprocity, you're putting out all of that, but you're getting back so much as well, that's when you feel truly grateful."

Honest performance

Menzel says an honest performance allows her to connect with her audience — for better or worse.

"Things go wrong all the time, everything from my boobs coming out of my bra in front of everybody at Radio City Music Hall to forgetting words or somebody yelling something out of the audience that strikes me in a funny way and we have a conversation," she says. "I think that I'm being a creature of the theater and eight shows a week you embrace those things that keep things fresh, that keep you on your toes because that's what gets you through."

And don't expect those toes to be clad in shoes.

"I always take off my shoes at some point," Menzel says. "I just need to get comfortable. I like to feel taller and I think that the heels make me look skinnier, but then at some point I just need to toss them off and get comfortable. It's easier for me to sing grounded on the floor and not teetering around."

Upcoming projects

So what comes next?

Shortly after her world tour wraps up, Menzel will hit the road again, leading a production of "If/Then" this fall that will make stops in Seattle, Los Angeles, Tempe, Arizona, Denver and more.

And then there's a new album she has in the works.

"I'm in that process of just being in the writing stages and recording with producers and songwriters that really inspire me," she says. "There's not much to say other than that I feel creative and I'm sort of putting my heart out there and exploring different sounds and things like that. I'm not limiting myself, I'm just doing what I feel in my heart and then I'll see if there's somewhat of a theme or more a trend going on and pick the songs that tell that story. But I'm not there yet. Now I'm just doing music that I love."

And don't count out another quick return to the Great White Way.

"I'm always looking for the next original piece. It's no secret that I love 'Don't Rain on My Parade' and 'Funny Girl.' I've done them on 'Glee' and I sang for Barbra Streisand, but other than that and maybe one or two other shows, I really want to keep originating characters if I can. It's really hard to walk in the steps of iconic people. I'd rather find my own way."

Menzel's tour included visits to cities in Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, Ireland and the United Kingdom. She kicked off the North American leg on Tuesday in Richmond, Virginia, and wraps up in October in Los Angeles. Tickets can be purchased at Livenation.com.