Idina Menzel off to robust start in ‘If/Then’ musical on Broadway

Riding a wave of publicity following her appearance at last week’s Oscars ceremony, where her mispronounced name instantly became an Internet meme, Idina Menzel saw robust business at her new Broadway musical, “If/Then,” which began performances on Wednesday.

“If/Then” brought in a healthy $909,159 on its first week of preview performances at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The new musical, written by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, the team behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Next to Normal,” follows the parallel-universe adventures of a thirtysomething woman who moves to New York.

The show played to more than 95% audience capacity, which is a robust turnout for a non-blockbuster musical still in previews.

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“If/Then” is scheduled to officially open on March 30. The musical had an out-of-town tryout last year at Washington’s National Theatre.

The musical marks Menzel’s first return to Broadway since she starred in the 2003 hit “Wicked,” which earned her a Tony Award for her role as Elphaba.

Menzel unexpectedly became an online trending topic when John Travolta mangled her name while introducing her at the Oscars last week. The actor introduced her as “Adele Dazeem” before she performed the song “Let It Go” from the Disney animated movie “Frozen.”

The on-air gaffe became one of the most searched topics online that week. It was also lampooned by late-night comedians Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon and David Letterman.

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