To see all my photos from the Redwood Red Carpet, please visit the full gallery.
One of my goals for 2025 was to photograph another Broadway red carpet. And on February 13th, I did exactly that.
I had such an incredible experience last year photographing the red carpet for the Tony-winning show Suffs (see the full gallery), and since then I've been interested in photographing another. When I found out that Idina Menzel was returning to Broadway in a new musical called Redwood, I knew I wanted to see it-it's been TEN YEARS since Idina Menzel has led a Broadway show- and I also knew I'd love to photograph it.
At the beginning of January, I reached out to Redwood's social media and asked if I could photograph the carpet. However, they didn't respond to the message, and by the beginning of February, I had given up the idea of photographing this show and was thinking about the next opportunities. I reached out to the incredible Jenny Anderson about something else and casually mentioned that Redwood hadn't responded. She then connected me with the PR team, and so I reached out and asked again. To my surprise and excitement, they said yes!
We planned a last-minute trip up to the city, and a few days before the event, we flew up. Before I knew it, it was Thursday-the day of the opening. We had lunch with a wonderful friend, and then it was time to get ready. I was nervous, but I was excited too. The outdoor carpet, for celebrity attendees, took place right in front of the Nederlander Theatre, which Redwood calls home. This packed pre-show event included Gayle King, Miguel Cervantes, Amy Poehler, Betsy Wolfe, Caissie Levy, and more. I had so many fun interactions-one of my favorites was with Sara Bareilles, who's excitement at seeing me was so sweet. She had a similar reaction when she spotted me on the Suffs carpet, and I'm now certain that she's one of the sweetest, most genuine and fun humans.
After the show ended, I got to go into the theatre at the end of the show to photograph the curtain call and bows, which was so much fun. After the curtain call, the photographers walked a few blocks to the Edison Ballroom, and soon after the cast came to walk the smaller indoor red carpet in the press room at the Edison. Getting to photograph this outstanding cast was so incredible, and getting to photograph Idina, especially, was such an honor and such an amazing experience. The cast went through and took solo photos first, then they took full-cast photos. When the cast was doing a group photo with Tina Landau, the writer, co-creator, director, and co-lyricist, and Kate Diaz, the composer and co-lyricist, they actually cheered for me! It was such an incredible moment and one that I won't soon forget.
Throughout the night, I got to talk with several of the other photographers, videographers, and theatre journalists, all of whom were so kind and supportive. A few offered great advice, and many generously helped me get the attention of those walking the carpets. They were so helpful, and it was so nice to meet them.
I got to see the show the night after the carpet. It was incredible and beautiful. Really beautiful. The five cast members on stage were amazing and it was such an honor to watch them perform. The technology used in the set design mixed with the sheer power of their voices and acting was so uniquely incredible and something I won't forget.
I'm so grateful for this opportunity. It was so much fun, I met so many kind and amazing people,and I'm so glad I once again got to be a small part of the magic.
You can see Redwood now at the Nederlander Theatre.
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