''Redwood'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

with music by Kate Diaz and lyrics by Diaz and

Tina Landau Tina Landau (born May 21, 1962) is an American playwright and theatre director. Known for her large-scale, musical, and ensemble-driven work, Landau's productions have appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally, most extensively at the ...

and a book by Landau. The show tells the story of Jesse, a woman who, after her son's death, leaves her wife and work, drives across the US to the

redwood forest ''Sequoia sempervirens'' ()''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995: 606–607 is the sole living species of the genus '' Sequoia'' in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly treated in Taxodiaceae). Common names include coast redwood, coasta ...

, and forms a relationship with a

giant redwood ''Sequoiadendron giganteum'' (also known as the giant sequoia, giant redwood, Sierra redwood or Wellingtonia) is a species of coniferous tree, classified in the family Cupressaceae in the subfamily Sequoioideae. Giant sequoia specimens are the la ...

. The show premiered in 2024 at the

La Jolla Playhouse La Jolla Playhouse is a nonprofit professional theater on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. History La Jolla Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer. In 1983, it was revived under the ...

in California and opened on Broadway on February 13, 2025. The musical was originally conceived by Landau and

Idina Menzel Idina Kim Menzel ( ; ; born May 30, 1971) is an American actress and singer. Particularly known for her work in Musical theatre, musicals on Broadway theatre, Broadway, she has been Honorific nicknames in popular music, nicknamed the "Queen of ...

. It closed on May 18, 2025.

Synopsis

Jesse is a successful businesswoman and mother. Her son, Spencer, dies suddenly from an accidental overdose of drugs laced with fentanyl. Struggling deeply with grief and guilt, Jesse tries to avoid processing her pain, while her wife, Mel, wants to grieve openly and remember Spencer, causing tension in their marriage. Overwhelmed by anguish and feelings of helplessness, Jesse abruptly leaves her home and career, embarking on a solitary journey to the redwood forests of Northern California. There, she meets two arborists, Finn and Becca, and forms complex relationships with them and a particular redwood tree. The natural setting becomes a place of healing and self-discovery for Jesse, with the redwood tree symbolizing resilience, patience, and renewal. This musical, with music composed by Kate Diaz and lyrics co-written by Diaz and Tina Landau, explores themes of mourning, love, healing, and humanity’s connection to nature. Inspired by Landau’s personal experience of losing a family member to fentanyl-laced drugs, ''Redwood'' blends emotional storytelling with evocative music to deliver a powerful message of hope and renewal amid deep loss.

Productions

San Diego (2024)

Previews for ''Redwood'' began on February 13, 2024, at the

. The premiere opened on February 25 and closed on March 31, 2024. It featured direction by

with orchestrations and arrangements by Kate Diaz, scenic design by Jason Ardizzone-West, costume design by

Toni-Leslie James Toni-Leslie James is an American costume designer for stage, television and film. James was awarded The Irene Sharaff Young Masters Award and the 2009 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Costume Design. She received a BA in costume design from ...

, lighting design by Scott Zielinski, and sound design by Jonathan Deans.

Broadway (2025)

Previews of the

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

run began on January 24, 2025, at the

Nederlander Theatre The Nederlander Theatre (formerly the National Theatre, the Billy Rose Theatre, and the Trafalgar Theatre) is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 208 West 41st Street in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhatt ...

(where Menzel had performed in '' Rent''), before an official opening on February 13. Reviews on Broadway were mixed to mildly positive, with praise for Menzel's vocals, the supporting cast's performances, and the set design. Critics were generally disappointed by the use of video projections, the pacing of the book, and what they viewed as excessively sentimental and predictable lyrics and ideas throughout the piece. ''Redwood'' closed on May 18, 2025, after 127 performances including 17 previews; the closure was announced one day after the musical failed to receive any Tony Award nominations.

Musical numbers and instrumentation

The Broadway production employs two keyboards with keyboard 2 doubling on guitar, guitar, acoustic and electric bass, drum set, two violins, one viola, and one cello. *"Drive" - Jesse, Mel, Spencer *"The Trees" *"Climb" - Jesse, Becca, Finn *"Little Redwood" - Becca *"The Stars" - Jesse *"A Dream" - Spencer, Mel, Jesse *"Big Tree Religion" - Finn, Becca, Jesse *"Back Then" - Mel, Jesse *"The Ascent" *"Great Escape" - Jesse *"Roots" - Finn *"Little Redwood (Reprise)" - Finn, Becca, Jesse *"Looking Through This Lens" - Mel *"In the Leaves" - Jesse, Stella *"Becca's Song" - Becca *"No Repair" - Jesse *"The Fires" - Jesse *"Still" - Spencer, Jesse, Stella, The Trees *"Finale" - All

Characters and original cast

References

2024 musicals Musicals set in California Musicals based on real people Musicals inspired by real-life events {{Musical-stub