At the center of a Broadway stage stand a redwood and a woman who wants to be alone in its branches to release her grief.

This is the simple storyline of “Redwood,” a new musical written and directed by Tina Landau and starring Idina Menzel, famous for her roles in “Rent,” “Wicked,” and “Frozen.”

It’s tempting to compare who has the more towering stage presence: Ms. Menzel with her athletic voice, which can reach high notes as she swings upside down from a rope; or the silent lifelike tree, whom she names Stella. Her soaring heights and high-tech features highlight the creativity behind modern set design – and the role it plays in conveying a narrative onstage.

Why We Wrote This

When Idina Menzel is in a musical, she is one of the most talked-about stars onstage. In her latest, “Redw

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