There's something so special about an entirely new, original musical. You don't know what to expect coming in, because the music and the story are entirely fresh. But that can create some of the most magical moments in a theatre, when something you never predicted truly delights you. And there are plenty of delights, surprises, and magic (well, flying) to be found in the new musical Redwood, which opened February 13 at the Nederlander Theatre.

The work is co-created by Tony Award winner Idina Menzel (who also stars) and Tina Landau (who directs and wrote the book and co-wrote lyrics). The music is composed by newcomer Kate Diaz, who also co-wrote the lyrics with Landau. Menzel is starring as Jesse, a woman who finds herself at a crossroads in a Northern California redwood forest after a life-altering event.

Sure, you may be reading this and thinking, "Idina Menzel is in it, I'm there." But for those of you who need a little bit more convincing, below are five reasons to see Redwood at the Nederlander Theater.

1. Idina Menzel Defies Gravity (Again)

It is clear that the reason that there is immense interest in Redwood, and why it's selling so well, is because of Menzel. After all, the last time the beloved performer has been on the Broadway stage was a decade ago in another original musical, If/Then. Any opportunity to see one of Broadway's brightest live on stage is one you should take, especially in a musical that is clearly a passion project for her. Menzel was the one who planted the seed for the show; 15 years ago, she brought the idea of doing a musical about a woman living in a redwood tree to Landau. Now that seed has grown into a full-blown production, complete with an impressive tree in the center (more on that later). 

But not only will you be able to see Menzel perform numerous bouts of vocal acrobatics in Redwood (showing that her voice has lost none of its power), you will see her perform actual acrobatics. Yes, the show is about a woman who climbs a redwood tree, which means Menzel also climbs a redwood tree. If your favorite Idina Menzel show is Wicked, then come to Redwood to see Menzel defy gravity again (and hang—and sing!—upside down too).

2. The Set Design Is Stunning

In Redwood, Menzel's character Jesse runs away from her cosmopolitan life following a family tragedy. She then lands in a redwood forest and the show follows her attempts to work her way through her grief with the help of nature. The set of Redwood (from designer Jason Ardizzone-West) is truly transportive, seamlessly taking you from Jesse's tumultuous home life to the redwood forests of California. And what a forest it is. There is a particular moment, with the help of Hana S. Kim's projection design, where it feels like you as the audience are flying through a redwood forest and up into the canopy of the trees. It helps that the stage and the box seats are covered in floor-to-rafters screens, allowing the forest to completely cover the audience's vision. 

The pièce de résistance of the design is a recreation of a redwood trunk, which is named Stella and may be this writer's new favorite plant on Broadway (regrets to Maybe Happy Ending's HwaBoon). Stella is textured and magnificent—when Menzel hugs her, she can only reach a small portion. When the show's actors climb up and down Stella on ropes, the tree is never overshadowed. There's a moment in the show where Stella might be in danger, and I was sitting there hoping she'd be okay, a testament to her impact on the characters and the audience.

3. The Standout Score

Menzel handpicked composer Kate Diaz to compose the music for Redwood. And the musical theatre newcomer writes perfectly to Menzel's strengths—expect soaring high notes and vocalizations galore. It's not just power ballads—Diaz's score also excels in quieter moments, such as when Michael Park's character Finn sings "Roots," about the redwoods' vast intertwining root system. The song delivers information but in such a melodically poignant way.

While the music soars, Diaz and Landau's lyrics keep the show grounded in real human stakes and emotions; when Menzel sings, in "No Repair," "there is no end to your grief because there is no end to your love," the line is gutting because of how simple it is but also how true. The songs don't just set a tone, they help you understand the person singing them while speaking to a more universal emotion—in other words, ideal musical theatre. It's always a delight to discover a talented new musical theatre voice and Redwood does us musical fans a service by introducing us to Diaz.

4. The Supporting Cast

While the show prominently features Menzel as the lead, its supporting cast also stand tall. There's Michael Park as redwood expert Finn, who teaches Jesse to climb and exits the stage exclusively by pulling himself up on a rope (I want to know how his arms feel at the end of every show). There's Khaila Wilcoxon as another redwood expert named Becca—she also gets some heavy belting moments in the show and delivers them all with such emotion that her post-song applause was often nearly as loud as Menzel's. De'adre Aziza as Jesse's wife, Mel, skillfully balances the more tragic elements of the show with the most playful. 

A standout in the supporting cast is Zachary Noah Piser playing a variety of roles, notably Jesse's son Spencer. Piser is given the show's 11 o'clock number "Still," one of the best songs in the show, both because of its messaging ("While you're still alive, live"), but also because Piser sings it with so much emotion that it makes you want to climb a tree, too. If you haven't seen Piser in any other show, Redwood makes this young performer truly someone to keep your eyes on. 

5. It's a Moving Showcase of Grief

Though Redwood takes place in a forest and has a gorgeous tree at its center, the true heart of the story is how to overcome grief—and the realization that grief isn't something to overcome, but something you learn to live with. That message will resonate to anyone who has ever lost someone important. When Menzel sings "No Repair," finally putting words to her own pain, I could hear sobs throughout the theatre. But while the show is about grief, it leaves plenty of room for joy, silliness, and discovery, too. It's a moving takeaway for anyone going through a rough patch in their own lives—you can still laugh.

And even if you're not, even if you just want a fun night out at the theatre, Redwood delivers on that, too, by truly transporting the audience to a forest. After seeing Redwood, you'll want to take a page from Jesse and touch a tree. You might even want to make a great escape to the California redwoods. As someone from California, I can confirm, they are more wondrous than you can possibly imagine.

Click here to make your great escape and purchase tickets to Redwood.