Idina Menzel Taps Grammy-Winning Mariah Carey Collaborator for New Pop Album and Broadway Musical | Playbill

News Idina Menzel Taps Grammy-Winning Mariah Carey Collaborator for New Pop Album and Broadway Musical Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Walter Afanasieff revealed that he is collaborating with Tony Award-winning Wicked and If/Then star Idina Menzel on a new pop album and a potential Broadway musical.

Afanasieff, known for producing the Celine Dion "Titanic" hit "My Heart Will Go On" and the Mariah Carey song "Hero," sat down with music industry executive Judy Stakee in a recent interview at his home.

"I'm doing a couple of Idina Menzel projects," he said. Among them are a new pop album, for which Afanasieff said he had just completed 12 songs. Also on deck is a potential new Broadway musical vehicle for her.

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Idina Menzel

"We're also writing a Broadway musical with Idina Menzel. Hopefully, for her next big Broadway show," he said. "That's just been a huge challenge. Being a songwriter is one thing, but writing for Broadway or for film, is entirely different. It really pulls you into that, 'Am I good enough? Do I have what it takes?' It's so hard."

Neither of Menzel's projects with Afanasieff has been announced. The Wicked star's most recent solo album was "Holiday Wishes," a collection of classic and contemporary holiday songs, which hit stores in late 2014. Her last solo pop album was the 2008 release "I Stand." Menzel has garnered significant air-play for delivering the "Frozen" hit "Let It Go." Menzel, who is currently on a world tour, will appear in select stops on the national tour of If/Then later this year.

Afanasieff also revealed that he's also working with Barbra Streisand on a new project. "I just started, hopefully, what's going to be the new Barbra Streisand project, starting with the first song we just wrote," he said. Details of the Streisand collaboration have also not been announced.

Watch the full interview below:

 
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