Wicked Cool: Idina Menzel Is in Talks to Join Glee

Kristin Chenoweth's Broadway costar would play the coach of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline

By Jennifer Godwin Dec 09, 2009 11:30 PMTags
Glee, Idina MenzelCarin Baer/Getty Images; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

We didn't think it was possible, but Glee just got a little cooler.

Idina Menzel, the Broadway star known for originating the role of Elphaba in Wicked, as well as for being Mrs. Taye Diggs, is reportedly in talks to join the cast of Glee. Hallelujah!

But is she going to play the role of Rachel Berry's (Lea Michele) bio-mom, a role for which many observers have noted she would be physically perfect?

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Idina's character will not be genetically related to Lea Michele's character, but instead, Menzel would play the coach of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline, giving New Directions coach Mr. Shue (Matthew Morrison) yet another antagonist. If the deal works out, Menzel's character would potentially appear in all nine of the remaining season-one episodes.

Menzel's former Wicked castmate Kristin Chenoweth guest-starred on Glee earlier this season as an alcoholic glee-club has-been named April Rhodes. Chenoweth is expected to recur later this season, potentially setting the stage for a Wicked reunion on the hit Fox musical series.

Menzel gave birth to her first child with Diggs in early September, which means taking this role would cut her maternity leave relatively short.

Production on the back nine episodes of Glee began earlier this week. The fall finale airs tonight at 9 p.m. on Fox, and then Glee returns on April 13, 2010 for the second half of the first season.

Do you love this potential casting as much as we do? Any other Broadway babes you'd like to nominate for guest gigs on Glee?

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