Menzel is stepping in for the previously announced Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone, who withdrew from the concerts in order to return to Broadway in the new musical Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

Marvin Hamlisch conducts NSO Pops: A Date with Idina Menzel, which is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 7 PM, Oct. 29 at 8 PM at Oct. 30 at 8 PM in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

In a previous statement Menzel said, "I am delighted to return to the National Symphony Orchestra so quickly, and especially to open the NSO’s Pops Season with Marvin Hamlisch. We all worked together for the first time just a few days ago at Wolf Trap, and we had a terrific time. I can’t wait to be with Marvin and the NSO again!"

Menzel won a Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical for her work as Elphaba in Wicked; she also opened the London production of that hit musical. Menzel created the role of Maureen in the original Broadway company of Rent, and her other theatrical credits include the City Center Encores! production of Hair, Manhattan Theatre Club's The Wild Party, the Public Theater's See What I Wanna See and the benefit Funny Girl concert. Menzel's film credits include "Ask the Dust," "Rent" and "Enchanted."

For more information about the NSO Pops, visit www.kennedy-center.org.