Everything you need to know about 'Death Becomes Her' on Broadway
Tony Award nominees Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard take on the iconic roles originated by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in the film's musical adaptation.
With social media monetizing unrealistic beauty standards, it’s no wonder cosmetic procedures like lip fillers and weight loss drugs are on the rise. In fact, 2024 is high time for a stage adaptation of the vanity-fueled Death Becomes Her, the 1992 Meryl Streep/Goldie Hawn film about two rival women whose obsession with youth and beauty leads them to darkly comic situations.
The cult classic movie gets the Broadway treatment with Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, and Christopher Sieber as the main love triangle. The new musical features a book by Marco Pennette and music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey.
Death Becomes Her, directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli (Newsies), made its debut in Chicago and is sure to turn heads on Broadway. Everyone is dying to see it.
Get Death Becomes Her tickets now.
What is Death Becomes Her about?
Death Becomes Her is a dark comedy about two friends-turned-rivals: famous actress Madeline Ashton and aspiring writer Helen Sharp. The frenemies’ relationship is further complicated with a love triangle involving Ernest Menville, a plastic surgeon. Madeline steals Ernest from Helen, breaking up their relationship and fueling the women's feud.
When the women discover a mysterious potion that promises eternal life, they each take it. The magical tonic, which grants them immortality, leads to a series of comedic missteps.
Is Death Becomes Her a musical or a play?
Death Becomes Her is a musical with a book by Marco Pennette and music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey. The musical is based on the 1992 film of the same name, which happens to open with a musical number. The movie's elaborate costumes and sets make Death Becomes Her a natural fit as a Broadway spectacle.
Where is Death Becomes Her playing?
Death Becomes Her is playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, located at 205 W. 46th St. between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. The ornate, Beaux-Arts style theatre opened in 1926, and some of its notable past productions include the premieres of The King and I, The Sound of Music, and Cats.
Recent productions at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre include Sweeney Todd and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.
How long is Death Becomes Her on Broadway?
The Death Becomes Her musical runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission. This is a typical length for a Broadway musical.
What days is Death Becomes Her playing?
Death Becomes Her has eight performances a week at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, with matinee and evening performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Visit the Death Becomes Her page for the full performance schedule.
When did Death Becomes Her premiere?
Death Becomes Her premiered on April 30, 2024, at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre as part of the Broadway in Chicago series. The Broadway production of Death Becomes Her begins on October 23, 2024 at New York's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Who wrote Death Becomes Her?
Death Becomes Her features a book by Marco Pennette, adapted from the screenplay by David Koepp and Martin Donovan. Pennette was a showrunner for Ugly Betty, and his theatre credits include contributions to the Off-Broadway play Motherhood Out Loud and revisions to the book for the revival of On the Twentieth Century.
The music and lyrics are by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey. The duo's projects include Is Anyone Alive Out There? for Audible Theater and Noel and Julia’s Wayward Brainchildren at Joe’s Pub.
Who is in the cast of Death Becomes Her?
Like its silver screen counterpart, the cast of Death Becomes Her on Broadway is starry. Tony Award nominees Megan Hilty (Smash, Wicked, Noises Off) and Jennifer Simard (Once Upon a One More Time, Company, Disaster!) portray Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp, respectively. Christopher Sieber (Company, The Prom, Matilda) plays Ernest Menville, and Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams is Viola Van Horn.
Death Becomes Her characters
The dark satire is full of superficial, high-drama characters. Learn more about the main ones coming to life on stage.
- Madeline Ashton: A glamorous, self-absorbed stage and screen actress who is obsessed with maintaining her looks.
- Helen Sharp: An aspiring writer who lives in Ashton’s shadow and harbors deep resentment toward her for stealing several of her lovers.
- Ernest Menville: A plastic surgeon, Helen’s former husband, and the central point of a love triangle including Madeline and Helen.
- Viola Van Horn: A wealthy socialite who introduces Madeline and Helen to a magic potion that promises eternal youth.
Death Becomes Her songs
The song list for the Death Becomes Her musical has not yet been announced, but this article will be updated once the details are available.
Two clips from the show have been released: sneak peeks of the numbers "Prelude" and "Tell Me, Ernest." View the latter below.
What awards has Death Becomes Her won?
The Death Becomes Her musical has yet to win any awards. It will be eligible for Tony Awards and other theatre honors in the 2024-25 season.
The original 1992 film won the Academy and BAFTA Awards for Best Visual Effects, and Meryl Streep was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance as Madeline Ashton.
Major productions of Death Becomes Her
Three decades after the cult film hit the screen, its stage adaptations captivated the dedicated fanbase and a new generation of audiences. Here’s a brief history of the musical’s journey from the screen to the stage.
- 1992: The Death Becomes Her film premieres, winning an Oscar for Best Visual Effects the next year.
- 2023: Universal Theatrical Group hosts a reading of the musical with Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, and Christopher Sieber.
- April 2024: The musical premieres at the Cadillac Palace Theatre as part of the Broadway in Chicago series.
- October 2024: Death Becomes Her transfers to Broadway, beginning performances on October 23 with most of the Chicago cast.
Celebrities who have starred in Death Becomes Her
Who doesn't want eternal youth? Numerous stars have flocked to Death Becomes Her on stage and screen.
- Megan Hilty: The Tony Award nominee and star of the NBC show Smash takes on Meryl Streep's iconic role of Madeline Ashton in Death Becomes Her on Broadway.
- Jennifer Simard: The two-time Tony nominee is known for musical comedy roles, and Helen Sharp in Death Becomes Her is the latest to add to her resume.
- Christopher Sieber: Another musical comedy stalwart, Sieber plays Ernest Melville in the Death Becomes Her musical.
- Michelle Williams: Best known as one third of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, Williams plays Viola Van Horn, a character originally called Lisle von Rhuman in the Death Becomes Her movie.
- Meryl Streep: Streep, the most Oscar-nominated actor in history, originated the role of Madeline Ashton on screen.
- Goldie Hawn: Hawn originated the role of Helen Sharp in the Death Becomes Her movie, and she's also known for her Oscar-winning performance in Cactus Flower.
- Bruce Willis: Best known as an action hero, Willis flexed his comedy chops as Ernest Melville in the Death Becomes Her film.
Onscreen adaptations of Death Becomes Her
The Death Becomes Her musical hasn't been made into a movie (so far) — it's the other way around. The Broadway show is adapted from the 1992 film Death Becomes Her starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the movie won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects and has become a cult classic in the decades since its release.
Fun facts about Death Becomes Her
Dying to know more? Check out some more fun facts about Death Becomes Her on stage and screen.
- The 1992 film won an Academy Award for its special effects, including computer-generated imagery and practical effects to create visuals like a spinning head and a gaping hole in a character’s stomach.
- Universal, the same company that distributed the film, also set the stage adaptation in motion with the blessing of screenwriters David Koepp and Martin Donovan.
- Cast members Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber both appeared in the 2021 revival of Company on Broadway and will reunite for Death Becomes Her.
- Director/choreographer Christopher Gattelli is no stranger to projects with strong female characters and rivalries. Another of his Broadway credits is War Paint, about the rivalry between cosmetics titans Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden.
- The film recently inspired Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024 music video for her song “Taste,” starring Carpenter and Jenna Ortega as two women vying for the same man. The video recreates some of the film’s famous scenes.
How to get Death Becomes Her tickets
This musical is to die for, and it'll give you life. Don't miss the chance to see this iconic movie resurrected on the Broadway stage.
Get Death Becomes Her tickets now.
Photo credit: Death Becomes Her in Chicago. (Photos by Matthew Murphy)
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