Broadway's Death Becomes Her began performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre October 23 ahead of a November 21 opening night, and three tracks from the musical have been released. Get a first listen to "If You Want Perfection," "Tell Me, Ernest," and "Alive Forever" in the videos below.
Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard are leading the company as Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp, respectively, two rivals who gain eternal youth via a magic potion with some dirty side effects. Christopher Sieber and Michelle Williams are co-starring as Ernest Menville and Viola Van Horn, respectively. All four are reprising their performances from the musical's Chicago pre-Broadway tryout earlier this year.
Joining them are Marija Abney, Lauren Celentano, Sarita Colon, Kaleigh Cronin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Taurean Everett, Michael Graceffa, Neil Haskell, Kolton Krouse, Josh Lamon, Sarah Meahl, Ximone Rose, Sir Brock Warren, Bud Weber, Ryan Worsing, and Warren Yang. Swings Kyle Brown, Lakota Knuckle, Johanna Moise, and Amy Quanbeck round out the company. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
The work features a book by Marco Pennette, adapted from the screenplay by Martin Donovan and David Koepp; and songs by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey. Newsies Tony winner Christopher Gattelli is directing and choreographing.
The production features scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Justin Townsend, sound design by Peter Hylenski, hair and wig design by Charles J. LaPointe, makeup design by Joe Dulude II, fight direction by Thomas Schall, music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by Doug Besterman, dance and incidental music arrangements by Sam Davis, and music direction by Ben Cohn. Rachel Sterner is production stage manager.
The 1992 film, directed and co-produced by Robert Zemeckis, was noted for its relatively early use of CGI to achieve effects like star Meryl Streep's head turned completely backwards and a gaping hole going through her co-star Goldie Hawn. This musical version has been kicking around since at least 2017, when Kristin Chenoweth was attached to star, then with a separate creative team.
Universal Theatrical Group—overseen by Jimmy Horowitz and led by Lowe Cunningham—is producing.
Tickets are available at DeathBecomesHer.com.
Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard
Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
Michelle Williams and company of Death Becomes Her
Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, Megan Hilty, and Michelle Williams in Death Becomes Her
Jennifer Simard, Megan Hilty, and Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
Company of Death Becomes Her
Michelle Williams and company of Death Becomes Her
