For audience members perusing their Playbills at Death Becomes Her, one of the leading actors' bios may have caught the eye—Tony nominee Megan Hilty, who stars as Madeline Ashton. Hilty's bio does not contain her credits; instead it lists the credits of Meryl Streep, who famously played Ashton in the Death Becomes Her film. Watch Hilty discuss the Playbill prank in the video above.
In the Death Becomes Her Playbills, Hilty's bio reads: "Megan Hilty (Madeline Ashton) has been lauded as 'the best actress of her generation.' The countless accolades for her career include 9 Golden Globe Awards and 21 Oscar nominations, winning three for Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979), Sophie's Choice (1982) and The Iron lady (2011). President Barack Obama awarded her the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2017. Film credits: Mamma Mia!, The Devil Wears Prada, Death Becomes Her, Postcards From the Edge, It's Complicated, Doubt, Out of Africa, Julie & Julia and The River Wild. Television credits: Smash. @ThisIsTotallyMegansRealBio"
In an interview with The Kelly Clarkson Show, Hilty explains: "I've always looked at the Playbill going 'Man, this is a missed opportunity for something deliciously silly. I thought, 'When am I ever going to get this opportunity again?' I'm in this very silly show, playing a character that the greatest actress of all time has created. So I wanted to give a little nod to that, and just have a little fun, and hopefully she thinks it's as silly as I do."
This isn't the first time stars have gotten creative with their Playbill bios—just read what Barbra Streisand wrote in her first bio.
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
Death Becomes Her began performances October 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre ahead of a November 21 opening night.
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 will be 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 will round out the company. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
READ: Jennifer Simard and Megan Hilty Are a Modern Abbott and Costello in Death Becomes Her
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 will feature 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 will be 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.
