A little touch of magic, in a world obsessed with science…
Siempre Viva! Just in time for spooky season, the new musical Death Becomes Her begins Broadway previews tomorrow evening (October 23). Based on the 1992 cult classic film of the same name, it stars Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard as frenemies Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp, Christopher Sieber as the man they both vie for, and Michelle Williams as a potion purveyor; all four performers reprise their roles from a promising Chicago tryout production earlier this year. Featuring an original score by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, a book by Marco Pennette, and direction and choreography by Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her opens on November 21 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
A $40 digital lottery is now active through Broadway Direct, and $35 same-day rush tickets will also be available at the Lunt-Fontanne box office.
“Madeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long-suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies… until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for. After one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored… and a grudge to last eternity.”
Who’s taking a sip of the potion?
Featured Actor Joined: 6/18/16
Very interested to hear thoughts on this. Have one more spot for our December visit and it’s this or Swept Away.
Enjoyed this so much in Chicago! Wishing this show the absolute best.
I’ve heard really good things about the work they’ve done since Chicago, which was the most successful-on-the-first-tryout I’ve seen since pre-COVID. I imagine this will be quite successful. Hopefully Viola’s dialogue has been massively edited or converted to song for Michelle, as that was my big note.
I'm still staggered by the pricetag for this one, but I wish them the very best and can't wait to see it!
Featured Actor Joined: 9/16/13
Something just dawned on me!
Since this & Back To The Future are currently playing, that means Robert Zemeckis has two of his movies on Broadway at the same time!
That's almost as crazy as The Power Of Love being feaured in two muscials playing on Broadway, at the same time, a few monnths ago!
Wishing this the best! We had a blast here in Chicago! Enjoy!
Featured Actor Joined: 4/8/21
Good luck to the entire team tonight! I read tonight's preview is sold out, can someone confirm?
I got my tickets for next month so I'm super excited
Understudy Joined: 9/25/24
pablitonizer said: "Good luck to the entire team tonight! I read tonight's preview issold out, can someone confirm?
I got my tickets for next month so I'm super excited"
On BroadwayDirect it says tickets are not available for tonight! It is sold out
RumTumJM said: "Something just dawned on me!
Since this & Back To The Future are currently playing, that means Robert Zemeckis has two of his movies on Broadway at the same time!
That's almost as crazy as The Power Of Love being feaured in two muscials playing on Broadway, at the same time, a few monnths ago!"
Can’t wait for the WELCOME TO MARWEN musical ;)
Wrinkled, wrinkled little Broadway stars! After seeing the first preview in Chicago, I am so ecstatic that the show is finally coming to Broadway. I’ll be there in November and cannot wait to see how it has developed or changed or tightened. A lot of it was in really good shape just six months ago… let’s see how it goes at the Lunt-Fontanne!
Featured Actor Joined: 12/3/15
jacobsnchz14 said: "Wrinkled, wrinkled little Broadway stars! After seeing the first preview in Chicago, I am so ecstatic that the show is finally coming to Broadway. I’ll be there in November and cannot wait to see how it has developed or changed or tightened. A lot of it was in really good shape just six months ago… let’s see how it goes at the Lunt-Fontanne!"
I too saw the first preview in Chicago! I'm seeing it again this Saturday. Cannot wait to see what they've done!
Stand-by Joined: 11/19/06
RumTumJM said: "Something just dawned on me!
Since this & Back To The Future are currently playing, that means Robert Zemeckis has two of his movies on Broadway at the same time!
That's almost as crazy as The Power Of Love being feaured in two muscials playing on Broadway, at the same time, a few monnths ago!"
Yes! And if I recall correctly, after the success of BACK TO THE FUTURE, Zemeckis had his choice to direct anything he wanted in town and he chose DEATH BECOMES HER.
Official website lists an approximate 2:30 runtime, including a 15-minute intermission.
https://x.com/findmeon45th/status/1849239528222912779?s=46&t=7saXIZjJ_7gAb2-aEKbHkQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/08
Why pretend you are Meryl? I know she was in the movie, but I don’t get it.
Leading Actor Joined: 4/13/13
It’s in line with the character.
Intermission thoughts -
This is bringing the house down. Admittedly a very very friendly house.
Hilty and Simard are terrific.
I think the book streamlines the film in a good way.
Featured Actor Joined: 4/8/21
3 songs have been officially released!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMOxvkhXRgEdFwsqaVHOQQcUiQmTh2yBj&si=ISt_NZzNq-tIpS0K
jacobsnchz14 said: "https://x.com/findmeon45th/status/1849239528222912779?s=46&t=7saXIZjJ_7gAb2-aEKbHkQ"
I’m sorry, this is so funny. Bravo.
pablitonizer said: "3 songs have been officially released!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMOxvkhXRgEdFwsqaVHOQQcUiQmTh2yBj&si=ISt_NZzNq-tIpS0K"
Just listened - I hope those are not the best songs because they are all disappointing and simply terrible! Why those 3 released?
For me all the music worked in the context of the show with Hilty’s Act1 song being the highlight for me.
Stand-by Joined: 1/22/14
Wishing the show so much success ... but I truly think it will be gone by next summer.
I had a blast tonight. I honest to God don’t remember the last time I heard such a LOUD reaction from an audience.
They’ve done a nice amount of work on it since Chicago and it shows. There’s a fantastic new addition to the beginning of act two for Helen and Madeline's fight that I just loved.
As someone said, this isn’t going to be a show where you listen to a cast recording and think the score is brilliant. In person watching the show, half of it is really very good and the rest is “serviceable”. But the stuff around it is so funny most of the time it doesn’t bother me.
I still think Michelle Williams is completely wrong for this but if the insane screaming every time she stepped on stage is any indicator, I’m in the minority on that. For me, everyone in the show is in on the joke, the camp of it except for her.
But Isabella Rossellini does the preshow announcement now and I just about gagged when I heard her voice. Great way to start this one off.
Who was tonight’s wedding sponsor? Do we think they’ll decide on one before opening night, or just improvise at every performance? (Grindr seemed to be used a bit more in Chicago, with Hilty making the “ping” noise.)
Is it a spoiler for the wedding sponsors? We kept up to date with them in Chicago and hope we do here, too. Tonight was “Brought to you by Little Caesars. Pizza! Pizza!”
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