Hilty & Simard to lead DEATH BECOMES HER in Chicago spring 2024; Broadway in the fall — Page 18

Video review from WGN: https://wgntv.com/news/deans-list/deans-reviews/deans-reviews-death-becomes-her-at-the-cadillac-palace-theatre/

A few more:

BWW: https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/Review-DEATH-BECOMES-HER-at-Cadillac-Palace-20240520

The Golden Knight: https://www.thegoldknight.com/2024/05/review-death-becomes-her-camps-it-up-in.html

Splash Magazines: https://splashmags.com/index.php/2024/05/die-laughing-at-the-hysterical-musical-death-becomes-her-through-june-2-at-the-cadillac-palace-theatre/#gsc.tab=0

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Those two songs on the show's YouTube channel aren't great. Chris Jones praised the opening. Hopefully it's better in context......"

That is the context, ha. It’s the opening. But I think being so excited for a brand new show maybe cause some oversight. Thought it was an awful song - as I thought Williams was not good in any of her parts - but speaking to others they loved her, so to each their own!

I saw this last night, Friday, and 90% loved it. It has a few pacing issues, particularly in the second act, but overall this has what it needs to be a huge hit and had the audience in the palm of its hand from the start.

Hilty and Simard are borderline perfection. "All For The Gaze/Gays" is the showstopper everyone made it out to be. I found Williams to be captivating. I know I might be in the minority here, but I loved the opening number. "Siempre Viva" was another favorite of mine, though largely due to the ensemble, working their (very fine) asses off. Very good to see Neil Haskell in a dancing role again, after being a SYTYCD favorite from nearly 20 years ago. Sieber is great, although one of my biggest issues was his second act number, which IMO brings the show to a dead stop. I would love that to be changed before Broadway. Another shout-out to ensemble standouts Warren Yang, Taurean Everett and Kaleigh Cronin.

I've never seen a Pre-Broadway tryout before (minus Six which was so established at that point already) so I am very much looking forward to seeing this again in NYC this winter!

P.S.- the wedding sponsor tonight was Grindr, followed by Hilty making the notification sound.

florida theatre kid said: "I saw this last night, Friday, and 90% loved it. It has a few pacing issues, particularly in the second act, but overall this has what it needs to be a huge hit and had the audience in the palm of its hand from the start.

Hilty and Simard are borderline perfection. "All For The Gaze/Gays" is the showstopper everyone made it out to be. I found Williams to be captivating. I know I might be in the minority here, but I loved the opening number. "Siempre Viva" was another favorite of mine, though largely due to the ensemble, working their (very fine) asses off. Very good to see Neil Haskell in a dancing role again, after being a SYTYCD favoritefrom nearly 20 years ago. Sieber is great, although one of my biggest issues was his second act number, which IMO brings the show to a dead stop. I would love that to be changed before Broadway. Anothershout-out to ensemble standouts Warren Yang, Taurean Everett and Kaleigh Cronin.

I've never seen a Pre-Broadway tryout before (minus Six which was so established at that point already) so I am very much looking forward to seeing this again in NYC this winter!

P.S.- the wedding sponsor tonight was Grindr, followed by Hilty making the notification sound."

Love that! And it’s IML (international male leather) weekend so probably a lot of gay people in the audience

I saw this on Sunday and had an absolute blast. I think the book is hilarious and the score/lyrics are a lot better than most give it credit for, the lyrics especially are extremely witty and clever. The whole show nails the tone of the film while expanding on it, something a good adaptation does. I loved all the performances, but this is Megan’s show. We’ve been without her onstage for far too long, it’s easy to forget just how funny she is. Jennifer is matching her beat for beat along the way, and I actually really loved Michelle Williams. I thought she played it reserved and regal which was a safe choice, but she sold it and it worked (and her voice was bonkers). Sieber is the “straight man” but serves that role well and feels like tonally he and the cast are all in the same show.


The sets and costumes looked beautiful and EXPENSIVE, I loved seeing what is surely an expensive show but the cash into the production so visibly.



Also the wedding line on Sunday was “Brought to you by Chili’s! I want my baby back baby back baby back ribs!”

According to swing Beau Harmon's Instagram story, it looks like Natalie Charle Ellis is making her Helen Sharp debut tonight!

Edit: just saw above!

Updated On: 5/29/24 at 08:32 PM

Natalie Charle Ellis was handed a lovely flower bouquet during bows after her GREAT performance as Helen Sharp Wednesday night.

Wonderful work.

Ahead of the show, the ushers scrambled to have separate 4" x 5" sheets readied to hand out to guests. There was little time for insert work. Upstairs in the near-capacity balcony, the cast slips were handed out separately. The one slip listed the full Cast/Ensemble for the performance. Helen Sharp would be played by Natalie Charle Ellis.

The main lobby cast board showed the Ensemble track usually played by Ellis would be played by Swing Amy Quanbeck. The Helen Sharp understudy was also listed on the cast board.

The performance began 5 minutes later than usual.

It's fascinating to see a different performer - and the production - make different choices with the same material. In Helen Sharp's early solo THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW, the character's coat was dark green instead of the usual tan. Helen's headwear wasn't used in the number either. There was no hat to arc into the wings. Helen did not don a babushka at the end. I especially liked the slower cadence of the line DON'T LOOK when Helen mentioned her ugly toes in the song.

OLIVE GARDEN - a repeat wedding sponsor - When You're Here, You're Family.

The too-abundant red dress that Jennifer Simard usually wears was instead a shorter cut red dress. Much simpler to maneuver in, and nothing important was lost. The more efficient dress made it easier to climb the 15 steps near the end of Act 1.

A salute to Christopher Sieber, who subtly moved Helen's discarded red coat from in front of the base of the stairs towards the couch, to allow for a clear landing of Madeline Ashton's body double Warren Yang.

Updated On: 5/30/24 at 01:01 AM

Updated On: 5/30/24 at 08:16 AM

Natalie just posted to Instagram she’ll be on for Helen again tonight (5/30).

Natalie performed the Helen Sharp role again Thursday night, but the tan coat, hat, and babushka resurfaced.

The past few nights that she’s been on the “smoky hole” trick has not worked. Hopefully they can figure it out tonight.

Observation said: "I'm going to try for rush tickets this weekend. Anyone try it out in Chicago yet? Wondering how busy the rush line is and how early I should get there. Box Office appears to open at 11am"

It’s been fairly busy the past few days, probably because it’s the final weekend. My sister had to wait a half hour in line yesterday and she got there around 11:30.