Posted: 5/22/25 at 1:30am
So I saw on another Broadway message board that Michelle Williams was leaving ' death becomes her' May 25th, but can't find that anywhere else. I was just curious if anyone knew if there was any truth to this?
Posted: 5/22/25 at 2:14am
You didn’t link where you saw this, but I believe you may be reading into the initial “on sale through” date as being her final performance. The entire principal cast are on 1 year contracts.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 6:10am
Thank you! I figured there would be an announcement a while ago if she was leaving but wanted to make sure. I'm taking my best friend to see the show soon, he's a big fan of Michelle so I wanted him to get to see her.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 8:38am
The show's official page on BroadwayDirect (its official ticketing site) lists upcoming planned absences for the leads. It has specific dates in June, July, and August she'll be out, so she'll otherwise be in the show then.
https://broadwaydirect.com/show/death-becomes-her/
"Michelle Williams will not appear in performances June 20-22, July 9–July 11, and August 29–31."
Posted: 5/22/25 at 10:36am
Michelle is fine but a great replacement with acting chops could be amazing.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 10:39am
Deborah Cox, Alex Newell, and Patina Miller are at the top of my Viola wishlist.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 10:51am
EDSOSLO858 said: "Deborah Cox, Alex Newell, and Patina Miller are at the top of my Viola wishlist."
These would be fabulous. Michelle indeed knows how to make a grand stage entrance and showcase a costume and deliver vocally but then she just ruins the momentum with her book scenes. The role needs to hold its gloriousness any time Viola appears on stage but Michelle just goes thru her moments like following a recipe during her book scenes. Chew the scenery. You’re on stage for fragments of minutes. You’re not overstepping anyone as they have the entire show to lay it on thick. You only have these few little brief moments to take over so give Viola the spotlight.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 10:56am
BrodyFosse123 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Deborah Cox, Alex Newell, and Patina Miller are at the top of my Viola wishlist."
These would be fabulous. Michelle indeed knows how to make a grand stage entrance and showcase a costume and deliver vocally but then she just ruins the momentum with her book scenes. The role needs to hold its gloriousness any time Viola appears on stage but Michelle just goes thru her moments like following a recipe during her book scenes. Chew the scenery. You’re on stage for fragments of minutes. You’re not overstepping anyone as they have the entire show to lay it on thick. You only have these few little brief moments to take over so give Viola the spotlight."
Anyone with the slightest bit of acting would be an improvement. I was really surprised (at least to me) how Meh she was. I think I would also like someone who could really belt the first song. But have to say, The audience really loved her.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 11:09am
BrodyFosse123 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Deborah Cox, Alex Newell, and Patina Miller are at the top of my Viola wishlist."
It’s funny you mention Deborah Cox because I saw her at New Hope, PA Pride this past weekend and figured she would fit the role PERFECTLY. She has enough acting skill, great vocals, and turn a look from what is essentially 20-ish minutes of stage time. AND she’s popular with the gays - hence her perpetual commandeering of the Pride Concert circuit for many years.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 11:23am
EDSOSLO858 said: "Deborah Cox, Alex Newell, and Patina Miller are at the top of my Viola wishlist."
Sasha Allen would be great, too...I heard the role was offered to Jordin Sparks, who dropped out of the Chicago run last-minute
Posted: 5/22/25 at 11:39am
EDSOSLO858 said: "Deborah Cox, Alex Newell, and Patina Miller are at the top of my Viola wishlist."
Alex would be fantastic! Deborah and Patina aren’t funny and boring, Some great comedic vocalists, of any ethnicity would be cool as stunt casting.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 11:44am
The problem with Alex, in my opinion, is that they tend to get a big head and become disinterested in a show once they get what they want out of it unless they are the center of attention - which this role is not.
At the rate Alex was calling out of OOTI and Shucked after awards buzz died down, it was almost as if they weren’t there to begin with.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 12:23pm
I don't think Alex would accept being a replacement in any Broadway show. I'd love to see Deborah Cox in the role.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 12:28pm
quizking101 said: "The problem with Alex, in my opinion, is that they tend to get a big headand become disinterested in a show once they get what they want out of it unless they are the center of attention - which this role is not.
At the rate Alex was calling out of OOTI and Shucked after awards buzz died down, it was almost as if they weren’t there to begin with."
I tried three times to see Alex in Shucked. It was Three Strikes and you were out to me. Twice before the Tony and once after. With the track record I have with seeing them I wouldn't be rushing back to see them in anything else.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 12:30pm
No, she isn't leaving three days from now, that would be ridiculous. But, having a performance in which all four leads are on is getting more challenging. This show hasn't gone a full week without any understudies since January. This is such a tourist heavy show that even if the leads are out, people don't have unlimited theater slots or time, that's why the grosses haven't suffered at all.
Updated On: 5/22/25 at 12:30 PM
Posted: 5/22/25 at 12:39pm
Renee Elise Goldsberry would be my dream Viola replacement in this- and it doesn't hurt that it looks like Renee took the potion herself.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 1:57pm
Renee would be wonderful, but this role would be an absolute waste of her gifts (she would make an excellent Madeline, though.)
Box Office Wise, they'd need someone who is a real, outside-of-broadway name for Viola. It's built for stunt casting - minimal dialogue, maximum attitude, almost entirely sung through. But I'll also say, having seen the show both with and without Michelle, I'll say she really does sell what she's given. This girl can REALLY sing, and that is no small feat in this role. Her vocal placement, her ability to just land those runs cleanly and effortlessly, that insane ping in her tone...that's not something everyone can do. Ximone Rose is great as Viola (and yes, sells the dialogue more convincingly), but she doesn't sing the role half as well, and dang it that's worth something! I remember, at intermission, saying to my date "I feel really bad about all the jokes I've made about Michelle Williams." I then proceeded to spend the next several months making more jokes about Michelle Williams, but that's not the point! The point is...Viola's going to be harder to recast than people think. All four of these roles are.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 2:04pm
I’ve always said the role has Sofia Vergara written all over it.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 2:14pm
I'd be excited to see who else they get for the part. Michelle Williams got me in the door (amongst other things), but I think there are a slew of pop singers that could do it for a month or two. But also with the grosses the way they are, maybe they won't stunt cast for awhile.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 2:26pm
I had no idea until recently that during the show's development, Nicole Scherzinger was playing the role of Viola! Wish I could hear her sing these songs, but as many have said about other dream castings: a waste of her talents. She clearly made the right choice LOL.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 2:29pm
MemorableUserName said: "The show's official page on BroadwayDirect (its official ticketing site) lists upcoming planned absences for the leads. It has specific dates in June, July, and August she'll be out, so she'll otherwise be in the show then.
https://broadwaydirect.com/show/death-becomes-her/
"Michelle Williams will not appear in performances June 20-22, July 9–July 11, and August 29–31.""
Thank you for that info! It's much appreciated.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 2:37pm
Marco Pennette (the book writer) did mention Alex Newell was in early readings too (before Nicole) so I guess he wouldn't be completely unfamiliar with the material if he just wanted to come in for a princess track. Funny also that Marco mentioned after Nicole was attached to Sunset that "we'll never see her again"
The podcast episode where he talked about this, if people are interested: https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/a-musical-theatre-podcast/death-becomes-her-with-marco-pennette-and-kaleigh-cronin/156
Posted: 5/22/25 at 2:56pm
The part is so terrible. You belt the songs and walk across the stage in a horrible direction. Nothing exciting.
Once Megan and Jenn leave the show will go bye bye
Posted: 5/22/25 at 4:07pm
WldKingdomHM said: "The part is so terrible. You belt the songs and walk across the stage in a horrible direction. Nothing exciting.
Once Megan and Jenn leave the show will go bye bye"
I would argue the way they wrote Viola for the show is very smart. Any great singer could step into the role regardless of acting ability. I could see them stunt casting Viola for years, similar to Roxie in Chicago but honestly even less acting needed.
Posted: 5/22/25 at 5:29pm
WldKingdomHM said: "You belt the songs and walk across the stage in a horrible direction."
Which direction is more horrible, stage left or stage right?
