THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA musical headed to the UK and West End in 2024 — Page 6

Personally, I will start to have more faith in this production once there is proof that both Shaina and Elton are in Plymouth. 

starlightlocamotion said: "First Preview is today ... anxious to hear reports on changes made from the Chicago Production as this is almost (if not entirely) a new creative team minus Elton John. Fingers Crossed!"

It is an entirely new team aside from the three credited authors and the lead producer.

Will that be enough? We'll see!

Interested to hear reports, especially from those who saw both.

Not lots to go off of here but this looks neat for what it is.

I like that they kept the dark/foggy impending vibe off the bat. That was one of my favorite things about Chicago, loved how the show opened with the ominous heel clicking and rigid/dark visuals at the top of the show.

Simultaneously I think the show had a very obvious identity crisis in Chicago, so maybe this in-your-face show “curtain” with the glowing title plastered on top is indicative of them embracing a bit more of a not exceedingly groundbreaking but FUN and ENTERTAINING movie-to-musical adaptation. I think if the show can be successful at being a cohesive copy/paste into a new medium (wherein Chicago lacked said cohesion) it will be a better show. I hope this is a sign they’re okay with that and owning it.

Looks like our first real peek into some of the new designs. Curtain call, I believe.

Reports are strong out of first preview ... with a bit of criticism of Vanessa Williams in the role. But Everything I have read is very complimentary of the work done to the score since Chicago.

RW3 said: "Song list from Theatreboard

Well, it looks like the score wasn't completely overhauled. Many of those songs were in the Chicago production. I count at least 10 carryovers and about 7 titles I don't recognize. I thought some of the songs they've kept were real duds in Chicago (like Your Twenties). Maybe the songs have been reworked under the same titles. I'll be heading over to Plymouth next month to compare...

bwayphreak234 said: "This was terrible in Chicago. Disheartened to see that they've kept so many of the same songs. Some songs were fine (Dress Your Way Up, Who's She, and the title song were all fun), but others (Bon Voyage, I Miss the Old You, and In Your Twenties) were baffling bad.Hopefully they've been heavily reworked... I do think that there IS a good musical in the story of The Devil Wears Prada, but it seems like creative teams might be having a hard time mining it out."

It also doesn’t help that their lyricist is in a different country doing a completely different show. It is crazy to me that her and Elton essentially have swapped positions for this production so far. 

Menken Fan said: "Well, it looks like the score wasn't completely overhauled. Many of those songs were in the Chicago production. I count at least 10 carryovers and about 7 titles I don't recognize."

I don't think anyone really expected a FULL overhaul of the score, right? Replacing more than 1/3 of the songs is still a sizable change, not to mention probable changes within some of the songs + a new orchestrator/arranger. Sometimes changes in arrangement, staging, lyrics, and the book surrounding it can help a song land better too. How much has the book changed since Chicago?

Did anyone do ghostwriting on the book or lyrics post-Chicago, or are Kate Wetherhead and Shaina Taub the sole wordsmiths? (I know they are credited as such but sometimes credits do not reflect reality.)

Updated On: 7/7/24 at 05:43 PM

They have brought on Mark Sonnenblick for "additional lyrics" as Shaina can't be physically present for the obvious reasons. Many of the songs that have the same titles have been thoroughly ripped apart and put back together. 

MrsSallyAdams said: "I'm eager to hear how they've written Miranda. And which of the new songs are for her. Andy's abusive relationship with Miranda needs to be the heart of the show. In Chicago Miranda took a back seat to Andy's love interests and her tedious hipster friends."

Completely agree.

The shows Twitter tweeted this the other day: "Controversial opinion... the real villain of the story is the boyfriend holding Andy back."

Huh???

Updated On: 7/8/24 at 02:35 PM

Truer words, Kad. Even adorable, doughy Rich Sommer as the (vaguely?) queer-coded friend couldn't do a thing to help that axis of evil. I give you a Bang & Olufsen phone and you try to get me fired with your cute games and I will burn you as a witch. 

Kad said: "Andy's boyfriend and friends have long been considered the worst part of the movie,even back when it came out (god, that scene where Andy gives them luxury gifts and then they play keep away with her ringing cell phone and she is presented as the one in the wrong!). It's wild that was not one of the very first things to be adjusted when this was made into a musical. The dynamic at Runway is dramatic and compelling enough without them."

I've heard the friends have been cut entirely. 

DiscoCrows said: "MrsSallyAdams said: "I'm eager to hear how they've written Miranda. And which of the new songs are for her. Andy's abusive relationship with Miranda needs to be the heart of the show. In Chicago Miranda took a back seat to Andy's love interests and her tedious hipster friends."

Completely agree.

The shows Twitter tweeted this the other day: "Controversial opinion... the real villain of the story is the boyfriend holding Andy back."

Huh???"

Nate being the real villain of the movie is a take that's been around for years:

https://www.glamour.com/story/devil-wears-prada-star-adrian-grenier-admits-nate-was-the-true-villain-of-the-movie