Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’

The show might be common denominator material with a score that ranges from ok/good to awful (the title song might be the worst ever). However, Vanessa Williams is getting her later-in-life diva moment the same way someone might do in ‘hello, dolly’. Star entrances and exits, glamorous costumes, dancing, diva worship and sassyness with the exact kind of attitude you’d expect from Vanessa Williams. Zippy one-liners.

The box office is on fire and one of the hottest shows in town. I don’t think the show will be received well in New York, but I do think for a fun evening at the theatre Vanessa Williams delivers and I hope she will make it to New York.

Updated On: 2/22/25 at 05:07 AM

That's exciting to hear. I've been saying I wish people would write new Dolly/Mame shows but with a more modern sensibility/ sense of humor. Shows that glorify the leading lady and let us just queen out, minus the odd Thornton Wilder jokes or plantation numbers.

Wick3 said: "Are people buying tickets because of Vanessa Williams or because of the production? I don’t think Vanessa was involved with the show back in it’s Chicago run."

This is an entirely new production. Completely. Including the entire cast, sets, costumes, etc.

I just hope they get Christian Thompson back as Christian Thompson for the Broadway transfer. A wild coincidence in Chicago.

I would rather her jump into Death Becomes Her than bring this over.

Updated On: 2/22/25 at 05:29 PM

Any word on a London cast recording? Show was a mess in Chicago but it had some fun songs and I am hopeful for the chance to listen to them again.

I was listening to The Happy Grownup podcast featuring Vanessa Williams, and she mentioned she signed her third extension to October...

And she says plans are for her to come to Broadway with the show in 2028!

ShowBro said: "Vanessa Williams is the weakest link in this show, followed very closely by Matt Henry."

That couldn't be further from the truth!!!! Her playing Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty makes people want to see her live on stage playing a very similar role and playing it very well. The weakness of the production is in the book and score, NOT VANESSA WILLIAMS. This wouldn't have a chance on Broadway if Vanessa Williams wasn't in it.

JMH27 said: "So this has been running in London since December of 2024? Also, Vanessa has played Miranda the whole time? If that’s correct, I did not realize that."

Yes, aside from scheduled vacations she's been there the whole time. I saw the show in London and enjoyed it, but Vanessa could play this role in her sleep. The real highlights were Matt Henry as Nigel and Amy Di Bartolomeo as Emily (she's since left)

Dolly80 said: "Tag said: "She was on a morning show in Britain last month and hinted that she'd be playing Miranda again. So yes."

Vanessa is the only one who thinks that Broadway is happening. No one else involved in the show thinks it is.

Hmm...not what I have been hearing and I have some rather reliable sources.

Updated On: 8/22/26 at 03:10 AM

I saw this back in January and wasn’t impressed with the show overall. It’s very much “popcorn theatre” and hits most of the beats of the film. Unfortunately, it just feels overinflated and between this and “Tammy Faye”, I think Elton John has hit his expiration date as a musical theatre composer.

Williams wasn’t breaking any new ground here and I think that’s kind of the point. She is immensely talented to the point where this show is a bit beneath her, but she still delivers every beat as deliciously venomous as the material allows. Matt Henry is also a very dynamic performer and does what he can with the leaden material. “Dress Your Way Up” is basically a retread of “Sex Is In The Heel” from KINKY BOOTS, but he sold the hell out of it. Honestly, if there was a prequel musical focused on the dynamic of Miranda and Nigel, I think it would be a lot more fun.

I paid £25 for the rear stalls, so it’s not like it was a major loss. If you are paying that low of a price, go have a gay old time

Updated On: 8/22/26 at 07:49 AM