Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
#1Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 5:07am
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.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 2/22/25 at 05:07 AM
#3Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 6:24am
Not sure where you got the idea it isn’t selling. I’ve seen it quite a few times and it’s been sold out each time. Just a quick look at the sales for the next month show how well it’s doing and for a massive barn of a theater as the Dominion, I’d say that’s quite an accomplishment.
Also, I’ll just say again that while the show isn’t the next great piece of musical theater, it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Jerry Mitchell took a trainwreck of a show from Chicago and turned it into something that’s just a really enjoyable couple of hours, with Vanessa Williams being absolutely perfect in the role. For what this show was and now is, I’d consider it a success.
#4Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 6:39am
Exactly. This is a barn that never sells out and yet it’s selling out night after night with a strong advance. Shows in New York also typically run with higher attendance because of the cost pressure (ie they need to be sold better than in London) so in comparison to London market in particular it’s also selling unusually well.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Bwaygurl2
Featured Actor Joined: 3/8/22
#5Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 7:30am
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.
#6Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 8:23am
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.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#7Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 8:50am
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.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#8Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 10:50am
Vanessa Williams is a positive add-on, the title is doing most of the work selling the tickets. It sold well in Chicago too. When it comes to Broadway it probably has a minimum of 6 months good sales there too.
Very different show, but Darren Criss plays a similar “positive add-on” role in MHE: he’s not drawing huge crowds on his own, but people hear it’s good and there’s a semi recognizable face in it as another reason to go. Which is often a better sales result than “I hear it’s great and there’s nobody I recognize in it.”
#9Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 2:13pm
I just hope they get Christian Thompson back as Christian Thompson for the Broadway transfer. A wild coincidence in Chicago.
Well, I’ll be. That bird really did it.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#10Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 4:58pm
EDSOSLO858 said: "I just hope they get Christian Thompson back as Christian Thompson for the Broadway transfer. A wild coincidence in Chicago."
Considering it's a different director/choreographer and they're trying to distance themselves from the Chicago production as much as possible, that seems pretty unlikely, but it was a fun coincidence.
#11Vanessa Williams in ‘Devil Wears Prada’
Posted: 2/22/25 at 5:29pm
I would rather her jump into Death Becomes Her than bring this over.
I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.
Updated On: 2/22/25 at 05:29 PM
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