Death Becomes Her (musical)

In December 2017, a Broadway musical adaptation of Death Becomes Her was reported to be in development, with Kristin Chenoweth tapped to star.{{cite news |author=Wong |first=Curtis M. |date=December 13, 2017 |title='Death Becomes Her' is About to Become a Broadway Musical |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/death-becomes-her-musical_us_5a316aaee4b07ff75affb6a4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308234322/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/death-becomes-her-musical_us_5a316aaee4b07ff75affb6a4 |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |access-date=June 10, 2018 |work=HuffPost}}{{Cite web |last=Geier |first=Thom |date=December 13, 2017 |title=Kristin Chenoweth to Star in Stage Musical Version of Meryl Streep's 'Death Becomes Her' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/kristin-chenoweth-to-star-in-stage-musical-version-of-meryl-streeps-death-becomes-her/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=TheWrap}} The book is written by Marco Pennette and has an original score by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ashley |date=December 13, 2017 |title=Kristin Chenoweth to Star in ‘Death Becomes Her’ Stage Musical |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/death-becomes-her-stage-musical-kristin-chenoweth-star-1067181/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

Notably, the character of Lisle von Rhuman, originally portrayed by Isabella Rossellini in the film, was changed to Viola Van Horn, portrayed by Michelle Williams. When asked about the decision making behind the change, Williams said she did not know what caused the change, but stated that there were some plot elements in the production that may hint at the reason.{{cite interview |last=Williams |first=Michelle |title= Death Becomes Her Musical Interview with Stars Megan Hilty, Christopher Sieber & Michelle Williams |interviewer= Ryan Jay |work=Ryan Jay Reviews |date= May 3, 2024|publisher=YouTube |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyOwtElA6DQ |access-date=June 11, 2024}}

In September 2023 it was announced that the musical was produced by Broadway In Chicago, Universal Theatrical Group, 321 Theatrical Management, and was directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli.{{Cite web |last=Scorziello |first=Sophia |date=September 5, 2023 |title=‘Death Becomes Her’ Musical Starring Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard Coming To Chicago |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/death-becomes-her-musical-megan-hilty-meryl-streep-chicago-broadway-1235713876/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=Variety}} The production featured set design by Derek McLane, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Justin Townsend, sound design by Peter Hylenski, illusions by Rob Lake, hair and makeup by Charles LaPointe and Joe Dulude II.{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=2023-09-05 |title=Death Becomes Her Musical Will Open on Broadway This Fall Starring Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/death-becomes-her-musical-will-open-on-broadway-this-fall-starring-megan-hilty-and-jennifer-simard |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Playbill}}

The musical ran at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago from April 30 to June 2, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2023-09-05 |title=Death Becomes Her Stage Musical Sets Pre-Broadway Chicago Run For Spring 2024 |url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/death-becomes-her-broadway-1235536955/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906164419/https://deadline.com/2023/09/death-becomes-her-broadway-1235536955/ |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} The cast featured Megan Hilty as Madeline, Jennifer Simard as Helen, Christopher Sieber as Ernest and Michelle Williams as Viola Van Horn, a character originally named Lisle von Rhuman.{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=March 4, 2024 |title=Christopher Sieber, Michelle Williams, More Join Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard in Death Becomes Her Musical |url=https://playbill.com/article/michelle-williams-christopher-sieber-more-join-megan-hilty-and-jennifer-simard-in-death-becomes-her-musical |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=Playbill}}

In May 2024, the producers announced their plans to have the musical begin performances at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on October 23 of that year, with an official opening scheduled for November 21. Joining the producing team for the Broadway transfer were Marc Platt (in his first stage producing collaboration with Universal since Wicked), Debra Martin Chase and Steven Spielberg alongside his wife Kate Capshaw.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Chris |date=May 2, 2024 |title=‘Death Becomes Her’ gets a new life as a Broadway musical, opening in a world premiere in Chicago |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/05/02/death-becomes-her-at-cadillac-palace-theatre/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=Chicago Tribune}}{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=May 15, 2024 |title=‘Death Becomes Her’ Musical to Open on Broadway This Fall |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/theater/death-becomes-her-broadway.html |access-date=May 22, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}

== Cast and characters ==

Madeline Ashton (Megan Hilty{{Cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |title=Death Becomes Her Opens on Broadway November 21 |url=https://playbill.com/article/death-becomes-her-opens-on-broadway-november-21 |website=Playbill}}) is a glamorous actress of the stage and screen, while Helen Sharp (Jennifer Simard) is a less-successful, mousy author who lives in her shadow. They have always had a turbulent relationship and were "frenemies", until Madeline "steals" Helen’s fiancé. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline's success dwindles, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, with a secret that’s "to die for."

After one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life with their youth and beauty restored…and a grudge to last eternity.{{Cite web |title=Official Site {{!}} Death Becomes Her |url=https://deathbecomesher.com |url-status=live |website=Death Becomes Her - Official Website}}

;Broadway Run

;Chicago Run

The original Chicago production received generally positive reviews, praising the cast performance, especially appreciating Williams, Hilty and Simard.{{Cite web |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |last2=Gans |first2=Andrew |date=May 20, 2024 |title=Reviews: What Do Critics Think of the Broadway-Bound Death Becomes Her Musical? |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/reviews-what-do-critics-think-of-the-broadway-bound-death-becomes-her-musical |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=Playbill}}{{Cite web |last=Wexler |first=Matthew |date=May 21, 2024 |title=First look at Broadway-bound "Death Becomes Her," Billy Porter's special Tony & Brandi Carlile's surprise appearance |url=https://www.queerty.com/death-becomes-her-billy-porter-brandi-carlile-20240521 |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=Queerty}}{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Catey |date=May 20, 2024 |title='Death Becomes Her' stage musical a charming affair needing just a few wrinkles ironed out |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2024/05/20/death-becomes-her-stage-musical-review-megan-hilty-michelle-williams-chicago |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=Chicago Sun-Times}} Steven Oxman of Variety wrote that book writer Marco Pennette "makes many smart choices in this adaptation" writing that the narrative has a proper rhythm between singing performances and acting.{{Cite web |last=Oxman |first=Steven |date=May 20, 2024 |title=‘Death Becomes Her’ Review: Promising Pre-Broadway Musical Makes for a Campy Improvement on the Cult Film |url=https://variety.com/2024/legit/reviews/death-becomes-her-review-musical-chicago-1236010777/ |access-date=May 21, 2024 |website=Variety}}

The Broadway production was mostly praised by critics.{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2024 |title=‘Death Becomes Her’ Broadway Reviews |url=https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/death-becomes-her/ |access-date=November 22, 2024 |website=Did They Like It}}{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Jesse |date=November 22, 2024 |title=Review: In ‘Death Becomes Her,’ Spiking the Fountain of Youth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/theater/death-becomes-her-review-hilty-simard.html |access-date=November 23, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |last=Rizzo |first=Frank |date=November 22, 2024 |title=‘Death Becomes Her’ Review: A Laugh-Filled, Tuneful Broadway Musical to Die For |url=https://variety.com/2024/legit/reviews/death-becomes-her-review-broadway-musical-1236216493/ |access-date=November 25, 2024 |website=Variety}}{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Adam |date=November 21, 2024 |title=Broadway review: Death Becomes Her springs to new life |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/death-becomes-her-broadway-musical-review#google_vignette |access-date=November 25, 2024 |website=Time Out}} In a positive review, Benjamin Lee of The Guardian stated that "after a buzzy initial run in Chicago, Death Becomes Her has been reborn on Broadway as a rousing, raucously entertaining hit", emphasizing that the acting performances equal those in the film.{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |date=November 22, 2024 |title=Death Becomes Her review – 90s comedy gets dazzling Broadway rebirth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/nov/21/death-becomes-her-review-broadway |access-date=November 23, 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}} Greg Evans of Deadline Hollywood wrote that the musical production "improves in every way over the 1992 film" in which "Mattison and Carey have concocted a knock-’em-dead collection of killer songs that send up show tune convention while celebrating each and every one with love and care".{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=November 22, 2024 |title=‘Death Becomes Her’ Broadway Review: Megan Hilty & Jennifer Simard Shine In Life Force Of A Musical |url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/death-becomes-her-broadway-review-1236182456/ |access-date=November 23, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} Johnny Oleksinski of New York Post gave the production 3 out of 4 stars, appreciating that "the lyrics are often clever and naughty, but melody is cast aside in favor of vocal acrobatics" with the direction which "finds nifty ways of nodding to that legacy onstage" for an "appropriately over-the-top production".{{Cite web |last=Oleksinski |first=Johnny |date=November 22, 2024 |title=‘Death Becomes Her’ review: Claws are out in Broadway camp fest |url=https://nypost.com/2024/11/21/entertainment/death-becomes-her-review-claws-are-out-in-broadway-camp-fest/ |access-date=November 23, 2024 |website=New York Post}}

The show has gained popularity through what could be called a small TikTok trend where partaking content creators would lip-sync the lyrics to "Tell Me, Ernest".{{Cite web |last=Joy |first=Allie |date= |title="My new MT obsession" - Example video for trend |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@thealliejoy/video/7458393253033856289 |url-status=live |access-date=}}{{Cite web |title=Death Becomes Her - Tell Me Ernest TikTok Sound Page |url=https://www.tiktok.com/music/Tell-Me-Ernest-7449806184770751278 |url-status=live |website=TikTok}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://deathbecomesher.com/}}
• {{IBDB title|539795}}

Category:2024 musicals

Category:Musicals based on films

Category:Broadway musicals