Guide to 'The Queen of Versailles' on Broadway starring Kristin Chenoweth

Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham also stars in the musical inspired by the true story of Jackie and David Siegel, who build a lavish life that soon starts crumbling.

All hail! Stage royalty Kristin Chenoweth, who’s been crowned with both a Tony and an Emmy, returns to Broadway opposite Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham in the new musical The Queen of Versailles, beginning October 8.

Created by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz and Broadway-debut author Lindsey Ferrentino, the show is based on Lauren Greenfield’s award‑winning 2012 documentary. The Queen of Versailles follows Jackie and David Siegel, a billionaire couple who set out to build the biggest single-family home in America. What could go wrong? The housing bubble bursts.

For Chenoweth, the show is a reunion with Schwartz, as she's best known for starring as Glinda in the original Wicked Broadway cast. And fresh from his Tony win for Maybe Happy Ending, Michael Arden directs this tuneful tale of excess, ambition, capitalism, and the cracked American dream.

Read our guide for a solid foundation on the show, and get The Queen of Versailles tickets to step into Chenoweth's palace — that is, the St. James Theatre.

Get The Queen of Versailles tickets now.

What is The Queen of Versailles about?

The Queen of Versailles musical focuses on the audacious attempt of Jackie Siegel, a former beauty queen turned TV personality and socialite, and her real-estate tycoon husband David to build a $100 million mansion in Orlando modeled after a famous French palace. As the 2008 financial crisis hits, their empire and family bonds are tested.

Where is The Queen of Versailles playing?

The Queen of Versailles plays at the St. James Theatre, located at 246 W. 44th St. between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

Designed by Warren and Wetmore, the St. James Theatre was built by producer Abraham L. Erlanger on the site of the original, iconic Sardi’s restaurant (now located down the block). The theatre opened in 1927 as The Erlanger with the inaugural production Merry Malones.

Recent Broadway productions at the theatre include Sunset Boulevard, Illinoise, and Spamalot.

How long is The Queen of Versailles?

The Queen of Versailles run time for Broadway has yet to be announced, but its pre-Broadway production in Boston ran about 2 hours and 45 minutes, including an intermission. The typical duration for a Broadway musical is between 90 minutes and 3 hours and may include a 15-minute intermission.

What days is The Queen of Versailles playing?

The Queen of Versailles plays Tuesday through Sunday, with two performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays and no performances on Mondays. This schedule is subject to one-off changes; please visit The Queen of Versailles page for a performance calendar.

When did The Queen of Versailles premiere?

The Queen of Versailles musical premiered at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston on July 16, 2024 — almost 12 years to the day after the documentary feature film of the same name came out on July 6, 2012.

The Broadway production at the St. James Theatre plays its first performance on October 8, 2025, ahead of an official opening on November 9.

Who wrote The Queen of Versailles?

The Queen of Versailles musical is by composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book writer Lindsey Ferrentino, who is making her Broadway debut.

Schwartz is an acclaimed composer and lyricist known for the hit musicals Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin. He also wrote lyrics for the Disney film Pocahontas and music and lyrics for The Prince of Egypt on screen and stage. In 2015, Schwartz received the Isabelle Stevenson Award, a non‑competitive Tony Award for humanitarian work, and has earned six competitive Tony nominations throughout his career.

Ferrentino is a playwright and screenwriter whose major works include Ugly Lies the Bone, Amy and the Orphans, This Flat Earth, and The Fear of 13.

Schwartz and Ferrentino's musical is based on the 2012 Queen of Versailles movie directed by Lauren Greenfield, a documentary filmmaker known for exploring wealth, consumerism, and youth culture. Her other films include Generation Wealth and Thin.

The Queen of Versailles characters

The show is built around Jackie Siegel and her husband David Siegel, and it also features some of their family members, staff, and business associates. Learn about the major players in The Queen of Versailles below.

• Jackie Siegel: A former beauty queen-turned-socialite with rich tastes and big aspirations. She’s played by Kristin Chenoweth, who won a Tony for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and an Emmy for Pushing Daisies.
• David A. Siegel: Known as the “Timeshare King,” he’s all about money, success, and giving Jackie everything she wants. He’s played by Amadeus Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham.
• Victoria Siegel: Jackie’s daughter from her first marriage, who’s disconnected from the lavish lifestyle of her family.
• Sofia Flores: The Siegel’s dedicated housekeeper and caregiver who keeps the household running.
• Jonquil Peed: Jackie's adopted daughter, who goes from a life of struggle to one of privilege.
• Gary: David’s business partner and son who yearns for his father's approval and recognition.
• John: Jackie’s optimistic, ever-supportive father.
• Debbie: Jackie’s mom, who comes from a middle-class household and is unwaveringly behind her daughter.

The Queen of Versailles songs

Schwartz’s score for The Queen of Versailles delivers melodic, scene-driven songs brimming with character, theatrical flair, and plenty of room for Chenoweth’s soaring soprano and bold belt.

The Broadway song list has yet to be finalized, but some of the most talked-about songs from Boston include “Caviar Dreams,” “Ballad of the Timeshare King,” “Little Houses,” “Pretty Always Wins,” “Book of Random,” and “Marie Antoinette.”

What awards has The Queen of Versailles won?

The Queen of Versailles premieres on Broadway in October, so it hasn’t received any awards yet. The show will be in the running for the 2025-26 season’s upcoming New York honors, including Tony Awards.

Its source material, the same-named documentary, won a number of honors, including the U.S. Directing Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, the Grand Jury Prize from the Brisbane International Film Festival in Australia, and a Best Director Award from the RiverRun Film Festival in North Carolina.

Major productions of The Queen of Versailles

The Queen of Versailles has only had a few major iterations so far, but it could have a long line of succession in the future.

• 2012 documentary: Years before The Queen of Versailles was a musical, the Siegels' story was told in an award-winning documentary directed by Lauren Greenfield.
• 2024 pre-Broadway production: The Queen of Versailles musical premiered at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, running from July 16 to August 24.
• 2025 Broadway premiere: The Queen of Versailles begins October 8 at the St. James Theatre, with Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham reprising their roles from Boston.

Onscreen adaptations of The Queen of Versailles

The Queen of Versailles musical hasn’t received a screen adaptation, but a version of the story it tells has been told on screen. The musical is based on director Lauren Greenfield's 2012 feature-film documentary of the same name, which won awards at the Sundance Film Festival and other major showcases.

Fun facts about The Queen of Versailles

The Queen of Versailles is based on real people and events. From a first-time credit for a longtime Broadway favorite to happy reunions to the power of place, here are some tidbits about the show.

• The title comes from the name of the Siegel's massive estate. They dubbed their home Versailles after the opulent French palace.
• French king Louis XIV and his court, who once occupied the Palace of Versailles, are minor characters in the musical, acting as a kind of Greek chorus observing the Siegels.
• The Queen of Versailles marks Chenoweth’s 10th Broadway credit, and her first as a producer.
• Jackie sings about her hometown of Endwell, a real place not far from Binghamton, New York.
• In addition to Chenoweth reuniting with Schwartz, Arden marks his eighth Broadway collaboration with set designer Dane Laffrey and his second Parade choreographers Christopher Cree Grant and Lauren Yalango-Grant.

Get tickets to The Queen of Versailles on Broadway

A lavish musical lit by stars, the show explores wealth, ambition, and downfall with dazzling spectacle and satire.

Get The Queen of Versailles tickets now.

Photo credit: The Queen of Versailles in Boston. (Photos by Matthew Murphy)