What makes 'Death Becomes Her' sing on Broadway
The cult classic Meryl Streep/Goldie Hawn film from 1992 has life-and-death stakes, lending itself well to adaptation as an over-the-top, revitalized musical.
Based on the 1992 film, the musical version of Death Becomes Her first came alive in Chicago this past spring. The same stars who graced the stage in the Windy City – Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Michelle Williams, and Christopher Sieber — return for the Broadway run, now in performances. The movie, directed by Back to the Future filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, has developed a cult following over the years, particularly among LGBTQ cinephiles and lovers of camp and satire.
The film and musical follow rivals Madeline Ashton (Hilty), an actress, and Helen Sharp (Simard), a writer, who both fear getting older and fading from cultural relevance. They also happen to vie for the attention of the same man, plastic surgeon Ernest Menville (Sieber). Craving eternal beauty, Madeline and Helen secretly seek out Williams’s enigmatic Viola Van Horn (changed from Lisle von Rhuman in the film) for a mysterious formula that will keep them fresh-faced forever. But like any fountain of youth, Van Horn’s potion has some unintended consequences.
Death Becomes Her is a classic “Faustian tale,” co-composer/lyricist Julia Mattison told New York Theatre Guide at a September press event. Such dramatic heights translate perfectly to the stage: “It’s very operatic. When these characters need to sing, it’s so natural. The least challenging part of this was going, ‘Of course they would have to burst into song in this moment.’”
The musical adaptation began performances in October, just in time for spooky season, and Mattison and co-composer/lyricist Noel Carey agree that the production has “Halloween energy.” The story’s horror elements feel at home on stage, where practical effects can be more compelling than digital ones.
“In the movie, you get CGI; you have effects that can make magic happen. In a musical, there are no rules,” Mattison said. “If you can use your imagination to make something happen on stage, and the music can lend itself to that, you will believe anything’s possible.”
The team made some changes for the stage version of Death Becomes Her, but director/choreographer Christopher Gattelli believes these changes better serve the story. “I can’t really give away too many spoilers, but I think the main thing is really between Helen and Madeline,” Gattelli said, hinting at a plot element that bookwriter Marco Pennette altered for the stage. The characters’ relationship in the musical is more dynamic and developed than in the film. Simard and Hilty, two musical comedy icons, are well-primed to bring these fleshed-out, flawed characters to life through song in 2024.
“Every little thing, every little color I get to do of Helen, feels like a retrospective of my own career in one beautiful, juicy package,” Simard said of her character. She also noted that Death Becomes Her reunites her with her former “show husband” Sieber, with whom she starred in the recent Broadway revival of Company. “I get to do everything I love. It’s a dream.”
Hilty called her role “crazy iconic,” but she feels like much of her career has prepared her to “pay homage” to recognizable roles – after all, she took on Marilyn Monroe in TV’s Smash (also getting the Broadway treatment this spring) over a decade ago. Still, “you’d have to be insane to take on a role Meryl Streep originated,” she said of her Death Becomes Her character. “And yet, here I am.”
Come the spring, Hilty and Simard may become “frenemies” like Madeline and Helen if they end up competing for Best Actress in the 2024-25 awards season. Life may imitate art, but the leading ladies don’t appear as devious as their onstage counterparts. Just in case, though, maybe they shouldn’t get too close to any of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre’s staircases.
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Photo credit: Death Becomes Her in Chicago. (Photos by Matthew Murphy)
Frequently asked questions
Where is Death Becomes Her located?
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. The address is New York, NY, USA, 10036.
How long is Death Becomes Her?
2hr 30min. Incl. 15min intermission.
What is Death Becomes Her about?
Starring Tony Award nominees and comic leading ladies Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard, the 10-time Tony Award-nominated Death Becomes Her offers jokes, twists, and a glow-up like no other. Expect dazzling production numbers, campy humor, and soaring duets belted to the heavens — or perhaps to hell below.
How do you book tickets for Death Becomes Her?
Book tickets for Death Becomes Her on New York Theatre Guide.
What's the age requirement for Death Becomes Her?
The recommended age for Death Becomes Her is Ages 12+. Children under 5 are not permitted in the theatre..
What are the songs in Death Becomes Her?
The song list is not yet published, but expect lots of flashy numbers and belting galore in a score by “very talented newcomer team of Julia Mattison and Noel Carey” (Variety) that highlights its leading ladies’ vocal chops.
Who wrote Death Becomes Her?
Marco Pennette, known for his TV credits Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives, wrote the “genuinely funny book” (Variety) for this new musical, adapted from the acclaimed film.
Who directed Death Becomes Her?
Christopher Gattelli, a Tony Award winner for his choreography for Newsies, directs and choreographs this new musical.
Is Death Becomes Her appropriate for kids?
The show is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Is Death Becomes Her good?
Get ready for a “lush physical production,” a “a stellar cast,” and some “PG-13 funny, alive and fearlessly old-school” humor, per the Chicago Tribune, in this campy new musical. It is "savagely funny, musical comedy magic," per Time Out New York.
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