The Tony®-Winning Hit Musical Comedy
Madeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long-suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies…until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman 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 (and death) with their youth and beauty restored…and a grudge to last eternity.
Now a warning! You may not be ready for the unbelievable amount of comedy, glamour, and magic onstage at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Death Becomes Her is a “wildly entertaining, perfect musical comedy. It grabs the audience by the jugular and doesn’t let go” (Deadline). With direction and choreography by Tony winner Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her is “a laugh-filled, tuneful musical to die for” (Variety) and “a cheek-aching laughter roller coaster — the most fun night out on Broadway!” (The Daily Beast). Experience the “savagely funny” (Time Out) pop-culture phenomenon that’s been certified “hilarious” by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Z100, Beyoncé (!!), Goldie Hawn, Superman aka David Corenswet, Michelle Williams (the other one), and countless fans on Instagram, TikTok, and beyond. See it now, and laugh for eternity.
Everything in the musical is fantastically bigger and bolder, from Derek McLane’s goth-meets-Hollywood-excess design to Paul Tazewell’s fabulous costumes to Doug Besterman’s lush orchestrations. Charles LaPointe’s wigs are terrific, too. The tuneful score and witty lyrics are by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, making an impressive Broadway bow.
“Death Becomes Her” arrives on Broadway as a silly, campy, go-for-broke show that’s filled with hearty laughs (especially in the stronger Act 1) and a pair of gutsy, zesty and highly skilled lead performances from Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard that land right where a good chunk of the Broadway-going public believe divas like these two should be landing. While looking fabulous. The aim here appears to have been to create a kind of pseudo-feminist, gayer version of “The Producers,” and while those heights are not scaled, the Mel Brooksian template is enthusiastically employed, especially within Mattison and Carey’s patter-heavy ditties and droll lyrics.
| 2024 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Marco Pennette |
| 2025 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design of a Mus | Paul Tazewell |
| 2025 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical | Jennifer Simard |
| 2025 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Wig and Hair Design | Charles G. LaPointe |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Jennifer Simard |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE | Megan Hilty |
| 2025 | Drama League Awards | OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL | Christopher Gattelli |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Marco Pennette |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Christopher Gattelli |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | Paul Tazewell |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Christopher Gattelli |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Christopher Sieber |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical | Jennifer Simard |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design | Justin Townsend |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Death Becomes Her |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Doug Besterman |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design | Derek McLane |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Noel Carey |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Julia Mattison |
| 2025 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Sound Design | Peter Hylenski |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Marco Pennette |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Christopher Gattelli |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Paul Tazewell |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Christopher Gattelli |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Justin Townsend |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (Music and/or Lyrics) | Julia Mattison |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (Music and/or Lyrics) | Noel Carey |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Megan Hilty |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Jennifer Simard |
| 2025 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Derek McLane |
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