Need a new musical to die for? Based on the iconic 1992 film, Death Becomes Her is Broadway's new laugh-out-loud musical comedy. The acclaimed new musical is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli, features a book by Marco Pennette, and an original score by Julia Mattison & Noel Carey.
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.
The film on which the musical is based (starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis) has earned cult status for its biting satire, groundbreaking special effects, and iconic performances by Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film explores themes of vanity, immortality, and the absurd lengths people go to in pursuit of eternal youth. Its sharp humor and campy tone, coupled with its innovative use of early CGI technology, have made it a standout in the genre.
Over the years, Death Becomes Her has become a cultural touchstone, celebrated for its queer appeal, memorable one-liners, and commentary on society's obsession with beauty and aging. Its enduring popularity is reflected in frequent revivals, tributes, and its influence on subsequent works in film and fashion.
Before the musical arrived on Broadway, it played at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago in early 2024. Both the Chicago and original Broadway productions were led by Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and Michelle Williams.
So if you want perfection, look no further than Death Becomes Her.
Marco Pennette’s book gives Hilty all the grand-dame one-liners, but it’s Simard who gets the more unexpected laughs with delightful line readings that take a second or two to register. The sharp dialogue is in perfect tune with Julia Mattison and Noel Carey’s lyrics, and that duo’s music, which is merely serviceable, manages not to get in the way of the characters and the story, which Pennette has made far less convoluted than its source material.
I don’t think the musical has to worry about that; no matter how many improvements it has made, it is stuck with the foundational problems of the film. But the chance to see two theatrical masterminds go at it for a few hours is sufficient justification for the effort. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in its next incarnation, the Lunt-Fontanne Theater became the Hilty-Simard.
| 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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