‘Death Becomes Her’ Hits Broadway With Two Fan Favorite Actresses

A movie that was ahead of its time and poked fun at the fact that society puts pressure to remain young and beautiful, the 1992 cult classic Death Becomes Her is hitting Broadway with previews starting on October 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. 

The musical stars two fan-favorite actresses, Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard. According to Broadway Direct, the pair impressed Chicago critics and audiences alike in a summertime world premiere that had Variety praising their “teamwork, timing, and ribald titillation.” WGN TV/Radio labeled them “Broadway royalty” who “explode on stage with the kind of performances we don’t see often enough.” The Chicago Tribune proclaimed them “huge comic talents.” 

“These two are like the yin and yang of comedy, and it makes the show so rich,” director-choreographer Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, The Cher Show,) said in an interview. “When the comedy kicks into full gear, it’s thrilling to watch them both really go for it.”

Additionally, the musical is based on the 1992 comedy film Death Becomes Her, which stars Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. Death Becomes Her tells the story of two frenemies, actress Madeline Ashton and novelist Helen Sharp, and their pursuit of eternal youth and beauty—with the help of a mysterious magic potion.

Megan Hilty, known for her roles in everything from 9 to 5 on stage to Smash on TV, plays Madeline opposite Jennifer Simard, a hilarious standout and Tony Award nominee in shows such as Disaster! and Company. Also in the cast are Christopher Seiber (The Prom, Company) as the plastic surgeon caught between the two ladies, and Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child, Chicago) as the potion supplier.

The actresses first met in 2016, when they were both nominated for Tony Awards (Megan Hilty for Noises Off and Jennifer Simard for Disaster!), but Death Becomes Her marks their first time working together. Behind the scenes, Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard have nothing but love for each other, despite playing frenemies.

“There’s no competing between us, and I feel like that’s important to articulate because so often when there are two women involved, it’s painted as a competition,” Megan Hilty explains. “The opposite is true.”

Moreover, Broadway Direct says that  Death Becomes Her has been in the works for almost eight years, since Pennette, a veteran writer of TV comedies such as Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty, suggested it to Universal Theatrical Group, which was exploring properties that might work on stage.

Universal then took a chance on him, Mattison, and Carey, the latter two making their Broadway debuts as creatives. (Mattison acted in the 2011 Broadway revival of Godspell.) Also debuting as a Broadway director is Christopher Gattelli, the acclaimed choreographer of 17 Broadway shows and a Tony Award winner for Newsies.

In addition to Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber and Michelle Williams, the rest of the Death Becomes Her cast will include Marija Abney, Lauren Celentano, Sarita Colon, Kaleigh Cronin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Taurean Everett, Michael Graceffa, Neil Haskell, Kolton Krouse, Josh Lamon, Sarah Meahl, Ximone Rose, Sir Brock Warren, Bud Weber, Ryan Worsing and Warren Yang, according to People.

The show will also feature Kyle Brown, Lakota Knuckle, Johanna Moise and Amy Quanbeck as s wings. According to Deadline, the creative team includes: scenic design, Derek McLane; costume design, Paul Tazewell; lighting design, Justin Townsend; sound design, Peter Hylenski; hair and wig design, Charles LaPointe; make-up design, Joe Dulude II; fight direction, Thomas Schall; music supervision, Mary-Mitchell Campbell; orchestrations, Doug Besterman; dance & incidental music arrangements, Sam Davis; music direction, Ben Cohn; casting, Tara Rubin Casting.

Tickets for the musical are currently on sale.