The Broadway musical adaptation of “Death Becomes Her” opened Thursday night at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. It transforms the renowned 1992 film into a dynamic stage production that is sure to enchant fans.
The show, starring Tony nominee Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard, reimagines Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn’s original roles. Brooke Shields, Tina Fey, and a surprise appearance by Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Tina Knowles were among the stars on opening night.
A highlight of the evening was Meryl Streep’s lighthearted greeting to Hilty: “Break a leg, or I’ll break it for you,” accompanied by a bouquet of wilted flowers that brilliantly encapsulated the show’s dark comedy.
The musical, with a screenplay by Marco Pennette and music by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, adheres to the original film’s campy comedy. Director Christopher Gattelli has expertly translated the film’s renowned special effects for the stage, which include a horrifying shotgun scene and a spectacular staircase collapse.
“We discovered in Chicago that audiences love when we embrace the show’s campy nature,” Hilty told me. The production strikes a mix of comedy and more serious emotional moments, delving into aging, beauty standards, and the entertainment industry’s treatment of women.
Simard praised the creative team’s thorough revisions to the source material. “The movie is fantastic, but there are some things we see differently now,” she said, emphasizing the show’s focus on body positivity.
Derek McLane (sets), Justin Towsend (lighting), and Paul Tazewell (costumes) make up an excellent creative team. Simard praises the show’s ambiance as having “a delicious, autumnal feeling of spookiness.”
The musical, starring Christopher Sieber and Michelle Williams, will run through August 2025. Early reactions have been largely positive, with Deadline calling it “a virtually perfect big-budget, broad-appeal musical comedy that improves on the original film.”
“Death Becomes Her” promises to be an outstanding Broadway show that combines humor, passion, and social critique.
