Going to see a show based on a beloved film can be tricky. Should you see the film before you see it on the stage? Death Becomes Her cast member Christopher Sieber has the answer: "For those of you who've not seen the film, what are you doing? See the film!" he says jokingly, before adding, "You don't have to see the film to see our show." See Sieber, the show's stars, and its creators talk about the new musical comedy in the video above.
The show is based on the 1992 film starring Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep, and Bruce Willis. It follows two women, played on stage by Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard, who take a potion to give them youth and immortality, with some nasty side effects. The work features a book by Marco Pennette, adapted from the screenplay by Martin Donovan and David Koepp; and songs by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey.
Pennette says he didn't want to just replicate the film."Too many movie adaptations to stage have been...they put the movie onstage," he said. "We kind of went in other directions. It's enough of the essence of the movie—if you're a fan of the movie, you'll get your 'now, a warning.'...I think it goes to some surprising moments, and I'm most proud of those."
READ: Jennifer Simard and Megan Hilty Are a Modern Abbott and Costello in Death Becomes Her
One big change from the film is the character Lisle von Rhuman, who provides the magic potion. She's been changed to a new character called Viola Van Horn, and she's played by former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams. "I talk with my hands, I'm an open book. But Viola is kind of mysterious; she only caters to a select few, so I've had to contain parts of me to let Viola have some mystery," said Williams. Though there are still traces of that original character—Isabella Rossellini (who played Lisle) does the pre-show announcement for Death Becomes Her.
Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard
Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
Michelle Williams and company of Death Becomes Her
Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, Megan Hilty, and Michelle Williams in Death Becomes Her
Jennifer Simard, Megan Hilty, and Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
Company of Death Becomes Her
Michelle Williams and company of Death Becomes Her
Newsies Tony winner Christopher Gattelli is directing and choreographing.
The production features scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Justin Townsend, sound design by Peter Hylenski, hair and wig design by Charles J. LaPointe, makeup design by Joe Dulude II, fight direction by Thomas Schall, music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by Doug Besterman, dance and incidental music arrangements by Sam Davis, and music direction by Ben Cohn. Rachel Sterner is production stage manager.
Universal Theatrical Group—overseen by Jimmy Horowitz and led by Lowe Cunningham—is producing.
