Megan Hilty announced with a heartfelt Instagram post that she will not be performing in Broadway's Death Becomes Her on October 25. Understudy Kaleigh Cronin will step into the role of Madeline Ashton until Hilty is able to return. The production also cancelled its October 24 performance due to cast illness.
"Every time I take my kids to the theater and we see that white slip of paper tucked in the Playbill announcing an understudy going on, I tell them to get excited: we are about to witness theater magic at its best," Hilty wrote. "Some of my favorite memories from Wicked were when I went on as the standby and I can tell you first hand that when an understudy goes on, the energy onstage is electric. Everyone onstage and on the crew is rallying behind them and it ends up turning into an unforgettable experience that is only possible in the theater. To anyone heading to the Lunt-Fontanne for this evening’s performance of @deathbecomesher, you are in for a very special night."
Death Becomes Her began performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre October 23 ahead of a November 21 opening night.
Hilty and Jennifer Simard are leading the company as Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp, respectively, two rivals who gain eternal youth via a magic potion with some dirty side effects. Christopher Sieber and Michelle Williams are co-starring as Ernest Menville and Viola Van Horn, respectively. All four are reprising their performances from the musical's Chicago pre-Broadway tryout earlier this year.
Joining them are Marija Abney, Lauren Celentano, Sarita Colon, 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. Swings Kyle Brown, Lakota Knuckle, Johanna Moise, and Amy Quanbeck round out the company. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
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. Newsies Tony winner Christopher Gattelli is directing and choreographing.
READ: Get a 1st Listen to 3 Songs From Death Becomes Her
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.
The 1992 film, directed and co-produced by Robert Zemeckis, was noted for its relatively early use of CGI to achieve effects like star Meryl Streep's head turned completely backwards and a gaping hole going through her co-star Goldie Hawn. This musical version has been kicking around since at least 2017, when Kristin Chenoweth was attached to star, then with a separate creative team.
Universal Theatrical Group—overseen by Jimmy Horowitz and led by Lowe Cunningham—is producing.
Visit DeathBecomesHer.com.
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
