Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn’s 1992 Oscar-winning classic “Death Becomes Her” is heading to the stage. Broadway actor and “Smash” legend Megan Hilty is set to take on Streep’s Madeline Ashton, a vanity-obsessed actor looking to revive the beauty of her youth at any cost. Meanwhile Jennifer Simard of “Company” and “Disaster!” fame will fill Hawn’s role as Helen Sharp, Madeline’s long-time friend with whom she has a love-hate relationship.
The teaser announcement was released with a little trailer showcasing each star mugging for the camera.
ned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram/reel/Cw0Oj6bsPPW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">A post shared by Megan Hilty (@meganhilty)
Hilty announced the musical adaptation in an Instagram video post Tuesday, which read “Life’s a bitch and then you die. Or not.”
The 1992 black comedy film was helmed by Robert Zemeckis and also starred Bruce Willis and Isabella Rossellini as Streep and Hawn take a miracle potion to keep them looking young forever, only to realize that living forever is not all it’s cracked up to be (literally).
“Death Becomes Her” has the potential for several fantastic musical numbers, however we truly hope the creators opt to include Streep’s entire opening scene where she stars in musical “Songbird!.” While draped in feathers and sparkly teal, Streep sings, “I see me! I see me, I see me actress, woman, star and lover. Sister, sweetheart, slave and mother I see me, and I like what I see. Virgin, temptress, dream of others. Yes, it’s me, yes, it’s me.”
While not much more is known about the musical adaptation, audiences can only hope that “Me” gets its real stage debut.
“Death Becomes Her The Musical” will be directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, with music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey. It’s set to premiere at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre on April 30, 2024 and run through June 2.
