Death Becomes Her (musical)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:51:44 PM Wikipedia source
Death Becomes Her is a musical, with a book by Marco Pennette and music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey. It is based on the 1992 film of the same name directed and produced by Robert Zemeckis. It made its world premiere in May 2024 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, and moved to the Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in November 2024. The original Chicago and Broadway productions received critical acclaim by theatre critics, for its score, book, production design, stunts, special effects, and humor with both Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard receiving universal praise for their comedic timing, chemistry, and performances. It received a leading 10 nominations at the 78th Tony Awards and won for Best Costume Design in a Musical.
Infobox
Music
Julia Mattison Noel Carey
Lyrics
Julia Mattison Noel Carey
Book
Marco Pennette
Basis
Death Becomes Her by Martin Donovan David Koepp
Premiere
May 19, 2024 (2024-05-19): Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago
Productions
2024 Chicago 2024 Broadway
Tables
· Cast and characters
2024
2024
Character
2024
Madeline Ashton
Madeline Ashton
Character
Madeline Ashton
Chicago
Megan Hilty
Helen Sharp
Helen Sharp
Character
Helen Sharp
Chicago
Jennifer Simard
Ernest Menville
Ernest Menville
Character
Ernest Menville
Chicago
Christopher Sieber
Viola Van Horn
Viola Van Horn
Character
Viola Van Horn
Chicago
Michelle Williams
Chagall
Chagall
Character
Chagall
Chicago
Taurean Everett
Stefan
Stefan
Character
Stefan
Chicago
Josh Lamon
| Character | Chicago | Broadway |
| 2024 | ||
| Madeline Ashton | Megan Hilty | |
| Helen Sharp | Jennifer Simard | |
| Ernest Menville | Christopher Sieber | |
| Viola Van Horn | Michelle Williams | |
| Chagall | Taurean Everett | |
| Stefan | Josh Lamon | |
· Awards and nominations › Original Broadway production
2025
2025
Year
2025
Award
Drama Desk Awards
Category
Outstanding Musical
Nominee
Death Becomes Her
Result
Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Year
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Award
Jennifer Simard
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Award
Marco Pennette
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Award
Paul Tazewell
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Wig and Hair
Outstanding Wig and Hair
Year
Outstanding Wig and Hair
Award
Charles LaPointe
Category
Won
Drama League Awards
Drama League Awards
Year
Drama League Awards
Award
Outstanding Production of a Musical
Category
Death Becomes Her
Nominee
Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Award
Christopher Gattelli
Category
Nominated
Distinguished Performance
Distinguished Performance
Year
Distinguished Performance
Award
Megan Hilty
Category
Nominated
Jennifer Simard
Jennifer Simard
Year
Jennifer Simard
Award
Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Year
Outer Critics Circle Awards
Award
Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Category
Death Becomes Her
Nominee
Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical
Year
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical
Award
Jennifer Simard
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical
Year
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical
Award
Christopher Sieber
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Year
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Award
Marco Pennette
Category
Nominated
Outstanding New Score
Outstanding New Score
Year
Outstanding New Score
Award
Julia Mattison and Noel Carey
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations
Outstanding Orchestrations
Year
Outstanding Orchestrations
Award
Doug Besterman
Category
Nominated
Direction of a Musical
Direction of a Musical
Year
Direction of a Musical
Award
Christopher Gattelli
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Choreography
Outstanding Choreography
Year
Outstanding Choreography
Award
Christopher Gattelli
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Scenic Design
Outstanding Scenic Design
Year
Outstanding Scenic Design
Award
Derek McLane
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Costume Design
Outstanding Costume Design
Year
Outstanding Costume Design
Award
Paul Tazewell
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design
Outstanding Lighting Design
Year
Outstanding Lighting Design
Award
Justin Townsend
Category
Nominated
Outstanding Sound Design
Outstanding Sound Design
Year
Outstanding Sound Design
Award
Peter Hylenski
Category
Nominated
Tony Awards
Tony Awards
Year
Tony Awards
Award
Best Musical
Category
Death Becomes Her
Nominee
Nominated
Best Actress in a Musical
Best Actress in a Musical
Year
Best Actress in a Musical
Award
Megan Hilty
Category
Nominated
Jennifer Simard
Jennifer Simard
Year
Jennifer Simard
Award
Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Direction of a Musical
Year
Best Direction of a Musical
Award
Christopher Gattelli
Category
Nominated
Best Book of a Musical
Best Book of a Musical
Year
Best Book of a Musical
Award
Marco Pennette
Category
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Year
Best Original Score
Award
Noel Carrey and Julia Mattison
Category
Nominated
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Year
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Award
Derek McLane
Category
Nominated
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Year
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Award
Paul Tazewell
Category
Won
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Year
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Award
Justin Townsend
Category
Nominated
Best Choreography
Best Choreography
Year
Best Choreography
Award
Christopher Gattelli
Category
Nominated
2026
2026
Year
2026
Award
Grammy Award
Category
Best Musical Theater Album
Nominee
Pending
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2025 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Death Becomes Her | Nominated |
| Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical | Jennifer Simard | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | Marco Pennette | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical | Paul Tazewell | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Wig and Hair | Charles LaPointe | Won | ||
| Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Death Becomes Her | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Christopher Gattelli | Nominated | ||
| Distinguished Performance | Megan Hilty | Nominated | ||
| Jennifer Simard | Nominated | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Death Becomes Her | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical | Jennifer Simard | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Christopher Sieber | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Book of a Musical | Marco Pennette | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding New Score | Julia Mattison and Noel Carey | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Doug Besterman | Nominated | ||
| Direction of a Musical | Christopher Gattelli | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Christopher Gattelli | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Scenic Design | Derek McLane | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Paul Tazewell | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Justin Townsend | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design | Peter Hylenski | Nominated | ||
| Tony Awards | Best Musical | Death Becomes Her | Nominated | |
| Best Actress in a Musical | Megan Hilty | Nominated | ||
| Jennifer Simard | Nominated | |||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Christopher Gattelli | Nominated | ||
| Best Book of a Musical | Marco Pennette | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Score | Noel Carrey and Julia Mattison | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Derek McLane | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design of a Musical | Paul Tazewell | Won | ||
| Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Justin Townsend | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Christopher Gattelli | Nominated | ||
| 2026 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Pending | |
References
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2023/09/death-becomes-her-broadway-1235536955/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2024/legit/news/death-becomes-her-musical-broadway-megan-hilty-jennifer-simard-1236207051/
- Did They Like Ithttps://didtheylikeit.com/shows/death-becomes-her/
- HuffPosthttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/death-becomes-her-musical_us_5a316aaee4b07ff75affb6a4
- TheWraphttps://www.thewrap.com/kristin-chenoweth-to-star-in-stage-musical-version-of-meryl-streeps-death-becomes-her/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/death-becomes-her-stage-musical-kristin-chenoweth-star-1067181/
- Ryan Jay Reviewshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyOwtElA6DQ
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2023/film/news/death-becomes-her-musical-megan-hilty-meryl-streep-chicago-broadway-1235713876/
- Death Becomes Herhttps://www.playbill.com/article/death-becomes-her-musical-will-open-on-broadway-this-fall-starring-megan-hilty-and-jennifer-simard
- Death Becomes Herhttps://deadline.com/2023/09/death-becomes-her-broadway-1235536955/
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/michelle-williams-christopher-sieber-more-join-megan-hilty-and-jennifer-simard-in-death-becomes-her-musical
- Chicago Tribunehttps://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/05/02/death-becomes-her-at-cadillac-palace-theatre/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/theater/death-becomes-her-broadway.html
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/death-becomes-her-will-launch-north-american-tour-in-fall-2026
- Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffconway/2024/04/23/death-becomes-her-cast--creators-on-turning-the-film-into-a-musical/
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/death-becomes-her-opens-on-broadway-november-21
- Playbillhttps://www.playbill.com/article/reviews-what-do-critics-think-of-the-broadway-bound-death-becomes-her-musical
- Queertyhttps://www.queerty.com/death-becomes-her-billy-porter-brandi-carlile-20240521
- Chicago Sun-Timeshttps://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2024/05/20/death-becomes-her-stage-musical-review-megan-hilty-michelle-williams-chicago
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2024/legit/reviews/death-becomes-her-review-musical-chicago-1236010777/
- Did They Like Ithttps://didtheylikeit.com/shows/death-becomes-her/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2024/legit/reviews/death-becomes-her-review-broadway-musical-1236216493/
- Time Outhttps://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/death-becomes-her-broadway-musical-review#google_vignette
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/nov/21/death-becomes-her-review-broadway
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2024/11/death-becomes-her-broadway-review-1236182456/
- New York Posthttps://nypost.com/2024/11/21/entertainment/death-becomes-her-review-claws-are-out-in-broadway-camp-fest/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/theater/death-becomes-her-review-hilty-simard.html
- "Boop! Leads 2025 Drama Desk Award Nominations With 11 Nods Including Outstanding Musical; Read the Full List Here"https://playbill.com/article/boop-leads-2025-drama-desk-award-nominations-with-11-nods-including-outstanding-musical-read-the-full-list-here
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/2025-drama-league-awards-nominations-are-out-read-the-full-list
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/death-becomes-her-leads-2025-outer-critics-circle-award-nominations-read-the-full-list
- Playbillhttps://playbill.com/article/tony-nominations-2025
- The Conversationhttps://theconversation.com/that-was-rude-why-the-new-broadway-musical-death-becomes-her-was-ripe-for-tiktok-memes-257550