Broadway dazzles with 'Death Becomes Her' musical hit
This week, global media are buzzing about the record-breaking box office result of the film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Wicked." Meanwhile, on Broadway, the adaptation of the film hit "Death Becomes Her" is celebrating success.
25 November 2024 12:19
Let's recall that "Wicked" earned £94 million in US theatres during its premiere weekend, becoming the most popular Broadway adaptation launch in history. On Broadway, the musical premiered in 2003 and has been performed there for over 20 years. This week, the leading English-language theatre centre welcomed a new title, the musical "Death Becomes Her."
Film enthusiasts will surely remember this title well. Robert Zemeckis' black comedy, with a star-studded cast (Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Isabella Rossellini), became one of the biggest hits of 1992. It won an Oscar for special effects, and, as noted in one of the film's new reviews, "it ages remarkably well, unlike its main characters."
Considering Hollywood's trends, it's surprising that "Death Becomes Her" has not had a film remake in over 30 years. Unexpectedly, however, it has received a musical adaptation on Broadway.
The musical "Death Becomes Her" premiered on Broadway on 21 November and achieved spectacular success. It exemplifies how profitable theatre can be in New York. The film adaptation earned £990,000 during the premiere weekend. It was, of course, performed in a single location (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre), where it sold out all shows, and with rave reviews ("comedy of the year," "brilliant script"), it promises a long life on Broadway. The lead roles are played by Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and Michelle Williams.
