Broadway's new 'Death Becomes Her' steals the spotlight
This week, global media are abuzz about the record-breaking box office result of the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical "Wicked." Meanwhile, on Broadway, the adaptation of the film hit "Death Becomes Her" is celebrating success.
25 November 2024 11:19
Let's recall that "Wicked" earned CAD 114 million in U.S. theatres during its premiere weekend, becoming the most popular Broadway adaptation launch in history. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2003 and has been performed there for over 20 years. This week, the leading English-language theatre centre welcomed a new title: "Death Becomes Her."
Movie enthusiasts 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 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 the trends in Hollywood, it's surprising that "Death Becomes Her" has not had a film remake in over 30 years. Unexpectedly, however, it did receive a musical adaptation on Broadway.
The musical "Death Becomes Her" premiered on Broadway on November 21 and achieved spectacular success. It exemplifies how profitable theatre can be in New York. The film adaptation earned CAD 1.6 million 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.
