If You Want Perfection, head to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre for ‘Death Becomes Her’
Broadway has never looked so fabulous—or so undead. Death Becomes Her, the new musical adaptation of the cult-classic 1992 film, arrives with a wickedly sharp book, dazzling performances, and enough high camp to raise the dead. Starring Megan Hilty as Madeline Ashton (played by understudy Kaleigh Cronin in our performance) and the hysterically unhinged Jennifer Simard as Helen Sharp, this Broadway spectacle takes the dark comedy of the original film and dials it up to eleven—because if you’re going to live forever, you might as well make it entertaining.
[Warning: spoilers from Broadway’s Death Becomes Her are below!]
A story of vanity, revenge, and a little black magic in Broadway’s Death Becomes Her
The story follows the age-old rivalry between Madeline Ashton (Kaleigh Cronin), a vain and impossibly glamorous actress, and Helen Sharp (Jennifer Simard), a meek but vengeful writer. With a friendship that has spawned decades more out of obligation than an actual liking for each other, something more cruel exists between these two. While the power struggle between Madeline and Helen has always leaned towards the former, the tables have turned on the eve of Madeline’s disastrous Broadway debut when Helen arrives with a surprise: her fiance.
And so a feud begins over the hapless, weak-willed plastic surgeon Ernest Menville (Christopher Sieber). When Madeline steals Ernest away from Helen, it sends Helen into a downward spiral of despair… until she discovers a mysterious elixir that not only restores her youth but ensures she will never age, never wither, and never die. And with her newfound life outside the natural law, a plan begins to form. Revenge is on the menu, and Madeline will pay for this final, unforgivable transgression between friends.
When Helen reappears in the married couple’s life many years later, looking radiant and ageless, Madeline knows that she must also find a fix for time’s cruel tricks on the body. As someone who refuses to be outdone by anyone else, she gets her hands on the same magical potion from the enigmatic Viola Van Horn (a hypnotically eerie Michelle Williams). But there’s a catch: immortality doesn’t mean indestructibility. Soon, Madeline and Helen find themselves in a battle not just over Ernest but over whose decaying, undead body can hold up the longest. Enter Taurean Everett’s devilishly stylish Chagall and Josh Lamon’s scene-stealing Stefan, two associates who revel in the chaos. With Ernest caught in the middle, trying desperately to fix the increasingly broken bodies of his two undead ex-wives, Death Becomes Her spirals into a gloriously macabre, high-heeled farce that audiences eat up and crave more.
A lively cast makes the undead look sweet in this musical adaptation of a cult classic
If there’s anyone who can make Broadway audiences worship a narcissistic, self-obsessed, borderline-sociopathic movie star, it’s Kaleigh Cronin. With her powerhouse vocals and razor-sharp comedic timing, Cronin embodies Madeline’s delicious vanity with a performance that is equal parts dazzling and delightfully deranged.
Jennifer Simard proves once again why she’s one of Broadway’s funniest performers. Her Helen transforms from heartbroken wallflower to fierce, fiery femme fatale, and Simard plays both extremes with genius comedic precision. Her physical comedy is top-tier (watch out for that shovel!), and her chemistry with Cronin is pure lightning—whether they’re clawing each other’s eyes out or reluctantly teaming up to keep their crumbling bodies in one piece.
As the perpetually bewildered Ernest, Christopher Sieber brings a masterclass in deadpan humor. His transformation from a spineless, put-upon husband to a man teetering on the edge of madness is both hysterical and strangely sympathetic. His solo number about being caught between two immortal women is a comedic highlight of the night.
In a role that drips with mystery and menace, Michelle Williams’ Viola Van Horn is less of a mad scientist and more of a glamorous, ethereal specter. Her voice is hypnotic, her presence otherworldly, and her performance sends chills down your spine. She’s the kind of villain you can’t help but be mesmerized by, and every moment she’s on stage is spellbinding.
Every great Broadway show needs a pair of scene-stealing sidekicks, and Taurean Everett and Josh Lamon deliver just that. As Chagall and Stefan, assistants in all things supernatural (and fashionable), they bring an extra layer of devilish mischief to the show.
Death Becomes Her is pure campy Broadway magic
With music and lyrics that blend Broadway grandeur with 90s-inspired camp, the score of Death Becomes Her is as irresistible as the elixir at the heart of the story. Expect soaring diva ballads, hilariously morbid patter songs, and a final number that will have the audience screaming (with laughter, that is). Highlights include Madeline’s over-the-top self-love anthem, Helen’s vengeful “Madeline,” and the show-stopping “Alive Forever,” which sees Madeline and Helen struggling to keep their heads—literally.
Death Becomes Her finds its home at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, a Broadway house as glamorous as its leading ladies. Originally built in 1910 as the Globe Theatre, the venue was renamed in 1958 after legendary Broadway duo Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. With a history of hosting dazzling productions—from Beauty and the Beast to Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (and most recently, the revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) —this theatre is no stranger to spectacle. Its opulent interiors and classic Broadway charm make it the perfect setting for a musical that revels in both old-school Hollywood glamour and the macabre.
Death Becomes Her is a campy, over-the-top joyride from start to finish. With a dream cast, a score as sharp as Helen’s wit, and staging that leans into every deliciously dark and ridiculous moment; it’s a show that celebrates Broadway spectacle at its finest. Fans of the film will revel in its lovingly theatrical adaptation, while newcomers will be swept up in the madness.
If you love your musicals with high drama, higher heels, and just a touch of supernatural chaos, Death Becomes Her is a must-see. Just be warned: you may leave the theater tempted to search for an immortality potion of your own. After all, who doesn’t want to stay young forever?
You can catch Death Becomes Her now until November! Have you caught this musical yet? Did you love it as much as we did? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or @boxseatbabes or CosmicCircusBroadway on Bluesky!
Revisiting Death Becomes Her Before It Was Transformed Into A Musical Comedy on Broadway
