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The Devil Wears Prada (musical)

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The Devil Wears Prada
A New Musical
West End Promotional Poster
MusicElton John
LyricsShaina Taub
Mark Sonnenblick
BookKate Wetherhead
BasisThe Devil Wears Prada
by Lauren Weisberger
The Devil Wears Prada
by Aline Brosh McKenna
PremiereJuly 19, 2022: James M. Nederlander Theatre, Chicago
Productions2022 Chicago
2024 Plymouth
2024 West End

The Devil Wears Prada is a musical based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Lauren Weisberger as well as the 2006 film of the same name with a screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna. The musical has music by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick, and a book by Kate Wetherhead.

Background

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In 2015, it was reported that Broadway producer Kevin McCollum had signed a deal two years earlier with Fox to develop some of the films from its back catalog into musicals for the stage. Two he expressed particular interest in were Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and The Devil Wears Prada. Early in 2017, McCollum announced that in partnership with Fox Stage Productions, he was developing a musical version of The Devil Wears Prada (based on both the film and the book). Elton John and Shaina Taub would be writing the score and lyrics for the project with playwright Paul Rudnick, who had written some early scenes for the screenplay,[1] writing the book and lyrics. McCollum did not say when he expected it to premiere but hoped it would eventually play on Broadway.[2]

In July 2019, the show held its first industry-only presentation of the initial reading for the show. It featured Emily Skinner as Miranda, Krystina Alabado as Andy, Heléne Yorke as Emily and Mario Cantone as Nigel.[3] There had been no announcement about future workshops or tryouts before the anticipated Broadway run. With Daniel Hoyos leading the company management team with Alexa Bishop and Bella Cordova.[4]

Production history

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Chicago (2022)

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In September 2019, a premiere run was announced for July and August 2020 at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago. According to producer Kevin McCollum, it was important to director Anna D. Shapiro, artistic director of the Steppenwolf Theater Company, also located in Chicago, to have the show premiere there.[5]

In December 2019, the Chicago production was postponed for a year to start in July 2021, to allow the creative team more time to work on the show.[6] Beth Leavel was announced to play the role of Miranda Priestly, with Taylor Iman Jones in the role of Andy Sachs. In January 2021, producers announced that the show would be delayed another year to July 2022, due to the coronavirus pandemic.[7]

The Chicago production played its first preview performance on July 19, 2022, and played a limited run through August 21. The run was billed as pre-Broadway and the cast included the previously announced Jones and Leavel, alongside Javier Muñoz as Nigel Owens, Christiana Cole as Lauren, Megan Masako Haley as Emily Charlton, Tiffany Mann as Kayla, and Michael Tacconi as Nate Angstrom.[8] In a September 2022 interview with Zoe Ball, Sir Elton John stated the show was not ready for subsequent stagings, adding "It'll be ready in about another year."[9]

London (2024)

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On September 13, 2023, it was announced that the musical will have its UK premiere at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth as an exclusive preview engagement in July 2024 before a scheduled opening at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End in October 2024. It will be a new production directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell with set design by Tim Hatley, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Bruno Poet, sound design by Gareth Owen and casting by Jill Green CDG. Due to Taub performing in her musical Suffs, Mark Sonnenblick joins the creative team as an additional lyricist, as well as providing revisions in direct consultation with Taub.[10]

In February of 2024, Vanessa Williams was announced as Miranda Priestly,[11] with British actor Matt Henry joining her as Nigel.[12] Full casting was announced in June 2024. Joining Williams and Henry are Georgie Buckland as Andy, Amy Di Bartolomeo as Emily, Rhys Whitfield as Nate, and James Darch as Christian.[13]

Casts

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Character Chicago West End
2022 2024
Miranda Priestly Beth Leavel Vanessa Williams
Andy Sachs Taylor Iman Jones Georgie Buckland
Emily Charlton Megan Masako Haley Amy Di Bartolomeo
Nigel Owens Javier Muñoz Matt Henry
Nate Angstrom Michael Tacconi Rhys Whitfield
Christian Thompson Christian Thompson James Darch

Musical numbers

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London

Critical reception

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The Chicago production officially opened on August 8 and received universally poor reviews. In the New York Post, Johnny Oleksinski said the show was "alarmingly un-fun and sluggish," adding that "every song is lousy, and there is nothing here worth fixing."[14]

The Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones lamented that the show needed "the addition of more wit and irreverence to Wetherhead’s book and Shaina Taub’s lyrics." He also felt that Arianne Phillips' costumes lacked the cutting-edge of true fashion house designs, an idea shared by Steven Oxman of Variety.[15][16]

Reviewers in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and BroadwayWorld all agreed that the story had its moments, but overall lacked the bite of the novel or film.[17][18][19]

References

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  1. ^ Thompson, Anne (July 1, 2016). "'The Devil Wears Prada' At 10: Meryl Streep and More on How Their Risky Project Became a Massive Hit". IndieWire. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  2. ^ Paulson, Michael (January 26, 2017). "'The Devil Wears Prada' Is Aiming for Broadway, as a Musical". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  3. ^ McPhee, Ryan (July 2, 2019). "Emily Skinner and Krystina Alabado Starring in The Devil Wears Prada Musical Reading". Playbill. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  4. ^ Marine, Brooke (July 2, 2019). "The Devil Wears Prada Musical Casts Its First Reading". W. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  5. ^ Jones, Chris (September 17, 2019). "'The Devil Wears Prada' musical will premiere in Chicago, with a score by Elton John". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 6, 2019. With company managers Daniel Hoyos, Alexa Bishop, and Bella Cordova.
  6. ^ Evans, Greg (December 3, 2019). "Pre-Broadway 'The Devil Wears Prada' Finds Its Fashion Boss From Hell; Chicago Production Postpones Engagement". Deadline. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  7. ^ Meyer, Dan (January 14, 2021). "'The Devil Wears Prada' Musical Pushes Chicago World Premiere to 2022". Playbill. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (June 15, 2022). "See Who's Joining Taylor Iman Jones and Beth Leavel in World Premiere of The Devil Wears Prada Musical". Playbill. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  9. ^ Evans, Greg (September 8, 2022). "Elton John Says 'The Devil Wears Prada' Musical "Not Ready" For Post-Chicago Stagings". Deadline. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  10. ^ Hilton, Lauren. "Shaina Taub Will Temporarily Exit SUFFS for New York City Center's RAGTIME, Returning on Election Night". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  11. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (February 19, 2024). "Vanessa Williams will play Miranda Priestly in 'Devil Wears Prada' West End musical". CNN. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Devil Wears Prada musical to have UK premiere and West End run". September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Rook, Olivia (June 4, 2024). "Complete cast set for 'The Devil Wears Prada' in the West End". London Theatre. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  14. ^ Oleksinski, Johnny (August 7, 2022). "'Devil Wears Prada' musical is a haute mess". New York Post. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  15. ^ Jones, Chris (August 8, 2022). "Review: 'The Devil Wears Prada' musical opens in Chicago, not yet ready for its runway spotlight". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  16. ^ Oxman, Steven (August 8, 2022). "'The Devil Wears Prada' Review: Broadway-Bound Musical Needs to Take a Cue From Miranda Priestly and Get Meaner". Variety.
  17. ^ Marks, Peter (August 8, 2022). "New musical version of 'The Devil Wears Prada' trips on the runway". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  18. ^ Soloski, Alexis (August 8, 2022). "'The Devil Wears Prada' Review: An Adaptation That Needs Tailoring". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Davenport, Marisha (August 8, 2022). "Review: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA at Nederlander Theatre". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
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