Christopher Sieber and Jennifer Simard, two of the stars of Broadway's Death Becomes Her, stopped by Late Night with Seth Meyers June 2 to discuss the musical's unexpected virality on social media, their artistic partnership, and how Sieber navigates playing a drunk onstage every night while maintaining his personal sobriety.
Sieber and Simard are old pals, having worked together in one way or another for nearly two decades. Prior to Death Becomes Her, they starred opposite each other in Shrek the Musical, countless readings, and the 2021 Company revival.
"Sieber's always in my contracts," Simard laughed, pointing toward him on the guest couch. The pair reached levels of intimacy some married couples don't even reach during a bout of COVID during Company. "He's lying on top of me in the fight, and this was right after we came back and we were 'healthy.' And his nostril had one drip of snot-into my mouth! Into. My. Mouth. And I remember telling him, when we got back to our dressing rooms, I was like, 'I want the 401(k), I want the house...' That's how close we are. We're married, essentially."
For the full discussion, including shoutouts to Madonna, the Death Becomes Her props department, and the value of pure joy on stage, check out the video above.
Death Becomes Her is currently running at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. The new show鈥攆eaturing a book by Marco Pennette, adapted from the screenplay by Martin Donovan and David Koepp; and songs by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey鈥攐pened November 21, 2024, and receive 10 Tony nominations, including Best Musical. Tony winner Christopher Gattelli directs and choreographs.
Simard leads the cast opposite Megan Hilty as Madeline Ashton, two rivals who gain eternal youth via a magic potion with some dirty side effects in the musical version of the 1992 film. Sieber and Michelle Williams are co-starring as Ernest Menville and Viola Van Horn, respectively. All four are reprising their performances from the musical's Chicago pre-Broadway tryout last year.
Joining them are Taurean Everett as Chagall, Josh Lamon as Stefan; and Marija Abney, Lauren Celentano, Sarita Col贸n, Kaleigh Cronin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Michael Graceffa, Neil Haskell, Kolton Krouse, Sarah Meahl, Ximone Rose, Sir Brock Warren, Bud Weber, Ryan Worsing, and Warren Yang. Swings Kyle Brown, Lakota Knuckle, Johanna Moise, and Amy Quanbeck round out the company. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
READ: Jennifer Simard and Megan Hilty Are a Modern Abbott and Costello in Death Becomes Her
The work features a book by Marco Pennette, adapted from the screenplay by Martin Donovan and David Koepp; and songs by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey.
The production features scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Justin Townsend, sound design by Peter Hylenski, hair and wig design by Charles J. LaPointe, makeup design by Joe Dulude II, fight direction by Cha Ramos, music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, music direction by Ben Cohn, orchestrations by Doug Besterman, and dance and incidental music arrangements by Sam Davis. Rachel Sterner is production stage manager.
The film, directed and co-produced by Robert Zemeckis, was noted for its relatively early use of CGI to achieve effects like star Meryl Streep's head turned completely backwards and a gaping hole going through her co-star Goldie Hawn. This musical version has been kicking around since at least 2017, when Kristin Chenoweth was attached to star, then with a separate creative team.
Universal Theatrical Group鈥攐verseen by Jimmy Horowitz and led by Lowe Cunningham鈥攊s producing.
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Company of Death Becomes Her
Taurean Everett and cast of Death Becomes Her
Michelle Williams, Megan Hilty, and cast of Death Becomes Her
Michelle Williams and cast of Death Becomes Her
Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Josh Lamon, and Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard in Death Becomes Her
Megan Hilty and cast of Death Becomes Her
Jennifer Simard, Megan Hilty, and Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
Jennifer Simard, Megan Hilty, Christopher Sieber, and cast of Death Becomes Her
Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber in Death Becomes Her
