It will soon be the end of an era for Megan Hilty in the Tony-winning hit musical comedy Death Becomes Her. Tony-nominated Hilty will give her final performance as “Madeline Ashton” on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, and Tony nominee Betsy Wolfe is set to take over the role, Universal Theatrical Group announced Monday.
Hilty originated the role of “Madeline” in both the world premiere production in Chicago and the Broadway run. She has been involved in developing the show since Spring 2023 and earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance.
Wolfe’s first performance as “Madeline” is set for Jan. 16.
Produced by Universal Theatrical Group and based on the Universal Pictures 1992 film, Death Becomes Her was the most nominated show of the 2024-2025 Broadway season with 33 total nominations, including 10 Tony Award noms, along with Outer Critics’ Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League and Chita Rivera Award nominations.
Per the official logline, “Madeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long-suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies… until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for. After one sip of Viola’s magical potion,Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored…and a grudge to last eternity. Life’s a bitch and then you die. Or not!”
Jennifer Simard also stars as Helen Sharp, Christopher Sieber as Ernest Menville and Grammy winner Michelle Williams as Violet Van Horn with Taurean Everett as Chagall and Josh Lamon as Stefan. Cast also features Marija Abney, Sarita Colón, Kaleigh Cronin, Alexa De Baar, Natalie Charle Ellis, Michael Graceffa, Neil Haskell, Ximone Rose, Bethany Ann Tesarck, Mitch Tobin, Sir Brock Warren, Bud Weber, Ryan Worsing, Warren Yang, Kyle Brown, Kristine Covillo, Alex Hartmanm, Lakota Knuckle, McKinley Knuckle, Johanna Moise, Justin O’Brien, Amy Quanbeck and Dee Roscioli.
Wolfe recently originated and starred in the title role in Joy, a new musical based on the lifeof inventor Joy Mangano. She was nominated for the 2023 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Anne Hathaway in & Juliet. Her other Broadway credits include Tony-nominated musical Waitress, the Broadway revival of Falsettos, and is perhaps best known for her critically acclaimed performance as Cathy in the Off-Broadway revival of The Last Five Years.
Death Becomes Her is directed and choreographed by Tony winner Christopher Gattelli, book by Tony nominee Marco Pennette, and original score by Tony nominees Julia Mattison and Noel Carey with scenic design by two-time Tony winner Derek McLane, costume design by Tony winner Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Tony winner Justin Townsend, sound design by Tony winner Peter Hylenski, hair and wig design by two-time Drama Desk Award winner Charles LaPointe, make-up design by Joe Dulude II, fight direction by Drama Desk Award winner Cha Ramos, with music supervision by Drama Desk Award winner Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by three-time Tony Award winner Doug Besterman, music direction byBen Cohn, dance & music arrangements by Tony Award nominee Sam Davis, vocal arrangements by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Julia Mattison & Noel Carey, music coordination by Kristy Norter, casting by Tara Rubin Casting, production stage management by Rachel Sterner, and general management by 321 Theatrical Management. Marcia Goldberg serves as Executive Producer.
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