We have some groundbreaking news for fans of The Devil Wears Prada. A brand-new musical adaptation is set to take over the Dominion Theatre later this year. Set to hit the West End in October, there are some legendary names attached to the project. When The Devil Wears Prada musical hits our fair city, none other than Vanessa Williams will play the iconic role of Miranda Priestly, the undisputed Queen of Fashion, and Editor-in-Chief of Runway Magazine!
Originally played by Meryl Streep in the 2006 hit film, the role is a perfect fit for Vanessa Wiliams. Williams is renowned for her scene-stealing performance in a similar editorial position, as Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty. She also flexed her comedy chops even further in the beloved Desperate Housewives series.
The Tony Award nominee is no stranger to the stage either, with previous theatre credits including Into The Woods, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and more. Williams rose to fame back in 1984 after winning (and resigning) the Miss America pageant.
Since then, she has established herself as a multi-award-winning singer, and an iconic actress, so we couldn’t think of a better person to play the diva that ends all divas, an all-singing, all-dancing Miranda Priestly.
The background of the Devil Wears Prada musical
Williams isn’t the only superstar involved in the musical. Elton John is in charge of the musical score. With such a hefty dose of pedigree, the new Devil Wears Prada musical is clearly going to be one of the must-sees of this year.
The production was first announced in 2017 when Elton John was first connected to the musician adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada. “Re-imagining The Devil Wears Prada for the musical theatre is super exciting. I’m a huge fan of both the book and the feature film and a huge aficionado of the fashion world. I can’t wait to sink my musical teeth into this hunk of popular culture,” he said at the time.
Elton John and Vanessa Williams are joined by a whole host of other big names in the biz who are bringing the film to the stage. Award-winning American musician Shaina Taub is contributing lyrics, with actor-writer Kate Wetherhead taking the reins over the script. Meanwhile, the award-winning Broadway director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell (of Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde) is directing. Talk about a wealth of talent!
The story behind the stage production
For those unfamiliar with the film, the plot follows ambitious writer and journalist Andy, who scores a job at one of the most prestigious fashion magazines in the country. Having to meet the demands of her powerful (and absolutely terrifying boss) Miranda, her life gets turned upside down – in the chicest way possible.
The film starred some of the biggest names in Hollywood, most notably Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. It’s gone on to become a cult noughties film fave with endlessly quotable lines and scenes that are still being referenced in pop culture today. So naturally, we’re so excited that this anticipated musical is one step closer to opening!
The production takes over London’s Dominion Theatre, starting in October. Click here to secure your ticket.