Upcoming Death Becomes Her dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The musical version of the 1992 cult comedy
Death Becomes Her is a musical comedy adapted from Robert Zemeckis's 1992 film. After a Broadway run at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre that ended on June 28, 2026, it is now a touring show: the North American tour launched on September 12, 2026, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. If you want to see it, a touring stop is the way to do it as of October 2026.
The story follows Madeline Ashton, a vain actress, and Helen Sharp, her longtime rival and former friend, who both drink a potion that grants eternal youth. Immortality turns out to have side effects, and their feud continues through injuries that should have been fatal, with the plastic surgeon Ernest Menville caught in between. The tone is deliberately camp (broad, theatrical and self-aware humor), and that is the appeal.
Marco Pennette wrote the book, Julia Mattison and Noel Carey wrote the music and lyrics, and Christopher Gattelli directed and choreographed.
From Chicago tryout to Broadway to the road
- Chicago tryout: Cadillac Palace Theatre, April 30 to June 2, 2024.
- Broadway: previews began October 23, 2024, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, with an official opening on November 21, 2024. The run ended June 28, 2026, after 27 previews and 666 regular performances.
- Original Broadway cast: Megan Hilty as Madeline, Jennifer Simard as Helen, Christopher Sieber as Ernest and Michelle Williams as Viola Van Horn, the seller of the potion. Betsy Wolfe took over as Madeline in January 2026.
- Awards: 10 Tony nominations at the 78th Tony Awards, with a win for Paul Tazewell's costume design. Charles LaPointe also won a 2025 Drama Desk Award for wig and hair design. The cast recording earned a Grammy nomination.
As of October 2026, the tour's early stops include Cleveland, Columbus, St. Louis, Omaha, Nashville and Durham, with more cities listed on the official site. The tour cast is not the Broadway cast, so check the cast page if a particular performer matters to you.
Runtime, age fit and content
Playhouse Square lists the touring production at about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission. The official site does not publish a firm age rule, so check the presenting venue's guidance for children.
In practice, the show suits teenagers and adults best. The humor leans on vanity, aging, cosmetic surgery, revenge and adult innuendo, and the gags involve characters surviving gruesome injuries. Nothing is graphic in a horror sense, but the jokes land for people who know what plastic surgery and a midlife crisis are. Fans of the film, drag culture and old Hollywood send-ups make up much of the audience.
The production relies on stage illusions designed by Rob Lake, such as twisted necks and characters who keep moving after fatal accidents. Those effects are part of the comedy, and they are easiest to appreciate from a centered seat.
Best seats for the tour in a typical performing arts center
Touring houses vary, but most have an orchestra (the ground floor), one or two mezzanine or balcony levels, and side boxes. For this show, the choice comes down to faces versus the full picture.
Center orchestra
The middle third of the orchestra is the best all-around location. Much of the comedy is in facial expressions and timing, and the two leading women play broadly to the house. You also see the illusions at the angle they are designed for, which keeps the trick hidden.
Front mezzanine
The first rows of the lowest balcony, near the center, show Gattelli's choreography and the large costume numbers well and often cost less than the prime orchestra. In a large hall, this is often better than the back of the orchestra.
Seats to think twice about
- Extreme side seats: sharp angles can reveal how an illusion works or hide part of the set.
- Rear orchestra under a deep overhang: the upper part of the stage can be cut off.
- Top balcony in very large halls: the performers look small, which weakens a show built on faces.
How demand behaves for the tour
Tour engagements are short, often one or two weeks per city, which concentrates demand. Opening nights and Friday and Saturday evenings sell first, while Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and weekday matinees usually have the widest choice. In cities where the show is part of a Broadway subscription series, season subscribers buy early, so the best orchestra seats can be gone before single tickets go on general sale.
Resale prices tend to climb as a short engagement nears its final weekend. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee. For confirmed cities and dates, see the official Death Becomes Her site.
Frequently asked questions
Is Death Becomes Her still on Broadway?
No. The Broadway production at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre closed on June 28, 2026. A North American tour began on September 12, 2026, in Cleveland.
How long is Death Becomes Her?
Playhouse Square lists the touring production at about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission.
Is Death Becomes Her appropriate for kids?
The production does not publish a firm age rule. The humor is adult, built on vanity, cosmetic surgery, revenge and innuendo, so it generally suits teens and adults best. Check the presenting venue's guidance.
Who wrote Death Becomes Her the musical?
Marco Pennette wrote the book, and Julia Mattison and Noel Carey wrote the music and lyrics. Christopher Gattelli directed and choreographed.
Did Death Becomes Her win any Tony Awards?
It received 10 Tony nominations and won one, for Paul Tazewell's costume design.