American singer and actress Vanessa Williams is set to portray the "queen of fashion" herself, Miranda Priestly, in Elton John's West End musical adaptation of "The Devil Wears Prada." Performances will start at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on July 9, before transferring to the Dominion Theatre on Oct. 24.
The production will be based on Lauren Wesberger's highly acclaimed 2003 novel, which also spawned a 2006 film version that cemented the story and its characters in the mecca of high fashion.
Before Williams, Meryl Streep took on the role of the commanding EIC opposite of Anne Hathaway's Andrea Sachs.
Actress Vannessa L. Williams speaks onstage at the "666 Park Avenue" panel during the Disney/ABC Television Group portion of the 2012 Summer TCA Tour on July 27, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.
Vanessa Williams' Return to West End
This upcoming project marks the return of Williams to the UK's theater scene after her West End debut in the "City of Angels" musical was interrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic back in March of 2020.
Williams, who is best known for her career as a singer and iconic stints in famed TV shows like "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives," has also made appearances in the premiere theatre district across the pond.
One such Broadway appearance is in a 2002 production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods," which earned her a Tony Awards nod for Best Lead Actress for a Musical. She also starred in Horton Foote's 2013 revival of "The Trip to Bountiful."
Of her new role, Variety quoted Williams saying: "Bringing Miranda Priestly to life in the West End is an absolute dream come true. Gird your loins, folks."
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Other Info on the Upcoming 'The Devil Wears Prada' Musical
The West End musical production will be having an original score composed by Elton John himself, with lyrics from American singer-songwriter Shaina Taub, and a book from Kate Wetherhead.
It will be directed and choreographed by three-time Tony-winning American theatre director Jerry Mitchell. Complete casting is yet to be announced.
This musical is actually on its "second life," following a review from Variety's Steven Oxman that described its initial developmental version, which ran in Chicago last 2022, as "serviceable entertainment" that needs a "hefty dose of guilty, edgy fun to boost its mild pleasures."
This musical is also John's latest addition to his foray into musical theatre, after writing and composing for the 2022 Almeida Theatre success that is the "Tammy Faye" musical, centering around the famed American televangelist of the same name.
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