BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

It has been 17 years since the beloved fashion comedy-drama starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, made its cinematic debut, and now it’s set to make its mark on the stage, specifically in London’s prestigious West End.

“The Devil Wears Prada’ musical is scheduled to arrive in London in October 2024, with Elton John leading the way as the composer of the musical score. On the website, it can be seen that the musical is strutting into London’s Dominion Theatre by October 2024. 

It can be read, “A new musical based on the smash-hit film and bestselling novel, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA features an original score by music legend Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub, a book by Kate Wetherhead and direction & choreography by 3-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Pretty Woman, Hairspray).”

“Fresh out of college, aspiring journalist Andy scores a job at the prestigious Runway magazine working for fashion’s most powerful and terrifying icon — editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly.”

“Sacrificing her personal life to meet Miranda’s impossible demands, Andy finds herself seduced by the glamorous world she once despised. How far will she go to succeed… and will it be worth selling her soul to get what she’s always wanted?”

“Hilariously fun and fabulously stylish, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA tells an inspiring story about discovering what kind of person you truly want to be.”

The production boasts music crafted by the Academy Award-winning Elton John, renowned for his compositions in hit musicals such as The Lion King and Aida. The lyrics are penned by the singer-songwriter Shaina Taub, celebrated for her songwriting contributions to productions like Twelfth Night and Suffragette.

“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,” Elton John said in an interview. 

The musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada underwent a pre-Broadway trial run in Chicago in 2022, under the direction of Anna D. Shapiro, which received mixed reviews. 

Subsequently, the show has undergone extensive reworking and revitalization for its London debut, featuring an entirely new creative team and cast. The casting details for the London production have yet to be disclosed.

It’s exciting to hear about the upcoming musical adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s popular 2003 novel. It seems like this production has been in development for quite some time and is set to make its debut in London in October 2024 at the Dominion Theatre, with a preview run scheduled for July 2024 at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

For those who may not be familiar with the story, “The Devil Wears Prada” (based on the novel of the same name) revolves around Andy Sachs, a young aspiring journalist, who secures a job as the co-assistant to Miranda Priestly, the formidable and demanding editor-in-chief of Runway magazine. 

The story delves into the challenges and experiences Andy faces while working in the high-stakes world of fashion journalism, particularly dealing with her demanding boss Miranda. Andy quickly immerses herself in a realm of opulence, rumors, and power struggles, necessitating her to strike a delicate balance between her career aspirations and her personal principles.

Upon noticing Andy’s transformed appearance and heightened commitment, Miranda starts entrusting her with more complex responsibilities and tasks. Gradually, Andy adopts the Runway philosophy and begins to exude a greater sense of glamor. 

Over time, her performance surpasses that of Emily, who is consumed by the idea of becoming Miranda’s assistant at Paris Fashion Week. In her quest to prepare for the event, Emily resorts to extreme and unhealthy diets.

In Paris, Andy gets the news of Miranda’s impending divorce from Miranda herself. Later that evening, Nigel shares with Andy that he’s accepted a job as a creative director with the up-and-coming designer James Holt.  Andy spends the night with Christian Thompson, an attractive writer, who discloses that Jacqueline Follet is set to replace Miranda as the editor of Runway. Andy tries to warn Miranda but is dismissed.

During a luncheon later that day, Miranda announces Jacqueline as the new creative director to Holt, leaving Andy and Nigel in shock. Later, Miranda reveals to Andy that she was already aware of the plan to replace her and sacrificed Nigel to secure her own position. 

Andy is disgusted, but Miranda points out that Andy did something similar to Emily by agreeing to go to Paris. Upon their arrival at their destination, Andy exits the car without saying a word and returns to New York.

Some time later, Andy encounters Nate, who shares that he has secured a new position as a sous-chef in Boston. They decide to maintain their relationship. On the same day, Andy undergoes an interview and gets accepted to work at a prominent publishing company in New York”

The editor mentions that he contacted Runway for a reference and was told by Miranda that, although Andy had been her most disappointing assistant, it would be foolish not to hire her. 

Subsequently, Andy reaches out to Emily and mends their relationship by offering her the clothing she acquired in Paris. While passing by the Runway office building, Andy locks eyes with Miranda and waves. Miranda doesn’t acknowledge her but grins to herself once she settles into her car.

It will be interesting to see how this beloved story translates into a musical format and what creative choices are made to bring these characters and their experiences to life on the stage. Fans of the novel and the 2006 film adaptation will likely be eagerly anticipating this new production.

The Devil Wears Prada musical is anticipated to captivate a broad audience, including enthusiasts of both the film and the book, along with those who have a fondness for the worlds of fashion, humor, and compelling storytelling.

This production pledges to deliver a mesmerizing experience, featuring stunning costumes, elaborate sets, and memorable songs, all wrapped within a clever and emotionally resonant narrative. It delves into significant themes like self-discovery, allegiance, and of course, women empowerment. 

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from Digital Spy