At a Glance
- Megan Hilty gave her last performance as Madeline Ashton in Death Becomes Her on January 11, 2025
- The actress received a mid-show standing ovation for her Act I number “Falling Apart”
- Betsy Wolfe will take over the role starting January 16, 2025
- Why it matters: A beloved Broadway originator exits, passing the torch to another Tony-nominated star
The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre brimmed with emotion as Megan Hilty ended her run in Death Becomes Her, the musical adaptation of the 1992 dark comedy. The January 11 matinee marked her final time embodying Madeline Ashton, the glamorous, immortal diva she has played since the show’s 2024 Chicago premiere.
A Show-Stopping Send-Off
From the moment Hilty stepped onstage, the audience erupted. Her entrance alone drew extended cheers, and midway through Act I her solo “Falling Apart” inspired a rare mid-show standing ovation.
Olivia M. Hartwell reported for News Of Losangeles that director-choreographer Christopher Gattelli and composer Julia Mattison (who wrote the score with Noel Carey) were among the industry members on hand to witness the milestone.
Curtain-Call Celebration
When the final chord sounded, Hilty crumbled. Tears streamed as the cast encircled her with applause. Costar Josh Lamon seized a microphone to praise the departing lead.
> “We are all obviously here to celebrate the one and only Megan Hilty,” Lamon declared, handing her a bouquet. “I tried to think of something to say and the one word that kept coming to mind is ‘extraordinary.’ Megan you are an extraordinary actress, comedian, human. You are not just our lead, you are our leader.”
Lamon highlighted Hilty’s off-stage role as a mother to daughter Viola Philomena, 11, and son Ronan Laine, 7, calling her “an extraordinary mother” who parented “while leading a show.”
> “We love you to the moon and this is not goodbye; this is a celebration,” he concluded.
Fellow castmates Michelle Williams and Dee Roscioli offered hugs as the curtain descended. Hilty waved, blew kisses, then leapt in jubilation with the company.
Hilty’s History With the Role
Hilty has been attached to Death Becomes Her since early development in 2023. She originated Madeline Ashton in Chicago and repeated the feat on Broadway, earning her second Tony nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.
The role, immortalized on screen by Meryl Streep, demands comic timing, powerhouse vocals, and the physical comedy required to play a woman who cannot die yet keeps falling apart-literally. After the 2025 Tony Awards in June, Hilty took a four-week hiatus to recover from a vocal injury, calling the part “the most challenging and rewarding role” she had “ever taken on.” She returned in July.
Box-Office Powerhouse
Based on Robert Zemeckis’ cult classic, the musical has become a Broadway favorite. Across the 2024-2025 theater season it has amassed:
| Honors | Count |
|---|---|
| Total nominations | 33 |
| Tony nominations | 10 |
The production mines dark humor from vanity, aging, and celebrity, anchored by a score that sends up bubble-gum pop, gospel, and big-band sounds.
The New Madeline
Stepping into Hilty’s stilettos is Betsy Wolfe, a Tony nominee for & Juliet. Wolfe begins performances January 16, inheriting a role that requires both vocal stamina and razor-sharp wit.
Star-Studded Cast
Alongside Hilty, the Broadway company features:
- Jennifer Simard, three-time Tony nominee, as frenemy Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn’s film role)
- Christopher Sieber, two-time Tony nominee, as love interest Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis’ role)
- Michelle Williams, Grammy winner, as enigmatic temptress Violet Van Horn (Isabella Rossellini’s role)
Tickets and What’s Next
Performances continue at the Lunt-Fontanne. Seats are on sale through the usual Broadway outlets, with Betsy Wolfe now headlining as the unstoppable Madeline Ashton.
Key Takeaways
- Megan Hilty’s final Death Becomes Her performance drew cheers, tears, and a mid-show standing ovation
- Hilty originated the Broadway role, earning her second Tony nomination
- Betsy Wolfe assumes the part starting January 16, 2025
- The musical has scored 33 nominations this season, cementing its status as a hit
