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As Michelle Williams hits the stage for her next Broadway role, she’s wishing her former Destiny’s Child girl group members — Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland — would, too.
“I would actually love for them to,” Williams, 45, exclusively told Us Weekly on the purple carpet for the opening night of Death Becomes Her. “I think they’re very capable of starring in a Broadway show — absolutely!”
While Beyoncé and Rowland aren’t announcing their theater runs just yet, a Destiny’s Child reunion did take place earlier this month when the duo — along with Beyoncé’s mom, Tina Knowles — attended Williams’ first show to support their longtime friend.
Death Becomes Her, it turns out, has sparked multiple reunions. Williams, and Paul Tazewell — the show’s costume designer — teamed back up after working together on the first national tour of The Color Purple in 2007. Their shared history immediately put Williams at ease (Tazewell is also known for his work on Broadway’s Hamilton, which won him a Tony award for Best Costume Design for a Musical, and this year’s Wicked film.)
Independent women! Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, LaTavia Roberson, LeToya Luckett and Farrah Franklin ended up on very different paths after their time in Destiny’s Child. The girl group was formed in Houston in 1990 under the name Girl’s Tyme. Their original lineup consisted of Beyoncé, Roberson, Rowland, Támar Davis and sisters Nikki and […]
“When I saw his name was actually a part of that design team, I said nothing,” she told Us. “ I knew I was gonna be in good hands.”
In the first act of Death Becomes Her — based on the 1992 movie of the same name — Williams stands center stage in a sparkly purple ensemble designed by Tazewell himself. Some of those more glamorous costumes reminded Williams of her own girl group days.
“Especially with all the beading and some of the jewels. I know in some of the fittings, I was reminded of all those times of being cinched in corsets,” Williams continued. “I do love that about theater, the dressing up that we can do depending on the type of show. And this show, beautiful, beautiful designs.”
When it comes to bringing a new musical to Broadway, producers find inspiration in all sorts of places — including beloved movies. Tina Fey premiered her musical version of the hit movie Mean Girls in April 2018. “The greatest thing about bringing this musical to life is that our creative team didn’t say, ‘Can you […]
In Death Becomes Her, Williams plays Viola Van Horn, a woman who gives a youth potion to Madeline Ashton (Megan Hilty) and Helen Sharp (Jennifer Simard). Williams inherited the role from Isabella Rossellini in the film and found her own way to keep it fresh, telling Us, “All I can do is bring me, you know?”
As a Destiny’s Child fan, Williams’ costar Christopher Sieber, who plays Ernest — originated by Bruce Willis on screen — was in awe working with such a musical legend. “When they said Michelle was going to join us, I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Sieber told Us. “And all of my gay friends were like, ‘What? Michelle Williams?’ I said, ‘Yeah!’”
Julia Mattison, meanwhile — who composed the show’s music and lyrics — was “in heaven” working with Williams, and used Williams’ decades-long career to her advantage.
“My Harmony brain was very much wired thanks to Destiny’s Child,” Mattison told Us. “Her voice is so ingrained in the same years where I became obsessed with musical theater and Broadway. And so, coming up and having her be a part of it is so amazing.”
Death Becomes Her is now playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
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