Latest news with #MeganHilty
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Smash' star Megan Hilty to take leave of absence from Broadway's ‘Death Becomes Her'
Megan Hilty is taking a break from 'Death Becomes Her.' The Broadway star, 44, who is also known for her stint on the TV show 'Smash,' announced her leave of absence from the stage production on Instagram Wednesday. Hilty stars as Madeline Ashton in the play adaptation of 1992 movie by the same name featuring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, which has been running at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre since November 2024. 8 Megan Hilty stars as Madeline Ashton in the play adaptation of 1992 movie by the same name featuring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. / 'I love my job,' Hilty started her lengthy post, adding that playing Madeline has been 'the most challenging and rewarding role I have ever taken on.' She emphasized the physical aspect of her role, noting she needs to take the next several weeks off to recover from a vocal injury. 'The lengths to which I have gone to make sure I can physically do the show is a job in itself – the regimen is too long for this post – but I do it joyfully because, as I mentioned before, I LOVE what I do,' the star explained. Calling the news 'painful,' Hilty shared that she's 'stepping away from my beloved DBH family for 3-4 weeks while I recover from a vocal injury that only time can heal.' The actress also shared that it's 'hard for me to admit I am human,' noting that 'performers are often asked to push through and pretend that we're not.' 8 The actress included this photo from the 2025 Tony Awards in her announcement. Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions 8 Megan Hilty has starred in 'Death Becomes Her' since it opened on Broadway in November. Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions 8 Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Josh Lamon and Christopher Sieber. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman However, she said her 'Death Becomes Her' family thinks differently. 'I am so fortunate to work with the best producers, company, & stage managers, who don't subscribe to that way of thinking and fully support me and my fellow cast mates when our bodies tell us it's time for a break,' she continued. Hilty asked for patience and understanding during this transition period while encouraging others to research how vocal cords work. 8 Megan Hilty is taking a few weeks off to recover from a vocal injury. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman 'We are athletes. And just like a professional basketball player, we are going to get injured from time to time – not because we aren't good at our jobs, it simply comes with the territory because of the extraordinary demands we put on our bodies,' she added. Hilty concluded, 'Thank you for your patience and support while I take this time to take care of myself to ensure my longevity with the show and my career, in general. 'In the meantime, Madeline's fabulous shoes will be filled brilliantly and I'll be counting the seconds until I can meet you back at the Lunt-Fontanne. 💋' 8 She praised her 'Death Becomes Her Family' while vocalizing their support. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman 8 She recently performed a number from 'Death Becomes Her' at the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman The performer was recently diagnosed with tendinitis in her throat, telling the New York Times in May that it was due to 'the physical stuff I do with my neck in the show. It pulls on my voice box and I ultimately have to call out of the show if it's affecting my voice and it's too painful.' Hilty recently performed a number from 'Death Becomes Her' at the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, where she was also nominated. 'Death Becomes Her' features Hilty as Madeline alongside fellow Tony nominee Jennifer Simard as Helen Sharp. Their co-stars include Michelle Williams, Christopher Sieber, Taurean Everett and Josh Lamon. 8 The actress was recently diagnosed with tendinitis in her time away from the stage comes just two days after 'Smash' on Broadway abruptly announced their final show after suffering a Tony Awards shutout. While she did not star in the Broadway production, Hilty played Ivy Lynn in the short-lived musical series, which only ran two seasons on NBC from 2012-2013. The last show of the Broadway production of 'Smash' will be June 22 after 32 previews and just 84 regular performances. The abrupt ending was revealed after The Post reported that the Tony Awards producers refused to let 'Smash' and 'Boop! The Betty Boop Musical' perform during the three-hour broadcast.
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Broadway star Megan Hilty is often expected to 'pretend she's not human' as she reveals sudden injury
Megan Hilty has often been asked to "pretend she is not human" for the sake of her job. The 44-year-old actress recently received a Tony nomination for her role in the Broadway adaptation of the Meryl Streep film Death Becomes Her, but revealed on Wednesday (11.06.25) night that she has to take an immediate leave of absence from the show due to a vocal injury and thanked the producers for understanding that she cannot just "push through" this time. She wrote on Instagram: "I love my job. Madeline Ashton is by far the most challenging and rewarding role I have ever taken on. The lengths to which I have gone to make sure I can physically do the show is a job in itself - the regimen is too long for this post - but I do it joyfully because, as I mentioned before, I LOVE what I do. "Which is why it is so painful to say that I will be stepping away from my beloved DBH family for 3-4 weeks while I recover from a vocal injury that only time can heal. "It's hard for me to admit I am human, particularly because performers are often asked to push through and pretend that we're not. I am so fortunate to work with the best producers, company, and stage managers, who don't subscribe to that way of thinking and fully support me and my fellow castmates when our bodies tell us it's time for a break." The former Smash star then asked her fans to have "patience and understanding" for everyone in her industry as she reminded them that actors are like "athletes" in terms of what they are expected to do. She added: "I kindly ask for your patience and understanding - not just for me, but for all Broadway performers. What we do with our teeny tiny vocal cords is nothing short of a Herculean task - one that most people take for granted and very few actually understand. I encourage you to do the research and see for yourself how your own vocal cords work - it is fascinating and I guarantee it'll make you all the more impressed the next time you see a live performance. "We are athletes. And just like a professional basketball player, we are going to get injured from time to time - not because we aren't good at our jobs, it simply comes with the territory because of the extraordinary demands we put on our bodies. "Thank you for your patience and support while I take this time to take care of myself to ensure my longevity with the show and my career, in general. "In the meantime, Madeline's fabulous shoes will be filled brilliantly and I'll be counting the seconds until I can meet you back at the Lunt-Fontanne. "
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tony Awards 2025 WORST dressed list: Katie Holmes and Cynthia Erivo hit red carpet in bizarre looks
From over-the-top feathers and nearly naked looks to bright colors and clashing patterns, the 2025 Tony Awards has been filled with a slew of sartorial nightmares and fashion faux pas. The event, which is being hosted by Wicked star Cynthia Erivo and is set to honor the biggest stars and shows on Broadway, will kick off at 8pm EST/5pm PST and will stream live on CBS and Paramount+ with Showtime. Ahead of the ceremony, a slew of A-listers descended upon the red carpet at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. And while some wowed in glamorous dresses and stunning looks... others completely missed the mark with their ensembles. That's right, many of Hollywood's most elite failed to impress with their bizarre outfit choices at the glittering soiree. Katie Holmes worst dressed list as she hit the carpet in a boxy green top and an awkward pink skirt, seemingly channeling the movie Wicked with her color choice. Wicked star Cynthia came in a close second with her enormous tan corset top, which contained an intricate floral pattern. She paired the shirt - which was gigantic and fit awkwardly on her frame - with a floor-length silk skirt. Death Becomes Her star Megan Hilty donned a gold frock that had bizarre feathers all over the sleeves and skirt. Canadian TV personality Keltie Knight opted for a floor-length sparkly gown that had an enormous unicorn on it... and it just didn't work Model Anna Alimani arrived at the event in a sheer, lacy number, which left her undergarments on full display Hamilton actor Sydney James Harcourt walked the carpet in a dazzling, leopard print suit with a sheer patterned top underneath - and he had a little too much going on Canadian TV personality Keltie Knight opted for a floor-length sparkly gown that had an enormous unicorn on it... and it just didn't work. Hamilton star Phillipa Soo's one-shouldered white frock ensured all eyes would be on her... but for the wrong reasons. It contained a strange bow in the center of her chest area and a unflattering tiered skirt. Model Anna Alimani arrived at the event in a sheer, lacy number, which left her undergarments on full display. Hamilton actor Sydney James Harcourt walked the carpet in a dazzling, leopard print suit with a sheer patterned top underneath - and he had a little too much going on.
Vogue
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Tony Awards Live Updates: The Red Carpet Has Opened at the 2025 Tonys
Tonight's Tony Awards will celebrate a Broadway season that had, in a word, everything: sky-high ticket sales (here's looking at you, Othello and Good Night, and Good Luck); performances from treasured members of the casts of both Succession and Glee; a musical based on NBC's Smash while Megan Hilty, a star of NBC's Smash, starred in something else; a play based on Stranger Things while Sadie Sink, a star of Stranger Things, starred in something else; a Pussycat Doll playing Norma Desmond; Titus Andromedon playing Mary Todd Lincoln; and two different musicals about a dead body. It's why we're so excited to expect the unexpected during the ceremony—especially with a performer as multitalented as Cynthia Erivo assuming hosting duties. Follow along right here for Vogue's moment-to-moment coverage of the 78th Tony Awards—from our picks for the best looks of the night, to glimpses inside the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall and an accounting of all the winners.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
‘That was rude': why the new Broadway musical Death Becomes Her was ripe for TikTok memes
By Gregory Camp of Photo: AFP A few snippets of musicalised dialogue from the cast album of the new Broadway musical Death Becomes Her - with music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, and a book by Marco Pennette - have recently become trending sonic memes on TikTok. In all sorts of situations, users are lip synching to audio clips of Broadway star Jennifer Simard, in the character of Helen Sharp (played by Goldie Hawn in the 1992 cult film on which the musical is based), saying things like "That was rude. That was pretty f**kin' rude" and "She stole my life. She made me cuckoo. She's why I spent four years locked in that health spa." Musical theatre fans love a good meme (scholar Trevor Boffone has written a whole book about the phenomenon) and Death Becomes Her is primed to create a lot of them: a show featuring two divas (played by Simard and Megan Hilty as Madeleine Ashton, Meryl Streep's role in the movie) based on a cult film about divas begs to be shaped and reshaped by fan culture. Helen and Madeleine are longtime rivals who both take a magic potion that makes them immortal. This leads them to find increasingly extravagant ways to try and do away with each other, with the help of Helen's put-upon husband Ernest (Christopher Sieber), a plastic surgeon who reluctantly falls into the role of restoring their bodies after each "accident". Some of Hilty's clips have also been TikTok-ified (notably Tell Me, Earnest) but Simard is winning the numbers game. Her "That was rude" clip alone has 321,000 videos and counting. There seem to be two main reasons for the attraction of these clips. First is Simard's delivery of the words. Simard is a longstanding Broadway star and an expert at musical comedy timing. Second is the rhythmic quality of the dialogue. Not fully sung, these bits are spoken in mostly strict rhythm over orchestral accompaniment. That they have become such earworms demonstrates it is not only melody that burrows into the brain, but also rhythmic contour. There is a long history of this style of speak-singing in musical theatre, notably popularised in the late 1950s by Robert Preston in The Music Man and Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady. Neither of those actors was a strong singer, but both had excellent timing and were able to deliver spoken lines above music with a strong sense of musicality. Simard is an excellent singer with a very wide range, but the comic role of Helen - ever the underdog to her rival famous actress Madeleine - lends itself to this style of heightened speech. Most effective rhythmically, and the most popular excerpt, is the "That was rude" meme, where Simard begins slowly without accompaniment; the bass comes in on "rude" and sets a groove for the rest of the short excerpt. This one has been used in every possible situation, from responses to nasty notes left on people's cars to complaints about incorrect drink orders. Some of the TikTokers refer to Simard in on-screen text, but this one seems to have become popular outside any specific reference to the show, in a truly viral moment. The lengthiest of the trending excerpts is the one that begins with "We talked about killing her before", which sets off a monologue about Helen's plan to do away with Madeline once and for all. This is a tour de force for Simard's comic timing, as it begins in free rhythm and then gradually takes on a more consistent beat. TikTokers are tending to use this one primarily as a demonstration of their lip-syncing skills, as opposed to the other shorter clips that are applied in different ironic situations. This trend also shows the continuing importance of the cast album in musical theatre culture. The majority of TikTokers probably have not seen the show, currently only playing on Broadway with high ticket prices. Yet the cast album (easily available on all the main streaming sites) gives access. The fact these clips come from a cast album also more easily allows fans to create their own visuals around it. Unless they actually saw the show they only have production photographs and short publicity clips (and the occasional shaky bootleg or slime tutorial) to go on in terms of what it looks like. Audio from a source like the soundtrack of the Wicked movie has not led to so many lip-sync videos because the visual track is so readily accessible; as a film, Wicked's visuals define its audio while a cast album can more easily work the other way round. I saw Death Becomes Her on Broadway in January and enjoyed it. It's a fun show full of special effects and comic bits. The score is serviceable (it's not Sondheim), but it is catchy - very important for its use in these TikTok trends - and well performed by Simard and the rest of the cast. This whole phenomenon demonstrates that the current cultural sphere of "Broadway" extends well beyond the street itself. This has been the case at least since the rise of the cast album in the 1950s (My Fair Lady's was the best-selling LP of 1956), but now the reach is intensified by social media spaces like TikTok; you don't have to have actually seen Death Becomes Her to experience it.
