What Happened to The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical?

The journey of "The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical" began in 2017 when producer Kevin McCollum announced its development, with music by Elton John and lyrics by Shaina Taub. The initial aim was a Broadway run. A pre-Broadway tryout eventually premiered in Chicago at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, running from July 19 to August 21, 2022. This production featured Beth Leavel as Miranda Priestly and Taylor Iman Jones as Andy Sachs, under the direction of Anna D. Shapiro. However, the Chicago run was met with largely negative critical reviews, which highlighted issues with the book, music, and overall artistic interpretation, leading to the shelving of immediate Broadway ambitions.

Rather than abandoning the project, the creative team undertook a significant overhaul. Tony and Olivier Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell took over the reins for a completely reworked version. Mark Sonnenblick joined Shaina Taub as an additional lyricist, and Kate Wetherhead penned the book. This new production was essentially built from scratch, featuring new staging, a new design team, and a fresh approach to the material. This strategic pivot proved to be a turning point for the musical's fortunes.

The revitalized production had its UK premiere as a preview engagement at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, from July 9 to August 17, 2024. It then transferred to London's West End, officially opening at the Dominion Theatre in October 2024, with a charity gala in December 2024. The West End cast was led by Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly and Matt Henry as Nigel, with Georgie Buckland as Andy. Despite some initial mixed critical notices, audience demand was exceptionally strong from the outset.

The London production quickly became a resounding success, establishing itself as the fastest-selling show in the Dominion Theatre's history, having sold over 1.2 million tickets to date. Its popularity led to multiple extensions, with the show initially booking into early 2026. In September 2025, a new cast was announced for a run extending until September 2026, with Stevie Doc taking over as Andy. Vanessa Williams and Matt Henry extended their acclaimed runs. The musical also released its first original cast recording in September 2025, which included two unheard Elton John demos and charted as the #1 new release on the compilations chart.

As of August 2026, the musical continues its highly successful run in London. Producers announced in July 2026 that Vanessa Williams would conclude her run as Miranda Priestly on September 19, 2026, and Matt Henry would depart as Nigel on October 17, 2026 (though his run was later extended to February 2027). Most recently, in August 2026, a further booking extension was announced, securing the show's run at the Dominion Theatre until September 25, 2027. The production is set to celebrate its 800th performance on September 23, 2026, solidifying its status as a major West End hit.