Musical Theatre Review: The Devil Wears Prada The Musical Struts into London's West End Starring Vanessa Williams!

In the infamous words of Miranda Priestly, “Why isn't anyone ready?” The Devil Wears Prada The Musical has strutted into London's West End! Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge Vanessa Williams fan and a musical theatre kid. I mean I’m literally watching Ugly Betty as I write this review and every Christmas I watch her highly underrated film ‘A Diva's Christmas Carol’. So when I found out the ‘Save The Best For Last’ iconic singer, actress and the first black Miss America was going to be performing in The Devil Wears Prada Musical in London where I’ve been living for over a year I knew I had to see the show! Walking into the Dominion Theatre was juxtaposed to New York Fashion Week or a Hollywood red carpet event. Lining the stairs were fashionably dressed theatre goers, step and repeats, photo booths and a viewing of gowns across from the upper level bars provided by Pamella Roland no doubt who is also a collaborator with the musical. So here is Saveurs rating for the latest musical to hit the West End. 

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MUSIC

The music is by Sir Elton John with lyrics by Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick so it is no surprise that every song in the musical is a smash hit! Ms. Williams known for her Lyric Mezzo-Soprano, her 3 Octaves, 1 Note and a Semitone voice that belted several 90’s hits was undeniable as Miranda Priestly. Tea on the side though, there was a moment in the show when delivering lines she sounded as though she lost her voice.

I wasn’t sure if it was a part of the scene and I was just so enamoured with the wardrobe (the scene where the cast is at the huge party and she comes down the stairs) that missed a pivotal line to warrant the vocal transition or if it was an actual loss of voice? Either way when she exited and returned to stage she hit her song out of the park like a true professional. The entire cast did a phenomenal job vocally, but I will say the actress who took the vocal crown and made me want to throw my shoe (look it up) was none other than Emily, played by Amy Di Bartolomeo represented by Collective Agents. Every time Bartolomeo hit the stage she delivered epic vocals and dance moves, even when she was sitting up in that hospital bed she served perfect choreography. We must also acknowledge the incredible vocals by Georgie Buckland who portrays Andy. Buckland obtained a BA in Musical Theatre at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and I am sure has made her Alma Matter proud. This was her West End debut and she knocked it out of the park.

ACTING

I have to give it up to the ensemble cast. Many people do not give them enough credit, but to act, sing and dance in stilettos for the many of the cast is extremely challenging and painful. Speaking from experience I’ve tried it, Governors Island, NYC Pride 2012 where I got to strut on stage in my six inch stilettos and dance with Natasha Bedingfield as she sang to the crowd. Needless to say Those actors were phenomenal and seamlessly switched through scenes and characters. Vanessa Williams and Matt Henry gave justice to the roles portrayed in the film by Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci. At first I did miss the characters who portrayed Andrea’s best friends in the film, but 15 minutes in and you realise the characters didn’t really add much to the storyline.

Through the musical number the storyline, although altered from the book and the film, still retained the film's essence whilst giving fans the one liners or zingers that made the film so iconic. It was a brilliant combination of acting with perfectly times musical interludes. 

SET DESIGN

The set designers did a great job with communicating the differences between the characters financial positions in life as well as their understanding of fashion and fabrics. There was a scene with this mirrored effect after the runway show where it looked as though the models were looking at their reflections but then the mirror wasn’t really there and you could see the other side. It was quite unique. Call me a musical theatre nerd but it kept my attention for the entire scene. 

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This musical is a must see, and you’re in luck because Ms. Vanessa Williams has extended her stay in the musical to 18 October 2025! But don’t run to the Dominion theatre, catwalk there from your taxi or Tottenham Court Road station, and remember…it’s cerulean.

STARRING

Vanessa Williams Georgie Buckland Amy Di Bartolomeo Matt henry James Darch Rhys Whitfield Debbie Kurup Maddy Ambus Gabby Antrobus Selena Barrons Nathan Lorainey- Dineen Ciro Lourencio Meulens Theo Papoui Jon Reynolds Harriet Samuel-Gray Joshua Steel Kayleigh Thandani

Pamela Blair Robertina Bonano Josh Damer-Jennings Lloyd Davies Elishia Edwards Akeem Ellis-Hyman Elizabeth Fullalove Jinny Gould Natasha Heyward Samuel How Luke Jackson Ethan Le Phong Christopher Parkinson Eleanor Peach Olivia Saunders Brandon Lee Sears Ella Valentine Tara Yasmin

MUSIC BY ELTON JOHN

CREATIVE TEAM

Props Supervisors: Zoë Wilson for Propworks Orchestral Management: Andy Barnwell & Rich Weeden for BW Musicians LTD Advertising & Marketing: Dewynters Press & PR: Emma Holland PR Partnerships: Milk Two Sugars General Management: Jamie Wilson Productions Production Management: Simon Marlow Music Supervisor, Orchestrator & Arranger: Tom Deering Music Executive: Giles Martin Associate Sound Designer: Andy Green Costume Supervisor: Karen Short Book: Kate Wetherhead

Scenic Design: Tim Hatley Costume Design: Gregg Barnes Lighting Design: Bruno Poet Sound Design: Gareth Owen Hair, Wigs & Makeup Design: Campbell Young Associates Casting: Jill Green CDG Associate Director: Dominic Shaw Associate Choreographer: Darren Carnall Associate Set Designer: Ross Edwards Associate Costume Designer: Kamil Bartnicki Associate Lighting Designer: Tamykha Patterson Lyrics: Shaina Taub Lyrics: Mark Sonnenblick

Props Supervisors: Zoë Wilson for Propworks

Orchestral Management: Andy Barnwell & Rich Weeden for BW Musicians LTD

Advertising & Marketing: Dewynters

Press & PR: Emma Holland PR

Partnerships: Milk Two Sugars

General Management: Jamie Wilson Productions

Production Management: Simon Marlow

Music Supervisor, Orchestrator & Arranger: Tom Deering

Music Executive: Giles Martin

Director & Choreographer: Jerry Mitchell

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐