This fall, stage and screen star Vanessa Williams is busy. She's currently a producer on Broadway's A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, and she's about to play the fearsome Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada in the West End. Based on the film and book of the same name, the musical sees Williams playing the editor in chief of the fictional magazine Runway (based on Vogue). Williams is currently in rehearsal in London, but before she left, she told Playbill (at the press event for Wonderful World) what audiences can expect from her version of Miranda. The character is best remembered from when Meryl Streep played her in the film.
"I have to fill the emotions of a 2,000-plus seat theatre," says Williams. "So I can't afford to whisper, and I can't afford to be small—where you can have that luxury in front of a lens when you're doing it for film. So I'm bringing it all. I'm bringing all the attitude and all the fierceness that I can to fill that room." See what else audiences can expect from Devil Wears Prada, including what fashion designer is dressing Williams in the show, in the video above.
Devil Wears Prada begins performances at the Dominion Theatre October 24. It previously had a run this past summer at Theatre Royal Plymouth. The musical features music by Elton John, lyrics by two-time 2024 Tony winner Shaina Taub, and a book by Kate Wetherhead. Jerry Mitchell is directing and choreographing.
Wonderful World begins performances on Broadway at Studio 54 October 16. The musical has James Monroe Iglehart playing famed musician Louis Armstrong and details Armstrong's life and the four women who influenced it. Iglehart is directing the musical alongside Christina Sajous and Christopher Renshaw. The show features Armstrong's most well-known songs, and a book by Aurin Squire.