It is the reference film for fashion enthusiasts. “The Devil Wears Prada” will be the centrepiece of a musical to be staged in London in October 2024. While the cast remains a mystery, the music will be written by British singer-songwriter Elton John. This is sure to delight die-hard fans of the book, published 20 years ago, and of its film adaptation, a big hit in 2006.
The behind-the-scenes stories of a prestigious fashion editorial office, although scripted (but very much inspired by reality?), continue to galvanise the crowds.
In 2003, Lauren Weisberger, who had worked at US Vogue as Anna Wintour’s assistant, published the book The Devils Wears Prada. Building on its success, the book was adapted into a film in 2006, directed by David Frankel.
An iconic film
The heroine of the story is young journalist Andrea Sachs, a recent graduate nicknamed Andy (played by Anne Hathaway). By a twist of fate, she joins the editorial staff of the flagship magazine Runway as second assistant to editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep). Although the writer has denied it, Miranda is said to be directly inspired by fashion papilla Anna Wintour.
This dream job for fashion enthusiasts turns out to be a far cry from Andy’s aspirations. Faced with a boss with a temper who is never contradicted, her colleague Emily Charlton (played by Emily Blunt), who will do anything to make a career in fashion, and codes that are far removed from her everyday life, Andy nevertheless doesn’t give up, motivated by the professional prospects that await her at the end of her one-year contract.
The film quickly became an icon in the fashion and film industries. In fact, there is no shortage of ingredients for this success: a skilfully controlled rhythm, between questioning and intensity of Fashion Week, a five-star cast, silhouettes of the greatest designers who set trends in the late 2000s, catchy music…
Not to mention a moral that appeals to a wide audience: what are you prepared to sacrifice to succeed in your career? All qualities that have been hailed by critics and film awards bodies.
A musical comedy adaptation
That’s all it took to encourage artists to create a musical. Since 2017, singer and composer Elton John has been working on an adaptation of the work to be enjoyed directly on stage.
Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, the musical features music by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and libretto by Kate Wetherhead. For the moment, no information on the cast has been revealed.
In 2022, a first presentation took place in Chicago before the show was fine-tuned and modernised to meet new societal expectations. However, we will have to wait until October 2024 and visit London’s Dominion Theatre to see this stage version of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.
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Photo on the front page: Screenshot The Devil Wears Prada
