Elton John to compose music for The Devil Wears Prada musical set to premiere in 2020

A movie adaptation headed to the stage? Groundbreaking. The Devil Wears Prada is the latest cultural hit to transition to the theatre, as it has been announced that the stylish workplace drama will be turned into a musical with songs written by Sir Elton John and composer Shaina Taub.

Popularised by the film of the same name starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, the musical will be based on both the movie and the original 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger.

Sir Elton John is set to write the music while Shaina Taub will write the lyrics, with August: Osage County’s Tony award winning director helming the project.

John said, “Re-imagining The Devil Wears Prada for the musical theatre is super-exciting. I'm a huge fan of both the book and the feature film, and a huge aficionado of the fashion world. I can't wait to sink my musical teeth into this hunk of popular culture."

The show will have a pre-Broadway run in Chicago next year at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, playing between July 14 through to August 16. It is not known when the musical will be coming to Broadway and the cast has not been formally announced.

Taub, who recently adapted Twelfth Night into a musical for Shakespeare in the Park this summer, said to Deadline, “It’s just a thrill. [Elton John’s] an incredible artist and so kind, and so open, and so collaborative, and it’s just been a really powerful experience to work with a legend who really is an artist who loves making music and loves to collaborate with new people. It’s just been a wonderful experience so far, and I’m excited to keep going.”

She added that she was a “huge fan of Elton’s work” and revealed that she had visited him over the summer, during which time she “wrote the first batch of songs with Elton”.

This is far from the first time that Sir Elton has been involved in the production of a major musical, as he has previously composed music for Billy Elliot, Aida, Lestat and The Lion King.

Tickets for the Chicago run will go on sale on October 6 and will be available via Broadway in Chicago.