Megan Hilty Reveals Unexpected Broadway Beauty Weapon
You probably *think* you’ve mastered a beauty routine, but Megan Hilty’s backstage prep for Death Becomes Her will make you question everything you know about stage glam. The 44‑year‑old Broadway star, stepping into Meryl Streep’s Madeline Ashton role at Manhattan’s Lunt‑Fontanne Theatre, shared her entire smoke‑soaked survival kit in an April 17 Allure video. Spoiler alert: it’s not another contour palette.
First off, yes, she layers on high‑end products—Natasha Denona eyeshadows for that sultry drama, Charlotte Tilbury hues for a cinematic flush, and IT Cosmetics concealer to mask any theater fatigue. But the real showstopper? A tiny pill that isn’t performance‑enhancing in the usual sense. Hilty breaks down that this mint‑sized tablet “actually helps my mouth produce more saliva,” combatting the haze and smoke effects that dry out her throat and lips under those blazing footlights. I know, sounds bizarre, but that’s exactly why you need to take notes.
Once her base is set, Hilty has two cardinal rules: blot that iconic cherry-red lipstick until it’s matte enough not to migrate, and mist every inch of her face with a dedicated setting spray. Because nothing says “I’m a polished pro” like no‑smudge color and a dewy finish that survives quick costume changes and pyrotechnics.
In a separate PEOPLE chat, Hilty gushed about how the musical adaptation isn’t just a copy‑and‑paste from the 1992 film. Marco Pennette’s book, paired with Julia Mattison and Noel Carey’s score, achieves a fully reimagined theatrical experience filled with cheeky Easter eggs for die‑hard fans. And while she hasn’t rung up Streep directly—“I don’t know her and I can’t imagine that she has any time,” Hilty quipped—Meryl did send flowers on opening night with a cheeky note: “Break a leg, or I’ll break it for you.” Classic.
Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her debuted in Chicago before stomping its way to Broadway in November. The plot revolves around Madeline and Helen (Goldie Hawn’s original character, now played by Jennifer Simard) vying for eternal youth courtesy of Viola Van Horn’s enchanted potion—because, as the tagline so charmingly reminds us, “Life’s a bitch and then you die. Or not!”
So there you have it: a foolproof backstage beauty guide from someone who’s been in your exact smoky shoes. Take a pill, powder away, spritz liberally—and maybe you’ll finally understand why stage makeup is a whole different beast. Hopefully that wasn’t *too* complicated.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Allure, PEOPLE, Dotdash Meredith
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
