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The Queen of Versailles Opens on Broadway to Mixed Reviews

Stephen Schwartz’s adaptation of Lauren Greenfield’s documentary draws praise for its star, scrutiny for its structure.

Overview

  • The musical opened November 9 at the St. James Theatre with Kristin Chenoweth as Jackie Siegel and F. Murray Abraham as David Siegel.
  • Critics widely applaud Chenoweth and the opulent design, while many find the book uneven and the songs weak or forgettable.
  • The story adapts the 2012 film about the Siegels’ plan for a 90,000-square-foot, roughly $100 million Orlando mansion disrupted by the 2008 recession.
  • Director Michael Arden stages the piece as a documentary-in-progress with recurring 17th‑century French court scenes and prominent video elements.
  • Production notes report a running time of about 2 hours 40 minutes with intermission, a high-profile creative team, and the real Jackie Siegel as an investor.