Mortality Transformed: A Tiny Desk Performance
In *Death Becomes Her*, the main characters engage in whimsical conflicts, embracing humor and absurdity. Robert Zemeckis’ 1992 film has found its place as a beloved classic, and its stage adaptation — featuring a book by Marco Pennette and lyrics and music by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey — radiates a delightfully playful energy that truly deserves a nurturing environment like Tiny Desk.
Mattison and Carey were present to guide the Tiny Desk audience through the enchanting world they crafted. Michelle Williams, known for her captivating presence, takes on the role of Viola Van Horn, the potion-slinging sorceress, inviting us into her mystique with the performance of “If You Want Perfection.” Her reminder that our actions bear consequences is beautifully woven throughout the grooving melody of “Don’t Say I Didn’t (Warn You).”
In the delightful number “Tell Me, Ernest,” Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, and Christopher Sieber breathe life into a peculiar love triangle, interlaced with humor and poignancy. Despite their characters engaging in surreal antics, Hilty and Simard tenderly convey the nuances of their relationship in the show-stopping song “Alive Together,” allowing us to reflect on the complexities of love.
SET LIST
“If You Want Perfection”
“Tell Me, Ernest”
“Alive Together”
“Don’t Say I Didn’t (Warn You)”
MUSICIANS
Michelle Williams: vocals
Jennifer Simard: vocals
Megan Hilty: vocals
Christopher Sieber: vocals
Noel Carey: keys, background vocals
Julia Mattison: cowbell, background vocals
Dillon Kondor: guitar
Rob Jost: bass
Ben Cohn: keys
Damien Bassman: drums
Josh Lamon: background vocals
Taurean Everett: background vocals
Ximone Rose: background vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Mitra I. Arthur
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Alanté Serene, Nikki Birch
Audio Engineer: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Michael Zamora
Tiny Desk Team: Joshua Bryant, Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
