the mommy avenger

Confession time: after literal hundreds of shows on Broadway — years of reviewing, years of standing ovations, years of taking notes in the dark — I had never once set foot in a West End theater. Not one. All those trips to London, and somehow the theater district and I just kept missing each other.

So when I finally walked into the Dominion Theatre for The Devil Wears Prada, I felt like a total rookie again, and honestly? It was such a fun way to break in that first West End experience. There’s something about doing a “first” after years of feeling like you’ve seen it all that just resets your whole system. I was so excited to be there.

And what a fun, high-energy show to start with.

If you’ve seen the movie (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t), you know the bones of the story. Andy Sachs is a fresh-out-of-college, aspiring journalist who lands a job she doesn’t even want at Runway magazine — as assistant to Miranda Priestly, the most powerful and most terrifying woman in fashion. Andy starts out rolling her eyes at the whole industry, and ends up completely seduced by it: the clothes, the access, the power. The show follows her climb up (and, spiritually, her slow descent) as she sacrifices her relationships, her sense of self, and pretty much every ounce of sleep to keep up with Miranda’s impossible demands. It’s a story about ambition and what it costs you — but on stage, with a live band and lots of fashion, it becomes something even bigger and more electric than the movie ever was.

I mean — Vanessa. Williams. As Miranda Priestly. I don’t think I need to say much more than that, but I will anyway, because she earned it. She commands that stage with barely a raised eyebrow, and somehow that’s scarier and more magnetic than if she were shouting the whole show. She gives us a less-is-more performance, and the entire audience was eating out of her hand.

The rest of the cast held their own right alongside her, and truly, every single person on that stage was giving it their all. But if you’re going to ask me for a standout — and I know you are, because I’m about to tell you anyway — it’s Emily.

Taila Halford as Emily absolutely stole scenes out from under everyone, myself included, who I didn’t think could be stolen from. Her voice is powerful — like, sit-up-straighter-in-your-seat powerful — and she brought this frantic, fabulous, fully-committed energy to every single moment she was on stage. She was so much fun to watch that I genuinely found myself hoping the show would cut back to her. If you leave this show without talking about Emily, I don’t think we can be friends.

Okay, this is the part I really need you to understand: the fashion show sequences and the gala scenes are where this production goes from “great” to “how are they doing this every single night.” The stage transforms into a full-blown runway, the ensemble is dripping in couture, the lighting shifts into this pulsing, glamorous heartbeat, and the energy in that theater just clicked. You can feel the whole room lean forward. It’s the kind of stagecraft that makes you forget you’re in a theater at all — for a few minutes, you’re front row at a real fashion week, and it is a lot.

That’s really the throughline of the whole night for me: high energy, start to finish. This isn’t a quiet, contemplative sit-in-your-feelings kind of musical (though there are absolutely some tender moments that’ll get you). This is big, glossy, fast-paced, and so much fun.

I’d say yes, see it. If you love the movie, you’re going to enjoy seeing all your favorite lines and moments brought to life with music, choreography, and that Miranda-in-the-flesh magic. And if you’ve somehow never seen the movie? You’ll still have a great time, because this show stands on its own. You don’t need the homework to enjoy the party.

I walked out of the Dominion Theatre buzzing, already trying to figure out when I could go back. Not a bad way to kick off my West End theater-going.

Now, for the practical stuff. The Devil Wears Prada is playing at the Dominion Theatre in London, with tickets currently on sale through 6 February 2027. Prices start from £25, and you can book directly through the official site: devilwearspradamusical.com.

A few tips if you’re planning your trip: book 6+ weeks in advance for Monday–Friday performances (including peak weeks) and you can save £20 a ticket. Family rates start from £99 for four tickets (including two kids 17 or under) — great if you’re bringing the littles, though it’s recommended for ages 8+. Groups of 6–9 can book online for a set group rate, and larger groups (10+) can enquire directly for group and education pricing. Heads up, too: the show does include strobe lighting and haze, so plan accordingly if that’s a consideration for your group.

And one more thing — if Vanessa Williams as Miranda is on your bucket list, don’t wait too long. Her final performance in the role is 19th September 2026, so if you want to see her reign over that runway in person, get your tickets booked now.

Gird your loins, my friends — this one’s worth the trip across the pond.

^{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own*}