Chicago world premiere of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ musical, starring Beth Leavel, will be fashionably late

Beth Leavel will play Miranda Priestley in “The Devil Wears Prada.” | Nathan Johnson

The musical adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada,” which had been scheduled to make its pre-Broadway world premiere in Chicago next summer, has been delayed to 2021, producers announced Tuesday.

In addition, it was announced that accomplished stage star Beth Leavel, a Tony winner for “The Drowsy Chaperone,” will play Miranda Priestly, the intimidating magazine editor portrayed by Meryl Streep in the hit 2006 movie.

In the role of Miranda’s ambitious protege Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway in the film) will be up-and-comer Taylor Iman Jones.

Taylor Iman Jones

Elton John is providing the music for the New York-set show, which also boasts a book by Paul Rudnick (“In and Out”) and direction by Steppenwolf artistic director Anna D. Shapiro. Like the film, it’s adapted from Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel.

“The Devil Wears Prada” had been set for a July 14 opening at Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre but now is scheduled to run July 13-Aug. 15 at the CIBC Theatre).

“We realized that we wanted more time to work on the show,” producer Kevin McCollum said in a statement. “Our creative team members are in demand around the world with ridiculous schedules. The new dates mean that not only do we get an ideal theatre in Chicago (the CIBC Theatre), it also allows our New York landlord to confirm the Broadway venue, which means we have more time to coordinate our physical design, marketing and sales plans accordingly.”

Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep in the 2006 film “The Devil Wears Prada.”