# The Queen of Versailles (musical)

The Queen of Versailles is a 2024 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Lindsey Ferrentino. It is based on the 2012 documentary of the same name directed by Lauren Greenfield about Jackie and David Siegel, owners of Westgate Resorts, who are building a gigantic mansion, Versailles, in central Florida.
The musical premiered at Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts in July and August 2024, starring Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham. Reviews have been mostly positive. A Broadway production is scheduled to open in late 2025.

## Synopsis

In central Florida, just as the housing bubble bursts and the 2008 financial crisis nearly bankrupts them, Jackie and David Siegel, are building a gigantic mansion named and modeled after the Palace of Versailles in France. Jackie is a former model and Mrs. Florida pageant winner, warm, optimistic, and naïve; her husband David, 30 years her senior, is an aggressive businessman, as optimistic as his wife; he is the founder and owner of Westgate Resorts, famous for its timeshares, and also owns property in Las Vegas.
Jackie's life story unfolds, from her middle-class, small town childhood to her ambitious pursuit of her life of luxury and celebrity. This is juxtaposed against events in the history of the royal court of Versailles involving Marie Antoinette. As the Great Recession strikes, construction on the house is halted and the entire staff is let go, other than the Siegels' longtime driver and nanny. Jackie struggles to control her shopping addiction, and David focuses single-mindedly on saving his real estate empire. Jackie's relationship with her daughter Victoria evolves, and Victoria forms a bond with her cousin, Jonquil, who comes to live with the Siegels.
Through David's efforts, the family's fortunes eventually recover, and they avert bankruptcy. A devastating tragedy strikes when Victoria dies.

## Productions
### Boston (2024)

The musical premiered at Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 16, with an opening night on August 1, and ran there until August 25, 2024. It starred Kristin Chenoweth as Jackie Siegel and F. Murray Abraham as David A. Siegel with direction by Michael Arden and choreography by Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant. In Variety, Bob Verini called the show Chenoweth's "richest opportunity to date to flex her dramatic muscles [and] the most emotionally affecting score, bar none, of [Schwartz's] long career"; he praised the musical's "sociopolitical critique", Chenoweth, Abraham ("staggeringly good") White, Butiu and the designers, but noted that the long running time "begs to be tightened". Other positive reviews included those in Boston.com, The New York Times (which cautioned that Act II needs improvement), and Time Out. Less enthusiastic was the review by Cameron Kelsall in TheaterMania.

### Planned Broadway production

A Broadway production is expected to open at the St. James Theatre in previews on October 8, with opening night on November 10, 2025, again starring Chenoweth and Abraham; Chenoweth also will be a producer. Arden will again direct, with the Grands choreographing. Designers are set to be Dane Laffrey (sets), Christian Cowan (costumes) Natasha Katz (lighting) and Peter Hylenski (sound).

## Characters and original cast

| Character | Boston |
| Character | 2024 |
| Jackie Siegel | Kristin Chenoweth |
| David A. Siegel | F. Murray Abraham |
| Sofia Flores | Melody Butiu |
| John | Stephen DeRosa |
| Gary | Greg Hildreth |
| Jonquil Peed | Tatum Grace Hopkins |
| Debbie | Isabel Keating |
| Victoria Siegel | Nina White |