Since it opened to critical acclaim, Broadway fans wondered if the revival of Sunset Boulevard starring Nicole Scherzinger was going to stay a limited engagement, or if it would extend with a new star. Well, the production has provided an answer. In an Instagram post, the production announced that show will officially close July 13 (it had previously been on sale until July 6).
This revival of Sunset, currently running at the St. James Theatre, is directed by Jamie Lloyd. Scherzinger plays faded silent screen star Norma Desmond seven shows a week with guest star Mandy Gonzalez typically playing one performance weekly. Rashidra Scott is the Norma understudy.
The show first opened in London's West End at the Savoy Theatre October 12, 2023 before quickly transferring to Broadway. The London hit officially opened on the Main Stem October 20, 2024, following previews that began September 28 at the St. James. Read the reviews by clicking here. The cast album was released October 25, 2024.
The musical arrived in New York with its four London leads: 2024 Olivier winner Scherzinger as Norma Desmond, 2024 Olivier winner Tom Francis as ill-fated screenwriter Joe Gillis, 2024 Olivier nominee Grace Hodgett-Young as aspiring writer Betty Schaefer, and Olivier winner and 2024 Olivier nominee David Thaxton as butler Max Von Mayerling.
Lloyd's minimalist production won seven Oliviers at last year's Oliver Awards, including one for the director and the top prize of Best Musical Revival. This Sunset Blvd. revival was a startling departure for the traditionally opulently designed musical; it features a minimalist set and ample use of live video. Images of the curtain call, featuring Scherzinger covered in blood, has gone viral on social media—as well as footage of Francis singing the show's title song every night while walking down the streets of New York.
READ: To Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd. Is the Perfect Musical for Her Broadway Debut
The Broadway company also includes Olivia Lacie Andrews as Nancy, Brandon Mel Borkowsky as John, Shavey Brown as DeMille/Stan/Finance Man, Hannah Yun Chamberlain as Young Norma/Patsy, Cydney Clark as Joanna/Guard, Raúl Contreras as Finance Man/Frank, Tyler Davis as Sheldrake, E.J. Hamilton as Lisa, Sydney Jones as Dorothy, Emma Lloyd as Mary/Heather, Pierre Marais as Sammy, Shayna McPherson as Camera Operator, Jimin Moon as Morino/Hog Eye, Justice Moore as Jean, Drew Redington as Myron/Jones/Camera Operator, and Diego Andres Rodriguez Artie. Swings are Giuseppe Bausilio (dance captain), Kristina Garvida Doucette (assistant dance captain), Brandon LaVar, Maggie Likcani, Abby Matsusaka, Georgia Monroe, and Rixey Terry.
The Broadway staging also has set and costume design by Soutra Gilmour, choreography by Fabian Aloise, music supervision and musical direction by Alan Williams, lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound design by Adam Fisher, video design and cinematography by Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, hair and makeup design by Cheryl Thomas, intimacy coordination by Ann James, U.S. casting by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger and U.K. casting by Stuart Burt. Johnny Milani is the production stage manager, and 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as the general manager.
Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard (with a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton) is based on the 1950 Billy Wilder movie of the same name, which featured Gloria Swanson as the reclusive Norma Desmond who falls in love with an unlucky writer—Joe Gillis—who happens upon her home by accident. William Holden played Gillis in the film, which was directed by the late Billy Wilder. Swanson, Holden, and Wilder all received Academy Award nominations for their work.
Photos: Look Back on Past Productions of Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Blvd. is produced by The Jamie Lloyd Company, ATG Productions, Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, and Gavin Kalin Productions by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd and based on the Paramount Pictures film directed by Wilder.
Visit SunsetBlvdBroadway.com.
