Broadway audiences will potentially have the chance to catch three different actors playing former silent screen star Norma Desmond when the upcoming transfer of the hit London revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Blvd. arrives in New York. Previews begin September 28 at the St. James prior to an official opening October 20.
As previously reported, Nicole Scherzinger will head the cast of Jamie Lloyd's minimalist revival, after winning an Olivier Award for her performance as Desmond in the recent West End production. It was also earlier announced that Mandy Gonzalez, who created the role of Nina in the Tony-winning In the Heights, will guest star as Desmond in select performances (typically one show a week) beginning October 22.
The production has just announced that Caroline Bowman (Frozen, Evita tours) will be the standby for the role of the faded movie star.
Joining Scherzinger, Gonzalez, and Bowman on Broadway will be co-stars of the London production—2024 Olivier Award winner Tom Francis as Joe Gillis, 2024 Olivier nominee Grace Hodgett-Young as Betty Schaefer, and Olivier winner and 2024 Olivier nominee David Thaxton as Max Von Mayerling.
The show also newly announced the rest of its cast: Olivia Lacie Andrews as Nancy, Brandon Mel Borkowsky as John, Shavey Brown as Finance Man/Stan/DeMille, Hannah Yun Chamberlain as Young Norma, 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/Katherine, Jimin Moon as Morino/Hog Eye, Justice Moore as Jean, Drew Redington as Myron/Jones/Camera Operator, and Diego Andres Rodriguez as Artie. Swings for the production will be Giuseppe Bausilio (dance captain), Kristina Garvida Doucette (assistant dance captain), Brandon LaVar, Maggie Likcani, Abby Matsusaka, and Rixey Terry.
The London Sunset Blvd. revival was a startling departure for the traditionally opulently designed musical; it featured a minimalist set and ample use of live video. Images of the curtain call, featuring Scherzinger covered in blood, went viral on social media. The show opened in London's West End at the Savoy Theatre October 12, 2023. Read the reviews here.
The production 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, 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.
To coincide with the show’s Broadway opening, Sunset Blvd.: The Album, recorded live at the Savoy Theatre, will be released globally in October via The Other Songs.
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.
Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone created the role of Norma Desmond for the musical's world-premiere production in London, earning an Olivier nomination for her performance. Glenn Close played the role in Los Angeles and later in New York, where she won a Tony Award for her work as the aging actor. Other musical Normas include Tony winner Betty Buckley (London and New York), Olivier winner Elaine Paige (London and New York), Tony winner Diahann Carroll (Canada), Petula Clark (London and U.S. tour), Debra Byrne (Australia), Helen Schneider (Germany), and Linda Balgord (U.S. tour). After bringing her Norma to London, Close starred in the 2017 Broadway revival of Sunset, while Tony winner Stephanie J. Block played Norma in a recent production at the Kennedy Center. Sarah Brightman currently stars in an Australian production.
Scherzinger, who played Grace in Annie Live!, also voiced the character Sina in Disney’s Moana and starred in ABC's remake of Dirty Dancing. She was seen as Grizabella in the London revival of Cats.
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 Billy Wilder.
Nicole Scherzinger
Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger
Tom Francis and the cast of Sunset Boulevard
