Casting is now complete for the West End revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, which begins performances at London's Savoy Theatre September 21.
As previously reported, audiences will have the chance to catch the performances of two different Norma Desmonds. The Jamie Lloyd-directed production will star Nicole Scherzinger as the ill-fated silent screen star, while West End and Broadway star Rachel Tucker (Wicked, Come From Away, The Last Ship) will guest star as Norma, playing Monday performances beginning October 16 and continuing through January 6, 2024. Tucker will also play the leading role at the October 12 matinee.
The cast will also include the newly announced Tom Francis as Joe Gillis, Grace Hodgett Young as Betty Schaefer, and David Thaxton as Max Von Mayerling.
Completing the cast are Carl Au as Myron/Jones, Georgia Bradshaw as Lisa/Masseur, Hannah Yun Chamberlain as Patsy/Beautician, Tyler Davis as Sheldrake, Kamilla Fernandes as Dorothy/Astrologer, Ahmed Hamad as Artie, Laura Harrison as Catherine/Doctor, Charlotte Jaconelli as Joanna/Masseur, Olivia-Faith Kamau as Nancy/Beautician, Luke Latchman as John/Guard, Emma Lloyd as Mary/Heather/Analyst, Mireia Mambo as Jean/Beautician/Dance Captain, Gregor Milne as Sammy, Kody Mortimer as Finance Man/Frank, Jon Tsouras as Finance Man/Cecil B. De Mille, and Charlie Waddell as Morino/Hog-Eye, with Lara Denning as the Standby Norma and Jordan Cork and Shayna McPherson as the Camera Operators. Swings are Catherine Cornwall, Michael Lin (assistant dance captain), Jon Reynolds, Kirsty Anne Shaw, Harrison Wilde, and Lillie-Pearl Wildman.
The production, which is scheduled to officially open October 12, will also have 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, casting by Stuart Burt, voice and dialect coaching by Hazel Holder, fight direction by Kate Waters, intimacy coordination by Ingrid Mackinnon, costume supervision by Rachel Woodhouse, props supervision by Lily Mollgaard, associate direction by Rupert Hands, associate choreography by resident Paris Green, associate musical direction by Huw Evans, associate sound design by Kelsh B-D, and production management by Martyn Sands.
Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard (with a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton) is based on the 1950 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 Olivier winner Elaine Paige (London and New York), Tony winner Betty Buckley (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.
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.
The Jamie Lloyd Company production of Sunset Boulevard is produced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, Gavin Kalin Productions, and Wessex Grove.
The 16-week production marks the first presented by Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, the new joint venture by Lloyd Webber and Michael Harrison.
Sunset Boulevard is produced by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd and is based on the original Paramount film by Billy Wilder.
Visit SunsetBoulevardWestEnd.com.
