Obie winner Mandy Gonzalez, who created the role of Nina in the Tony-winning In the Heights, will guest star as Norma Desmond in select performances of the upcoming Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Blvd., which will begin previews September 28 prior to an official opening October 20 at the St. James Theatre.
As previously reported, Nicole Scherzinger will head the cast of Jamie Lloyd's minimalist revival, after winning an Olivier Award for her performance as faded silent screen star Desmond in the recent West End production. Gonzalez will play her first performance October 22, and will normally perform one show per week with Scherzinger scheduled to play all other performances. For the latest performance schedule, click here.
In a statement Lloyd said, “It is such an honor to be working with the truly wonderful Mandy Gonzalez. Nicole Scherzinger and I are so thrilled that Mandy will be joining the Sunset Blvd. company. I can’t wait to collaborate with her.”
Gonzalez added, “In my 25 years playing leading ladies on Broadway, I’ve never been more excited for a show. The role of ‘Norma Desmond’ is iconic, Jamie Lloyd's direction is masterful, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score is sumptuous. To reinterpret a timeless story with such raw sophistication, especially as the first Latina to take this role on Broadway, is a dream come true.”
Joining Scherzinger and Gonzalez 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. (In London, Scherzinger shared the role of Norma with Rachel Tucker.) Additional Broadway casting will be announced at a later date.
Gonzalez has also been seen on Broadway in Hamilton, Wicked, and Aida. Her screen credits include Across the Universe, Man on a Ledge, Only Murders in the Building, Quantico, and Madam Secretary. She was awarded the Obie for her work in Off-Broadway's Eli’s Comin.
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.
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,
Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber
Harrison Musicals, and Gavin Kalin Productions by arrangement with The
Really Useful Group Ltd and based on the original Paramount film by
Billy Wilder.
Nicole Scherzinger
Tom Francis and Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger
Tom Francis and the cast of Sunset Boulevard
