Rashidra Scott, who played Susan in the Tony-winning revival of Company, will be the new standby for the role of Norma Desmond in the current, acclaimed revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Blvd. at the St. James Theatre.
Scott, also on Broadway in Ain't Too Proud, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Sister Act, Finian's Rainbow, Hair, and Avenue Q, will join the company of the Jamie Lloyd-directed production beginning January 20. She succeeds previous standby Caroline Bowman, who is departing January 19 to be part of the cast of the new musical Smash.
Olivier winner Nicole Scherzinger plays faded silent screen star Norma Desmond seven shows a week with guest star Mandy Gonzalez typically playing one performance weekly.
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 musical arrived in New York with its four 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 in all, including one for the director and the top prize of Best Musical Revival.
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 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 London reviews here.
Sunset Blvd.: The Album, featuring the full London company, was released globally via The Other Songs in October 2024.
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
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 recently starred 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, earning her first Olivier nomination.
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.
Brandon LaVar
Brandon LaVar
Brandon LaVar
Jamie Lloyd
Jamie Lloyd
David Thaxton
David Thaxton
Abby Matsusaka
Abby Matsusaka
Abby Matsusaka
Maggie Likcani
Maggie Likcani
Drew Redington
Drew Redington
Drew Redington
Giuseppe Bausilio
Giuseppe Bausilio
Shavey Brown
Shavey Brown
Rixey Terry
Rixey Terry
Brandon Mel Borkowsky
Brandon Mel Borkowsky
Diego Andres Rodriguez
Diego Andres Rodriguez
Drew Redington
Drew Redington
Pierre Marais
Pierre Marais
Pierre Marais
Emma Lloyd
Tyler Davis
Tyler Davis
Tyler Davis and Emma Lloyd
Emma Lloyd
Tom Francis
Tom Francis
Tom Francis
Justice Moore
Justice Moore
Justice Moore
Jimin Moon
Jimin Moon
Sydney Jones
Sydney Jones
Cydney Clark
Cydney Clark
Grace Hodgett Young and Brad Barnley
Grace Hodgett Young
Grace Hodgett Young
Grace Hodgett Young
Olivia Lacie Andrews
Olivia Lacie Andrews
Hannah Yun Chamberlain
Hannah Yun Chamberlain
Shayna McPherson
Shayna McPherson
E.J. Hamilton
E.J. Hamilton
Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger
Justice Moore and Jimin Moon
Adrienne Warren and Daniel Watts
Anna Camp
Madeline Brewer
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Madeleine Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Madeleine Lloyd Webber
Zac Posen and Harrison Ball
Pallavi Sastry
Whitney White and guest
Katharine and David Foster
Ann James
Cheryl Thomas
Adam Fisher and guest
Jack Knowles
Fabian Aloise
Fabian Aloise
Alan Williams
Benita De Wit and Matt Romein
Jack Ramsay and Paris Green
Paris Green and Ashley Andrews
Fred Lassen
Ashley Andrews
Mandy Gonzalez
Mandy Gonzalez
Mandy Gonzalez
Chloe Flower
JoJo
JoJo
Caroline Bowman
Austin Colby and Caroline Bowman
Caroline Bowman
Skylar Astin
Wesley Taylor
Jamie deRoy
Jessica Vosk
Sarah Hyland
Sarah Hyland
Arian Moayed and Krissy Shields
Tommy Dorfman
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain
Tommy Dorfman
Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner
Renee Morrison
Chase del Ray
Alexi Melvin
Betty Buckley
Zuzanna Szadkowski and Andrew Rannells
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Ciara Renée
Linedy Genao
Donna Vivino
Jasmine Amy Rogers
Matt Rogers
Okieriete Onaodowan
Brooke Shields
Tony Marion and guest
Isaac Cole Powell
Russell Granet and guest
Javier Muñoz
Wendell Pierce
Sarita Choudhury and Prabal Gurung
Krysta Rodriguez
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox
Billy Eichner
Clive Davis
Anna Camp
Jesmille Darbouze
Ericka Hunter and Aaron Tveit
Ericka Hunter and Aaron Tveit
Jennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles
Luann de Lesseps
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos
Brian Moreland and guest
Matthew Morrison
Jordan Fisher
Orfeh
Jeremy O. Harris
Jordan Fisher
Sierra Boggess and Alan H. Green
Jordan Roth
Alex Newell
Peppermint
Micaela Diamond
Jessica Chastain
Erika Henningsen and Kyle Selig
Erika Henningsen and Kyle Selig
Kandi Burruss
Kristina Garvida Doucette
Raul Contreras
Raul Contreras
Kristina Garvida Doucette