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Sunset Boulevard (musical)

Sunset Boulevard is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyrics and a book by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. It is based on the 1950 film of the same title.

Sunset Boulevard
Original West End Logo
MusicAndrew Lloyd Webber
LyricsDon Black
Christopher Hampton
BookDon Black
Christopher Hampton
BasisSunset Boulevard
by Charles Brackett
Billy Wilder
D. M. Marshman Jr.
PremiereJuly 12, 1993: Adelphi Theatre, London
Productions1991 Sydmonton Festival
1993 West End
1994 Broadway
1996 US tour
1998 US tour
2001 UK tour
2008 West End
2016 London
2017 Broadway
2017 UK Tour
2023 West End
AwardsTony Award for Best Musical
Tony Award for Best Original Score
Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical

The plot revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era, living in the past in her decaying mansion on the fabled Los Angeles street. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she sees in him an opportunity to make her return to the big screen, with romance and tragedy to follow.

Opening first in London in 1993, the musical has had several long runs internationally and enjoyed extensive tours. However, it has been the subject of several legal battles and ultimately lost money due to its extraordinary running costs.

Background edit

From approximately 1952 to 1956, Gloria Swanson worked with actor Richard Stapley (aka Richard Wyler) and cabaret singer and pianist Dickson Hughes on a musical adaptation originally entitled Starring Norma Desmond, then Boulevard![1] It ended on a happier note than the film, with Norma allowing Joe to leave and pursue a happy ending with Betty. Rights holder Paramount Pictures originally had given Swanson verbal permission to proceed with the musical, but there had been no formal legal arrangement. On 20 February 1957, Paramount executive Russell Holman wrote to Swanson asking her to cease work on the project because "it would be damaging for the property to be offered to the entertainment public in another form as a stage musical."[2] In 1994, Hughes incorporated material from the production into Swanson on Sunset, based on his and Stapley's experiences in writing Boulevard!. A recording of the entire score, which had been housed in the Gloria Swanson archives at the University of Texas, was released on CD in 2008.

In the early 1960s, Stephen Sondheim outlined a musical stage adaptation and went so far as to compose the first scene with librettist Burt Shevelove. A chance encounter with Billy Wilder at a cocktail party gave Sondheim the opportunity to introduce himself and ask the original film's co-screenwriter and director his opinion of the project (which was to star Jeanette MacDonald). "You can't write a musical about Sunset Boulevard," Wilder responded, "it has to be an opera. After all, it's about a dethroned queen". Sondheim immediately aborted his plans. A few years later, when he was invited by Hal Prince to write the score for a film remake starring Angela Lansbury as a fading musical comedian rather than a silent film star, Sondheim declined, citing his conversation with Wilder.[3]

When Lloyd Webber saw the film in the early 1970s, he was inspired to write what he pictured as the title song for a theatrical adaptation, fragments of which he instead incorporated into Gumshoe.[4] In 1976, after a conversation with Hal Prince, who had the theatrical rights to Sunset, Lloyd Webber wrote "an idea for the moment when Norma Desmond returns to Paramount Studios"; Lloyd Webber did no further work on the play until after 1989's Aspects of Love.[4] At that point, Lloyd Webber "felt it was the subject [he] had to compose next",[4] though by February 1990 he had announced plans to turn Really Useful Group private so he could "make movies rather than musicals."[5][6]

In 1991, Lloyd Webber asked Amy Powers, a lawyer from New York with hardly any professional lyric-writing experience, to write the lyrics for Sunset Boulevard.[7] Don Black was later brought in to work with Powers; the two wrote the version that was performed in 1991 at Lloyd Webber's Sydmonton Festival. This original version starred Ria Jones as Norma and Michael Ball as Joe Gillis,[8] but it was still in the experimental stage and not ready for potential producers. A revised version, written by Black and Christopher Hampton had a complete performance at the 1992 Sydmonton Festival, now with Patti LuPone playing Norma[9] and Kevin Anderson as Joe Gillis. This "met with great success".[7] Lloyd Webber borrowed several of the tunes from his 1986 mini-musical Cricket, written with Tim Rice, which had been performed at Windsor Castle and later at the 1986 Sydmonton Festival.[10]

Synopsis edit

Act I edit

The place: A mansion on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, 5 a.m. A homicide has been reported. Joe Gillis sets the scene ("Prologue"), noting that "an old-time movie star is involved / Maybe the biggest star of all", and that, if you want to know the "real facts", "you've come to the right party."

Flashback to... Hollywood, 1949 - where a down-on-his-luck screenwriter, Joe Gillis, is trying to hustle up some work at Paramount Studios ("Let's Have Lunch"). His appointment with a producer goes poorly when the executive rejects both Joe's proposed script and a loan to bring his car payments up to date. Joe does, however, meet Betty Schaefer, a pretty, young script editor who suggests they collaborate to rework one of his earlier screenplays ("Every Movie's a Circus"). As they chat, car repossession agents spot Joe, who quickly escapes.

During the ensuing chase, Joe evades his pursuers by pulling in to the garage of a palatial but dilapidated mansion on Sunset Boulevard. Beckoned inside the house, Joe encounters Norma Desmond ("Surrender"), a star actress of the silent-film era. Taken aback, Joe comments, "You used to be in pictures; you used to be big," to which Norma retorts, "I am big – it's the pictures that got small!" ("With One Look")

The gloomy estate is inhabited only by Norma and Max von Mayerling, her loyal butler and chauffeur. Although decades past her prime and mostly forgotten by the public, Norma is convinced she is as beautiful and popular as ever. Max perpetuates this illusion by shielding her from the realities of life out of the limelight and by writing her letters purportedly from still-devoted fans. Norma informs Joe that she plans to make her comeback with Salome, a script she has written for Cecil B. DeMille to direct with her in the starring role as the teenage biblical temptress ("Salome"). Dubious but sensing opportunity, Joe accepts her offer to work on editing the script. Norma insists that Joe stay in her home while they collaborate on Salome ("The Greatest Star of All").

Joe immediately realizes the script is incoherent, but because Norma won't allow a major rewrite, the revision drags on for months. During this time Joe is virtually imprisoned within the house, but he does break away to fulfill his commitment to Betty. Their working relationship blossoms into a romance that has her reconsidering her engagement to Joe's best friend, Artie Green ("Girl Meets Boy").

Blind to Joe's opportunism, Norma lavishes him with gifts that include a wardrobe makeover and he becomes her kept man ("The Lady's Paying"). She declares her love for him and turns quite possessive ("The Perfect Year"); when he leaves her to attend Artie's New Year's Eve party ("This Time Next Year"), she is distraught and attempts suicide. As a conciliatory gesture, Joe reluctantly returns to work on Salome.

Act II edit

Joe is now living in luxury at Norma Desmond's mansion, for reasons he bluntly states are mercenary ("Sunset Boulevard"). A cryptic message from Paramount has Norma certain that DeMille is eager to discuss her script ("There's Been A Call"). She drops in on the set of his current film and is greeted warmly by former colleagues and the famed director himself, but he is non-committal about Salome ("As If We Never Said Goodbye"). Meanwhile, Max discovers the studio had called to ask about Norma's Isotta Fraschini, not her screenplay. However, a delusional Norma leaves the lot convinced she'll soon be back in front of the cameras and begins to prepare for the role ("Eternal Youth Is Worth a Little Suffering").

Increasingly paranoid, Norma deduces that Joe and Betty are more than just friends ("Too Much in Love to Care"). She calls Betty to reveal Joe's secret life at the mansion, but he overhears and grabs the phone to tell Betty to come see for herself. Realizing their affair is doomed, Joe brusquely tells her he enjoys being Norma's pet and that she should go back to Artie. Betty departs, confused and brokenhearted, and Joe tells Norma he is leaving her and returning to his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. He also bluntly informs her that Salome is an unfilmable script and her fans have long abandoned her. Furious and grief-stricken, Norma fatally shoots Joe three times as he storms out of the house.

Now completely insane, Norma mistakes the swarms of police and reporters who arrive for studio personnel. Imagining herself on the set of Salome, she slowly descends her grand staircase and utters "And now, Mr. DeMille, I am ready for my close-up."

Major characters edit

  • Norma Desmond — Mezzo-soprano; a faded, eccentric, former silent screen star
  • Joe Gillis — Baritenor; a struggling young screenwriter
  • Max von Mayerling – Bass-baritone; Norma's first husband and butler
  • Betty Schaefer – Soprano; A budding writer and Joe's love interest
  • Artie Green – Baritenor; Betty's fiancé
  • Cecil B. DeMilleBass; the famous director

Characters and original cast edit

Character West End Los Angeles Broadway Toronto First U.S. National Tour Australia Second U.S. National Tour First UK Tour First West End Revival Second West End Revival First Broadway Revival Second UK Tour Third West End Revival
1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 2001 2008 2016 2017 2023
Norma Desmond Patti LuPone Glenn Close Diahann Carroll Linda Balgord Debra Byrne Petula Clark Faith Brown Kathryn Evans Glenn Close Ria Jones Nicole Scherzinger
Joe Gillis Kevin Anderson Alan Campbell Rex Smith Ron Bohmer Hugh Jackman Lewis Cleale Earl Carpenter Ben Goddard Michael Xavier Danny Mac Tom Francis
Betty Schaefer Meredith Braun Judy Kuhn Alice Ripley Anita Louise Combe Lauren Kennedy Catherine Porter Sarah Uriarte Berry Ceri Ann Gregory Laura Pitt-Pulford Siobhan Dillon Molly Lynch Grace Hodgett Young
Max von Mayerling Daniel Benzali George Hearn Walter Charles Ed Dixon Norbert Lamla Allen Fitzpatrick Michael Bauer Dave Willetts Fred Johanson Adam Pearce David Thaxton
Artie Green Gareth Snook Vincent Tumeo Christopher Shyer James Clow Tim Beveridge Michael Berry Jeremy Finch Tomm Coles Haydn Oakley Preston Truman Boyd Dougie Carter Ahmed Hamad
Cecil B. DeMille Michael Bauer Alan Oppenheimer John Braden William Chapman Clive Hearne George Merner Vincent Pirillo Craig Pinder Julian Forsyth Paul Schoeffler Carl Sanderson Jon Tsouras

Notable Replacements edit

West End (1993-97)
Broadway (1994-97)
UK Tour (2001-02)

Musical numbers edit

† Song added for Los Angeles production

∞ Originally a reprise of "Let's Have Lunch"

Productions edit

Original London production edit

 
Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre

The original West End production, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Bob Avian, with costumes from Anthony Powell, opened on 12 July 1993 at the Adelphi Theatre. The cast featured Patti LuPone as Norma Desmond, Kevin Anderson as Joe Gillis, Meredith Braun as Betty Schaefer, and Daniel Benzali as Norma's ex-husband, Max.[13]

Billy Wilder and his wife Audrey were joined by Nancy Olson, who had played Betty Schaefer in the original film, at the opening night performance. Of it, Wilder observed, "The best thing they did was leave the script alone," and of Patti LuPone he exclaimed, "She's a star from the moment she walks on stage".[14]

Reviews were mixed, according to the Associated Press (AP) review summary. That summary quoted, for example, the review by Michael Kuchwara for the AP: "Some reviewers felt Lloyd Webber took the sting out of a cynical tale. 'Wilder's bitter brew has been diluted,' wrote AP Drama Critic Michael Kuchwara. He added: 'When LuPone is off stage, the show sags.'"[15] Frank Rich wrote "Much of the film's plot, dialogue and horror-movie mood are preserved, not to mention clips used to illustrate those sequences in which the faded silent-film star, Norma Desmond ...and her kept, young screenwriter, Joe Gillis, ... travel by car. The lyricist, Don Black ..., and the playwright, Christopher Hampton ..., smartly tailor their jokes to the original screenplay's style. At times, even Lloyd Webber gets into the Wilder swing. Both acts open with joltingly angry diatribes about Hollywood, part exposition-packed recitative and part song, in which the surprisingly dark, jazz-accented music, the most interesting I've yet encountered from this composer, meshes perfectly with the cynical lyrics. Anderson makes the sardonic Wilder voice an almost physical presence in Sunset Boulevard, but he is too often drowned out by both LuPone's Broadway belt and mechanical efforts of Lloyd Webber and his director, Trevor Nunn, to stamp the proven formulas of Phantom and Les Miz on even an intimate tale. At odd moments, the mammoth set advances like a glacier toward the audience or retreats, or, most dramatically, rises partly up into the flies, actors in tow."[13]

The show closed for three weeks, re-opening on 19 April 1994, revamped to follow the Los Angeles production, with a second official "opening". The revamped musical had a new song, "Every Movie's a Circus", a new set, and new stars, Betty Buckley and John Barrowman. Anita Louise Combe took over the role of Betty Schaeffer and, as a result of her performance, was invited to play the role in the original Canadian Premiere production in Toronto the following year. [16] Michael Bauer, who had originally played DeMille, replaced Benzali as Max, a role he played until the end of the London run (and subsequently on the UK tour and in the BBC concert). Buckley and the production garnered rave reviews. David Lister of The Independent, for example wrote: "The show looked an improvement on the one that got decidedly mixed reviews last summer."[16]

Betty Buckley went on to replace Glenn Close as Norma in the second year of the Broadway production. Elaine Paige, who had filled in when Buckley was ill in 1994, took over the part in the West End in May 1995[17] before joining the Broadway production for the end of its run between 1996 and 1997. Petula Clark filled in for Paige during her holiday in September/October 1995, before taking over the role in January 1996[18] when Paige departed for the United States. The last actress to play Norma in London was Rita Moreno, who filled in for a vacationing Clark in September and October 1996. John Barrowman played Joe until 1995, when he was replaced by Alexander Hanson. Graham Bickley played the role for the final year of the London run.

The show closed on 5 April 1997 after 1,530 performances.[19]

Los Angeles production edit

 
Glenn Close in costume for Sunset Boulevard

The American premiere was at the Shubert Theatre in Century City, Los Angeles, California, on 9 December 1993, with Close as Norma and Alan Campbell as Joe. Featured were George Hearn as Max and Judy Kuhn as Betty. Lloyd Webber had reworked both the book and score, tightening the production, better organising the orchestrations, and adding the song "Every Movie's a Circus".[20] This new production was better received by the critics and was an instant success, running for 369 performances. The Los Angeles production also recorded a new cast album that is well regarded. It is also the only unabridged cast recording of the show, since the original London recording was trimmed by over thirty minutes.

A controversy arose with this production after Faye Dunaway was hired to replace Glenn Close. Dunaway went into rehearsals with Rex Smith as Joe and Jon Cypher as Max. Tickets went on sale for Dunaway's engagement but shortly after rehearsals started the producers announced that Dunaway was unable to sing the role to their standards and the production would shut down when Close left.[21] Dunaway "claims that when advance sales slumped, Sir Andrew decided to save money by sending the LA cast of Sunset Boulevard - based on the story of a clapped-out Hollywood actress - to Broadway, where it is due to open in November. "[22] However, the Los Angeles Times reported that "The cancellation came despite advance ticket sales for the Los Angeles production 'way in excess of $4 million,' said Peter Brown, a spokesman for Lloyd Webber."[21]

Dunaway filed a lawsuit claiming her reputation had been damaged by the producer's claims. Dunaway's lawsuit was settled and the producers paid her a settlement but no other terms of the agreement have ever been disclosed.[23]

Original Broadway production edit

The musical opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre on 17 November 1994 with Close, Campbell, and Hearn recreating their roles from the Los Angeles production and Alice Ripley joining the cast as Betty. Also in the cast were Alan Oppenheimer as Cecil B. DeMille and Vincent Tumeo making his Broadway debut as Artie Green. The production opened with the highest advance in the history of Broadway ticket sales at that time.[24][25] It closed on March 22, 1997, after playing 977 performances.[26] Billy Wilder was in attendance on opening night and was coaxed onstage by Close for the curtain call.[14] In a season with only one other musical nominated for Best Musical, the production won several Tony Awards; Glenn Close, with only one other nominee as Best Actress in a musical, won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

The New York Times theatre critic Vincent Canby commented about the Tony Awards for this year: "Awards don't really tell you much when the competition is feeble or simply non-existent, as was the case the year that Sunset Boulevard won its Tony. Such prizes are for use in advertising and promotion and to impress the folks back home."[27]

Patti LuPone, who initially had been promised the Broadway run, sued Lloyd Webber and received a settlement reported to be $1 million. Frank Rich, in his book The Hot Seat,[28] noted that these lawsuits contributed to Sunset Boulevard setting the record for the most money lost by a theatrical endeavour in the history of the United States. According to The New York Times, operating costs soared far beyond the budget, and the "Broadway production has earned back, at best, 80% of the initial $13 million".[29] For example, during the week of 2 July 1995, "it cost $731,304 to run Sunset Boulevard, including... advertising fees of $138,352 (which had been budgeted at $40,000 a week)."[29] The road companies also generated large financial losses. Rich puts the final figure near or above US$20 million lost, making the show what he termed a "flop-hit", as it ran more than two years. The musical sold over a million tickets on Broadway.[30]

Touring productions edit

The first national US tour in 1996 starring Linda Balgord[31] ended in early 1997 after only a handful of venues due to exorbitant costs involved in transporting the set.[32] Lloyd Webber called in director Susan H. Schulman to design a scaled-down production, with Petula Clark once again in the lead opposite Lewis Cleale as Joe. This production featured Anthony Powell's Tony Award nominated costumes, a slightly modified libretto by Schulman and Don Black and a new, more tour-friendly set by Derek McLane.[33] The revised production, opening in Pittsburgh about a year after the closing of the original tour in Chicago, went on the road for almost two years, though it avoided the cities covered by the previous tour.

In August 2001, a UK tour commenced in Plymouth starring Faith Brown as Norma, opposite Earl Carpenter as Joe, and Michael Bauer reprising his West End performance as Max. The production had a completely new set, much simpler than the original London set, although the overall production remained closer to the original staging than the revamped US national tour. Carpenter left midway through the tour and was replaced by Jeremy Finch, who had previously understudied the role. The tour finished in late 2002 in Manchester and met with both excellent reviews and respectable ticket sales.

Ria Jones, who originated the role of Norma Desmond in the 1991 Sydmonton Workshop and understudied Glenn Close in the 2016 West End revival, led a new production opening at Leicester's Curve Theatre on 16 September 2017 for a two-week run before embarking on a national tour around the United Kingdom.[34] The tour, directed by Curve artistic by Nikolai Foster, transferred the musical into a Hollywood sound stage setting, designed by Colin Richmond, with acclaimed use of vintage archive film and projections designed by Douglas O'Connell. [35]

International productions edit

The original Canadian production opened in Toronto on October 15, 1995, with Diahann Carroll in the lead role. Her performance was praised by critics. It also starred Rex Smith as Joe, Walter Charles as Max and Anita Louise Combe, who had played Betty in the London production, repeating in this role. Toronto performances ended in August 1996, with the production later moving to Vancouver where it ran from November 1996 to March 1997. A highlights recording of this production was released on CD.

A German production of the musical opened 7 December 1995 at the newly built Rhein-Main Theater in Niedernhausen near Wiesbaden, starring Helen Schneider and Sue Mathys (matinees) as Norma and Uwe Kröger as Joe. A cast recording (with Schneider and Kröger) was released in 1996. The role of Norma was later played by Daniela Ziegler and Christina Grimandi, with Schneider and, for the last few months, Sue Mathys both returning to play the lead. The production closed in May 1998.

In October 1996, the original Australian production of the musical opened at Melbourne's newly restored Regent Theatre. The cast included Debra Byrne as Norma, Hugh Jackman as Joe, and Catherine Porter as Betty.[36] Maria Mercedes starred as the alternate Norma, performing two of the eight shows each week.[37] Amanda Harrison took over the role of Betty for the final months of the show's run. The production ran until 14 June 1997.[38]

A year-long Dutch tour commenced in the Netherlands on 10 October 2008, with Simone Kleinsma and Pia Douwes alternating as Norma and Antonie Kamerling as Joe, using the same modified libretto that was first used in the 2001 UK tour. Kleinsma went on to win the Best Actress Award for the role in the 2009 Dutch Musical Awards and also Best Actress for the Flemish Musical Prizes. An official cast album was released, with Kleinsma appearing on the main album and with a four track bonus CD of Pia Douwes singing Norma's main arias.

The Swedish premiere took place at the Värmlandsoperan in September 2009, to mostly positive reviews. The role of Norma was played by Maria Lundqvist. A second much more elaborate production opened in October 2010, at the Gothenburg Opera House, with Gunilla Backman (who previously understudied the role of Betty in the original German production) starring as Norma.

A South African production starring Angela Kilian[39] as Norma and Jonathan Roxmouth[40] as Joe, was shown at the Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino in Johannesburg from late August 2013 to mid October 2013 and at Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town from late October 2013 until early January 2014.

The Czech production with Hana Fialová and Katarína Hasprová in the role of Norma had its premiere in National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in Ostrava. The premiere took place on 19 February 2015.[41] The show closed in March 2017.[42]

Another German production, starring Katharina Scherer as Norma, Philippe J. Kayser as Joe, Antonia Crames as Betty, and Stephan Vanecek as Max, opened to sold-out seats on 15 September 2017 and had its fourteenth and final performance on 8 October 2017 at the Tuchfabrik in Trier.[43]

The Spanish premiere production opened 27 December 2017 at the Auditorio de Tenerife, directed by Jaime Azpilicueta and starring Paloma San Basilio as Norma Desmond, Gerónimo Rauch as Joe Gillis, Inma Mira as Betty Schaefer, and Gonzalo Montes as Max von Mayerling.[44]

Sarah Brightman is set to star as Norma Desmond in a new production of Sunset Boulevard that will premiere in Melbourne in May 2024 at the Princess Theatre followed by an engagement at the Sydney Opera House in August. This will be Brightman's first theatrical role in more than three decades.[45]

London revivals edit

An eight-week engagement of a minimalist production, in which the actors used musical instruments, enjoyed a good run at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury over the summer of 2008. Directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, the cast featured Kathryn Evans as Norma and Ben Goddard as Joe. A West End transfer of the Watermill production began on 4 December 2008 prior to an official opening 15 December at the Comedy Theatre, with Evans and Goddard reprising their roles, and Dave Willetts joining the cast as Max.[46] The production received rave reviews and extended its run to September 2009. However, the production closed just after initially planned on 30 May 2009.[47] It had originally been booking until 19 September 2009. There were plans for a UK Tour and also talks of bringing the show to Broadway[48]

Opening on 4 April 2016 English National Opera (ENO) presented a five-week 'semi-staged' run at the London Coliseum. Glenn Close reprised her role as Norma, making her West End debut, along with Michael Xavier as Joe, Siobhan Dillon as Betty and Fred Johanson as Max.[49] Michael Linnit and Michael Grade for Gate Ventures PLC worked with ENO to present the show; Johnny Hon was the executive producer.[50] It was announced on 25 October 2016 that the production will transfer to Broadway at the Palace Theatre in a limited engagement.[51]

A revival starring Nicole Scherzinger as Norma opened at the Savoy Theatre from September 2023 for a 16-week limited run. It is directed by Jamie Lloyd and produced by Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals.[52] Rachel Tucker is scheduled to guest star as Norma beginning October 12, 2023, and will play Monday evenings beginning October 16.[53] Complete casting was announced on August 14, 2023.[54]

2017 Broadway revival edit

 
2017 revival at the Palace Theatre

Glenn Close reprised her performance as Norma Desmond in a revival on Broadway. Featuring a 40-piece onstage orchestra and a relatively minimalist set, the production began performances at the Palace Theatre on 2 February 2017 before opening officially on 9 February for a limited run, with tickets on sale through 25 June 2017.[51][55] The cast featured Michael Xavier as Joe Gillis, Siobhan Dillon as Betty Schaefer, and Fred Johanson as Max von Mayerling, all reprising their roles from the 2016 London ENO production. The 2017 Broadway revival was directed by Lonny Price.[56][57]

Other productions edit

In 2004, the first regional production of Sunset Boulevard was staged in the round at the Marriott Theatre in Chicago for a limited period and starred Paula Scrofano as Norma. It was the first and only regional production to be licensed by the Really Useful Group (RUG) for the next six years. However, in the spring of 2010, the leasing rights were finally released to regional companies and numerous productions have been staged around the United States.

The Ogunquit Playhouse production ran from 28 July through 14 August 2010 and starred Stefanie Powers as Norma and Todd Gearhart as Joe. This was the first fully staged production in the U.S. in nearly a decade. The Ogunquit production was directed by Shaun Kerrison with choreography by Tom Kosis, featured costumes by Anthony Powell and an all new set designed exclusively for Ogunquit by Todd Ivins.[58]

The Arvada Center production ran from 14 September to 10 October 2010, in Denver, Colorado, the same city that launched the ill-fated first US tour in 1996. The show starred Ann Crumb as Norma and Kevin Earley as Joe. The production was directed by Rod A. Landsberry.[59]

The Kennedy Center production ran from February 1-8, 2023 in Washington, D.C., with Stephanie J. Block starring as Norma, Derek Klena as Joe and Auli'i Cravalho as Betty. The show ran as a limited engagement as part of the Kennedy Center's Broadway Center Stage series.[60]

Concert productions edit

In April 2004, Petula Clark reprised her role as Norma opposite Michael Ball in a concert production of the show that ran for two nights at the Cork Opera House in Ireland, which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The cast also included Michael Bauer (Max), Emma Williams (Betty), Michael Xavier (Artie) and the BBC Concert Orchestra was conducted by Martin Yates.

Another two-day concert engagement took place in 2004 in Sydney by the Production Company; Judi Connelli starred as Norma, Michael Cormick played Joe and Anthony Warlow was Max. The Production Company staged a slightly more elaborate version of the concert for a week in Melbourne during 2005. Connelli again starred as Norma, and David Campbell took the role of Joe. The State Theatre was sold out for every performance.

A concert production of Sunset Boulevard was performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England on December 3, 2021. Produced by Alpha, the concert was a fully staged production with direction by Jordan Murphy, choreography by Joanna Goodwin, and conducted by Alex Parker. Ramin Karimloo starred as Joe Gillis, Mazz Murray starred as Norma Desmond, Zizi Strallen as Betty Schaeffer, and Jeremy Secomb as Max. [61]

Film adaptation edit

Paramount Pictures and the Relevant Picture Company announced in 2005 that they were developing a film adaptation of the musical.[62] In 2007, The Daily Telegraph reported that actresses considered for the role of Norma Desmond included Close, Paige, Meryl Streep, Liza Minnelli, and Barbra Streisand.[63] In a 2008 interview, Andrew Lloyd Webber said that there were no plans for a film adaptation to be made in the near future, but remained hopeful that one would be made at some point.[64] In 2011, Lloyd Webber indicated that he would have wanted Madonna to star in the film.[65]

In a 2013 interview with Elaine Paige during her BBC Radio 2 show Elaine Paige on Sunday, Lloyd Webber was asked about the progress of the film, to which he replied:

I would love a film to be made of Sunset, of course, but unfortunately the rights are owned by Paramount who own the original movie and, so far, talks with them have never led to anything. And it's sad for me because I think in many ways Sunset is, I think, the most complete musical I have written, I mean in the sense that the book and the music and everything come together I think in a way that perhaps even some of the others, they don't. Anyway that's my sadness at the moment and maybe, one day, the whole thing will get brokered. I'm doing something else with Paramount because after I've done this I'm producing School of Rock on stage, and that's a Paramount picture, so maybe if they like what I do with that they'll let me do Sunset.[66]

In February 2019, it was announced that Rob Ashford had signed on to direct the film, with Close reprising her role as Norma Desmond and Tom MacRae penning the script, with production slated to begin on October of that year, but was then delayed to the fall of 2020.[67] In an October 2020 interview, Close, along with her confirmation of co-producing the film alongside Lloyd Webber, said that she hoped filming would commence in early 2021, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the delay.[68] In May 2021, Close stated in an interview that production was "very, very close" to beginning and that they were "ready to go", while also adding that Lloyd Webber was still working on new music for the film.[69] However, in October 2021, Lloyd Webber announced that production had been stalled, stating, "I wish I could say it's going into production tomorrow morning, but it's not. Paramount has not wanted to go ahead with it. It's not for want of trying. Glenn Close has been absolutely doggedly trying to get it made."[70] On May 2, 2022, at the 2022 Met Gala, Close revealed that "We're getting closer, believe it or not. We're getting closer," without disclosing any additional information.[71]

Awards and nominations edit

Original London production edit

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1994 Laurence Olivier Award[72] Best New Musical Nominated
Best Actress in a Musical Patti LuPone Nominated
1995 Betty Buckley Nominated
1996 Elaine Paige Nominated

Original Broadway production edit

2008 London revival edit

2016 London revival edit

2017 Broadway revival edit

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2017 Drama Desk Award Best Lighting Design Mark Henderson Nominated
Drama League Award Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Revival of a Musical Nominated

Notes edit

  1. ^ Based on liner notes to Boulevard! CD release by Richard Stapley, Tim J. Hutton, and Steven M. Warner
  2. ^ The Bad and the Beautiful: Hollywood in the Fifties by Sam Kashner and Jennifer MacNair, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2002, p. 346, ISBN 0-393-04321-5
  3. ^ On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder by Ed Sikov, Hyperion, New York, New York, 1998, pp. 467–468, ISBN 0-7868-6194-0
  4. ^ a b c '...Inspired by Sunset Boulevard' 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine from Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group website
  5. ^ Lloyd Webber in Accord For Buyback of Company, a February 1990 article from The New York Times
  6. ^ "The new model Lloyd Webber". The Times. 6 October 1990.
  7. ^ a b "A Journey Down $un$set Blvd". Goodspeed Musicals's Show Music magazine. squareone.org. Fall 1993. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
  8. ^ Ansdell, Caroline. "20 Questions With... Ria Jones (Ria Jones speaking to Caroline Ansdell)" 10 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine whatsonstage.com, 5 March 2007
  9. ^ Snelson, John. Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Yale University Press, 2009, ISBN 0-300-15113-6, p.16
  10. ^ "Tim Rice – Cricket" timrice.co.uk
  11. ^ "Inside the Playbill: Sunset Boulevard - Opening Night at the Minskoff Theatre (Act I)" playbill.com
  12. ^ "Inside the Playbill: Sunset Boulevard - Opening Night at the Minskoff Theatre (Act II)" playbill.com
  13. ^ a b Rich, Frank. "Upstaging a New Lloyd Webber Musical" The New York Times, 14 July 1993
  14. ^ a b On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder, p. 589
  15. ^ Wolf, Matt. "'Sunset Boulevard' Has Mixed Reviews, But Billy Wilder's Impressed", Associated Press, 13 July 1993, International News (no page number)
  16. ^ a b Lister, David. "(SECOND) First Night / Hope dawns for 'Sunset Boulevard': 'Sunset Boulevard'; Adelphi Theatre" The Independent (London, England), 20 April 1994
  17. ^ De Jongh, Nicholas. "Elaine finds new ways to brighten up the Boulevard;'Sunset Boulevard' The Adelphi", Evening Standard (London), 18 May 1995, p. 7
  18. ^ Stringer, Robin. "At 62, Petula Succeeds To Sunset Throne", Evening Standard (London), 8 December 1995, p.17
  19. ^ Wolf, Matt. "As 'Sunsets' fade, Rug's new era dawns", Variety, 7 April 1997 – 13 April 1997, p. 175
  20. ^ Weinraub, Bernard."Hollywood Braces For Look Into Mirror Of 'Sunset Boulevard'". The New York Times, 9 December 1993
  21. ^ a b Shirley, Don "'Sunset Blvd.' to Be Closed; Dunaway's Singing Faulted : Theater: Actress, reportedly 'flabbergasted' by ouster, was to replace Glenn Close. Refunds could total $4 million" Los Angeles Times, 24 June 1994
  22. ^ Reeves, Phil. "Hollywood waits for courtroom theatrics to outshine stage" The Independent, 26 August 1994
  23. ^ "Lloyd Webber and Dunaway Settle" The New York Times, 17 January 1995
  24. ^ Sunset Boulevard History Inspiration 29 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine reallyuseful.com
  25. ^ "'Blvd.' sets tix record at $1.4 mil". Daily Variety. 22 November 1994. p. 11.
  26. ^ "Broadway Sunset Boulevard Closes March 22". Playbill.com. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  27. ^ Canby, Vincent."Why Whisper About It? 'The Life' Is a Joy", The New York Times, 5 October 1997
  28. ^ Hot Seat 27 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine: Theater Criticism for The New York Times, 1980–1993 (Random House, 1998. ISBN 0-679-45300-8) from the author's website
  29. ^ a b Weber, Bruce. "Following 'Sunset,' Shadows Over Lloyd Webber's Empire", The New York Times, 24 March 1997
  30. ^ "Cumulative Broadway Grosses by Show". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  31. ^ Campbell, Jackie."Linda Balgord Cast As Norma For 'Sunset Boulevard' National Tour" Rocky Mountain News, abstract from encyclopedia.com, 28 January 1996. Retrieved 3 August 2010
  32. ^ Newmark, Judith."Hiatus looms for 'Boulevard'" St. Louis Post-Dispatch, abstract from nl.newsbank.com, 23 March 1997. Retrieved 3 August 2010
  33. ^ Strom, Harper.Regional review, Atlanta talkinbroadway.com. Retrieved 3 August 2010
  34. ^ Hemley, Matthew (16 January 2017). "Ria Jones to play Norma Desmond in tour of Sunset Boulevard". The Stage. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  35. ^ "Review: SUNSET BOULEVARD, Bristol Hippodrome".
  36. ^ Hallett, Bryce. "Opening night shines for troubled 'Sunset'", The Australian, 28 October 1996, p. 3 (Local)
  37. ^ Thomson, Helen. "New star ensures Sunset still shines", The Age (Melbourne, Australia), 12 March 1997, p. 7 (Arts)
  38. ^ Burchall, Greg. "I'm ready for my curtain, Melbourne; Musicals: 'Sunset' sunset", The Age (Melbourne, Australia), 13 June 1997, p. 1 (Metro)
  39. ^ "Actress Profile: Angela Kilian - Limited Edition, South Africa". Ltdedition.co.za. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  40. ^ Edmunds, Gayle (19 May 2013). . City Press. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  41. ^ "SUNSET BOULEVARD | Opereta / Muzikál | Národní divadlo moravskoslezské". www.ndm.cz. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  42. ^ "Sunset Boulevard - Národní divadlo moravskoslezské | i-divadlo.cz". www.i-divadlo.cz. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  43. ^ "Official website of Tuchfabrik Trier". Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  44. ^ "Paloma San Basilio será Norma Desmond en «Sunset Boulevard" abc.es, 15 June 2017
  45. ^ Sarah Brightman To Star In Sunset Boulevard
  46. ^ Shenton, Mark. "Sunset Boulevard Will Return to the West End in December" 7 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Playbill, 17 November 2008
  47. ^ playbill.com "London Revival of Sunset Boulevard to Close May 30"
  48. ^ "Watermills SUNSET BOULEVARD to Close in West End May 30, 2009"
  49. ^ "Glenn Close Comes to ENO for 'Sunset Boulevard'" eno.org
  50. ^ "Photo Flash: Glenn Close, Andrew Lloyd Webber and More at Opening Night of SUNSET BOULEVARD". BroadwayWorld.com. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  51. ^ a b Gans, Andrew. "Glenn Close Will Revisit 'Sunset Boulevard' on Broadway", Playbill, 25 October 2016
  52. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger to star in Sunset Boulevard in London's West End". BBC News. 19 May 2023.
  53. ^ Al-Hassan, Aliya. "Rachel Tucker Joins Andrew Lloyd Webber's SUNSET BOULEVARD in London". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  54. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Rachel Tucker Joins Andrew Lloyd Webber's SUNSET BOULEVARD in London". Playbill.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
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  56. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Complete Casting Announced for Glenn Close Revival of 'Sunset Boulevard'" Playbill, 9 January 2017
  57. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Glenn Close Returns to Broadway in Revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Sunset Boulevard'" Playbill, 2 February 2017
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  59. ^ Blank, Matthew."PHOTO CALL: Ann Crumb, Kevin Earley and Jenny Gelwick Cruise 'Sunset Boulevard' in Denver" 26 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine Playbill, 17 September 2010
  60. ^ Gans, Andrew (8 February 2023). "Sunset Boulevard, Starring Stephanie J. Block as Norma Desmond, Ends Kennedy Center Run February 8".
  61. ^ Information about the Australian production from hjackman.com
  62. ^ Hastings, Chris (10 July 2005). "Close and McGregor to star in Sunset Boulevard film". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  63. ^ Hastings, Chris; Jones, Beth (5 August 2007). "Meryl Streep competes for Sunset Boulevard". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
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  67. ^ Criscitiello, Alexa (28 February 2019). "Confirmed! Glenn Close To Star in Rob Ashford-Directed SUNSET BOULEVARD Musical Film!". Broadway World. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  68. ^ Sullivan, Lindsey (23 October 2020). "Glenn Close Offers an Update on the Upcoming Sunset Boulevard Movie Musical". Broadway.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  69. ^ Malkin, Marc (5 May 2021). "Glenn Close Talks Wanting to Play Cruella Again and Her New Jazz Album (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.com. Variety. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  70. ^ Major, Michael. "Andrew Lloyd Webber Reveals Production on SUNSET BOULEVARD Film Has Been Stalled". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  71. ^ Major, Michael. "Glenn Close Reveals SUNSET BOULEVARD Film is 'Getting Closer'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  72. ^ "Olivier Winners 1994" 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine olivierawards.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011
  73. ^ "Olivier Winners 2009" Archived 27 May 2012 at archive.today olivierawards.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011
  74. ^ Dex, Robert (9 November 2016). "Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2016: The shortlist". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  75. ^ Thompson, Jessie (14 February 2017). "Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2016: The winners". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  76. ^ "Olivier Winners 2017". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 30 March 2021.

References edit

  • Ganzl, Kurt. Ganzl's book of the Broadway musical: 75 shows, from H.M.S. Pinafore to Sunset Boulevard. New York: Schirmer Books, 1995. ISBN 0-02-870832-6
  • Plot and production listing guidetomusicaltheatre.com
  • Profile of the musical Broadway Musical Home

External links edit

sunset, boulevard, musical, sunset, boulevard, musical, with, music, andrew, lloyd, webber, lyrics, book, black, christopher, hampton, based, 1950, film, same, title, sunset, boulevardoriginal, west, logomusicandrew, lloyd, webberlyricsdon, blackchristopher, h. Sunset Boulevard is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics and a book by Don Black and Christopher Hampton It is based on the 1950 film of the same title Sunset BoulevardOriginal West End LogoMusicAndrew Lloyd WebberLyricsDon BlackChristopher HamptonBookDon BlackChristopher HamptonBasisSunset Boulevard by Charles Brackett Billy Wilder D M Marshman Jr PremiereJuly 12 1993 Adelphi Theatre LondonProductions1991 Sydmonton Festival1993 West End1994 Broadway1996 US tour1998 US tour2001 UK tour2008 West End2016 London2017 Broadway2017 UK Tour2023 West EndAwardsTony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Original Score Tony Award for Best Book of a MusicalThe plot revolves around Norma Desmond a faded star of the silent screen era living in the past in her decaying mansion on the fabled Los Angeles street When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path she sees in him an opportunity to make her return to the big screen with romance and tragedy to follow Opening first in London in 1993 the musical has had several long runs internationally and enjoyed extensive tours However it has been the subject of several legal battles and ultimately lost money due to its extraordinary running costs Contents 1 Background 2 Synopsis 2 1 Act I 2 2 Act II 3 Major characters 4 Characters and original cast 4 1 Notable Replacements 5 Musical numbers 6 Productions 6 1 Original London production 6 2 Los Angeles production 6 3 Original Broadway production 6 4 Touring productions 6 5 International productions 6 6 London revivals 6 7 2017 Broadway revival 6 8 Other productions 6 9 Concert productions 7 Film adaptation 8 Awards and nominations 8 1 Original London production 8 2 Original Broadway production 8 3 2008 London revival 8 4 2016 London revival 8 5 2017 Broadway revival 9 Notes 10 References 11 External linksBackground editFrom approximately 1952 to 1956 Gloria Swanson worked with actor Richard Stapley aka Richard Wyler and cabaret singer and pianist Dickson Hughes on a musical adaptation originally entitled Starring Norma Desmond then Boulevard 1 It ended on a happier note than the film with Norma allowing Joe to leave and pursue a happy ending with Betty Rights holder Paramount Pictures originally had given Swanson verbal permission to proceed with the musical but there had been no formal legal arrangement On 20 February 1957 Paramount executive Russell Holman wrote to Swanson asking her to cease work on the project because it would be damaging for the property to be offered to the entertainment public in another form as a stage musical 2 In 1994 Hughes incorporated material from the production into Swanson on Sunset based on his and Stapley s experiences in writing Boulevard A recording of the entire score which had been housed in the Gloria Swanson archives at the University of Texas was released on CD in 2008 In the early 1960s Stephen Sondheim outlined a musical stage adaptation and went so far as to compose the first scene with librettist Burt Shevelove A chance encounter with Billy Wilder at a cocktail party gave Sondheim the opportunity to introduce himself and ask the original film s co screenwriter and director his opinion of the project which was to star Jeanette MacDonald You can t write a musical about Sunset Boulevard Wilder responded it has to be an opera After all it s about a dethroned queen Sondheim immediately aborted his plans A few years later when he was invited by Hal Prince to write the score for a film remake starring Angela Lansbury as a fading musical comedian rather than a silent film star Sondheim declined citing his conversation with Wilder 3 When Lloyd Webber saw the film in the early 1970s he was inspired to write what he pictured as the title song for a theatrical adaptation fragments of which he instead incorporated into Gumshoe 4 In 1976 after a conversation with Hal Prince who had the theatrical rights to Sunset Lloyd Webber wrote an idea for the moment when Norma Desmond returns to Paramount Studios Lloyd Webber did no further work on the play until after 1989 s Aspects of Love 4 At that point Lloyd Webber felt it was the subject he had to compose next 4 though by February 1990 he had announced plans to turn Really Useful Group private so he could make movies rather than musicals 5 6 In 1991 Lloyd Webber asked Amy Powers a lawyer from New York with hardly any professional lyric writing experience to write the lyrics for Sunset Boulevard 7 Don Black was later brought in to work with Powers the two wrote the version that was performed in 1991 at Lloyd Webber s Sydmonton Festival This original version starred Ria Jones as Norma and Michael Ball as Joe Gillis 8 but it was still in the experimental stage and not ready for potential producers A revised version written by Black and Christopher Hampton had a complete performance at the 1992 Sydmonton Festival now with Patti LuPone playing Norma 9 and Kevin Anderson as Joe Gillis This met with great success 7 Lloyd Webber borrowed several of the tunes from his 1986 mini musical Cricket written with Tim Rice which had been performed at Windsor Castle and later at the 1986 Sydmonton Festival 10 Synopsis editAct I edit The place A mansion on Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles 5 a m A homicide has been reported Joe Gillis sets the scene Prologue noting that an old time movie star is involved Maybe the biggest star of all and that if you want to know the real facts you ve come to the right party Flashback to Hollywood 1949 where a down on his luck screenwriter Joe Gillis is trying to hustle up some work at Paramount Studios Let s Have Lunch His appointment with a producer goes poorly when the executive rejects both Joe s proposed script and a loan to bring his car payments up to date Joe does however meet Betty Schaefer a pretty young script editor who suggests they collaborate to rework one of his earlier screenplays Every Movie s a Circus As they chat car repossession agents spot Joe who quickly escapes During the ensuing chase Joe evades his pursuers by pulling in to the garage of a palatial but dilapidated mansion on Sunset Boulevard Beckoned inside the house Joe encounters Norma Desmond Surrender a star actress of the silent film era Taken aback Joe comments You used to be in pictures you used to be big to which Norma retorts I am big it s the pictures that got small With One Look The gloomy estate is inhabited only by Norma and Max von Mayerling her loyal butler and chauffeur Although decades past her prime and mostly forgotten by the public Norma is convinced she is as beautiful and popular as ever Max perpetuates this illusion by shielding her from the realities of life out of the limelight and by writing her letters purportedly from still devoted fans Norma informs Joe that she plans to make her comeback with Salome a script she has written for Cecil B DeMille to direct with her in the starring role as the teenage biblical temptress Salome Dubious but sensing opportunity Joe accepts her offer to work on editing the script Norma insists that Joe stay in her home while they collaborate on Salome The Greatest Star of All Joe immediately realizes the script is incoherent but because Norma won t allow a major rewrite the revision drags on for months During this time Joe is virtually imprisoned within the house but he does break away to fulfill his commitment to Betty Their working relationship blossoms into a romance that has her reconsidering her engagement to Joe s best friend Artie Green Girl Meets Boy Blind to Joe s opportunism Norma lavishes him with gifts that include a wardrobe makeover and he becomes her kept man The Lady s Paying She declares her love for him and turns quite possessive The Perfect Year when he leaves her to attend Artie s New Year s Eve party This Time Next Year she is distraught and attempts suicide As a conciliatory gesture Joe reluctantly returns to work on Salome Act II edit Joe is now living in luxury at Norma Desmond s mansion for reasons he bluntly states are mercenary Sunset Boulevard A cryptic message from Paramount has Norma certain that DeMille is eager to discuss her script There s Been A Call She drops in on the set of his current film and is greeted warmly by former colleagues and the famed director himself but he is non committal about Salome As If We Never Said Goodbye Meanwhile Max discovers the studio had called to ask about Norma s Isotta Fraschini not her screenplay However a delusional Norma leaves the lot convinced she ll soon be back in front of the cameras and begins to prepare for the role Eternal Youth Is Worth a Little Suffering Increasingly paranoid Norma deduces that Joe and Betty are more than just friends Too Much in Love to Care She calls Betty to reveal Joe s secret life at the mansion but he overhears and grabs the phone to tell Betty to come see for herself Realizing their affair is doomed Joe brusquely tells her he enjoys being Norma s pet and that she should go back to Artie Betty departs confused and brokenhearted and Joe tells Norma he is leaving her and returning to his hometown of Dayton Ohio He also bluntly informs her that Salome is an unfilmable script and her fans have long abandoned her Furious and grief stricken Norma fatally shoots Joe three times as he storms out of the house Now completely insane Norma mistakes the swarms of police and reporters who arrive for studio personnel Imagining herself on the set of Salome she slowly descends her grand staircase and utters And now Mr DeMille I am ready for my close up Major characters editNorma Desmond Mezzo soprano a faded eccentric former silent screen star Joe Gillis Baritenor a struggling young screenwriter Max von Mayerling Bass baritone Norma s first husband and butler Betty Schaefer Soprano A budding writer and Joe s love interest Artie Green Baritenor Betty s fiance Cecil B DeMille Bass the famous directorCharacters and original cast editCharacter West End Los Angeles Broadway Toronto First U S National Tour Australia Second U S National Tour First UK Tour First West End Revival Second West End Revival First Broadway Revival Second UK Tour Third West End Revival1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 2001 2008 2016 2017 2023Norma Desmond Patti LuPone Glenn Close Diahann Carroll Linda Balgord Debra Byrne Petula Clark Faith Brown Kathryn Evans Glenn Close Ria Jones Nicole ScherzingerJoe Gillis Kevin Anderson Alan Campbell Rex Smith Ron Bohmer Hugh Jackman Lewis Cleale Earl Carpenter Ben Goddard Michael Xavier Danny Mac Tom FrancisBetty Schaefer Meredith Braun Judy Kuhn Alice Ripley Anita Louise Combe Lauren Kennedy Catherine Porter Sarah Uriarte Berry Ceri Ann Gregory Laura Pitt Pulford Siobhan Dillon Molly Lynch Grace Hodgett YoungMax von Mayerling Daniel Benzali George Hearn Walter Charles Ed Dixon Norbert Lamla Allen Fitzpatrick Michael Bauer Dave Willetts Fred Johanson Adam Pearce David ThaxtonArtie Green Gareth Snook Vincent Tumeo Christopher Shyer James Clow Tim Beveridge Michael Berry Jeremy Finch Tomm Coles Haydn Oakley Preston Truman Boyd Dougie Carter Ahmed HamadCecil B DeMille Michael Bauer Alan Oppenheimer John Braden William Chapman Clive Hearne George Merner Vincent Pirillo Craig Pinder Julian Forsyth Paul Schoeffler Carl Sanderson Jon TsourasNotable Replacements edit West End 1993 97 Norma Desmond Betty Buckley Elaine Paige Petula Clark Rita Moreno Joe Gillis John Barrowman Alexander Hanson Graham Bickley Glyn KerslakeBroadway 1994 97 Norma Desmond Betty Buckley Elaine Paige Karen Mason s b Maureen Moore s b Joe Gillis John Barrowman Bryan Batt u s UK Tour 2001 02 Joe Gillis Ramin Karimloo u s Artie Green Ramin KarimlooMusical numbers editAct I 11 Overture Prologue Joe Let s Have Lunch Joe Artie Sheldrake Betty Actors Actress amp Scriptwriters Every Movie s A Circus Betty Joe Finance Man 1 amp Finance Man 2 Surrender Norma With One Look Norma Salome Norma amp Joe The Greatest Star of All Max Every Movie s a Circus Reprise Artie Joe Betty Barman Actors Actress amp Waiters Girl Meets Boy Joe amp Betty New Ways to Dream Norma amp Joe The Lady s Paying Norma Joe Manfred amp Men s Shop Salesmen The Perfect Year Norma amp Joe This Time Next Year Joe Betty Artie amp Ensemble Act II 12 Entr acte Orchestra Sunset Boulevard Joe There s Been a Call Norma amp Joe As If We Never Said Goodbye Norma Surrender Reprise Cecil B DeMile Girl Meets Boy Reprise Joe amp Betty Eternal Youth Is Worth a Little Suffering Norma Astrologer amp Beauticians Too Much in Love to Care Betty amp Joe New Ways to Dream Reprise Max The Final Scene Joe Betty Norma amp Max Song added for Los Angeles production Originally a reprise of Let s Have Lunch Productions editOriginal London production edit nbsp Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi TheatreThe original West End production directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Bob Avian with costumes from Anthony Powell opened on 12 July 1993 at the Adelphi Theatre The cast featured Patti LuPone as Norma Desmond Kevin Anderson as Joe Gillis Meredith Braun as Betty Schaefer and Daniel Benzali as Norma s ex husband Max 13 Billy Wilder and his wife Audrey were joined by Nancy Olson who had played Betty Schaefer in the original film at the opening night performance Of it Wilder observed The best thing they did was leave the script alone and of Patti LuPone he exclaimed She s a star from the moment she walks on stage 14 Reviews were mixed according to the Associated Press AP review summary That summary quoted for example the review by Michael Kuchwara for the AP Some reviewers felt Lloyd Webber took the sting out of a cynical tale Wilder s bitter brew has been diluted wrote AP Drama Critic Michael Kuchwara He added When LuPone is off stage the show sags 15 Frank Rich wrote Much of the film s plot dialogue and horror movie mood are preserved not to mention clips used to illustrate those sequences in which the faded silent film star Norma Desmond and her kept young screenwriter Joe Gillis travel by car The lyricist Don Black and the playwright Christopher Hampton smartly tailor their jokes to the original screenplay s style At times even Lloyd Webber gets into the Wilder swing Both acts open with joltingly angry diatribes about Hollywood part exposition packed recitative and part song in which the surprisingly dark jazz accented music the most interesting I ve yet encountered from this composer meshes perfectly with the cynical lyrics Anderson makes the sardonic Wilder voice an almost physical presence in Sunset Boulevard but he is too often drowned out by both LuPone s Broadway belt and mechanical efforts of Lloyd Webber and his director Trevor Nunn to stamp the proven formulas of Phantom and Les Miz on even an intimate tale At odd moments the mammoth set advances like a glacier toward the audience or retreats or most dramatically rises partly up into the flies actors in tow 13 The show closed for three weeks re opening on 19 April 1994 revamped to follow the Los Angeles production with a second official opening The revamped musical had a new song Every Movie s a Circus a new set and new stars Betty Buckley and John Barrowman Anita Louise Combe took over the role of Betty Schaeffer and as a result of her performance was invited to play the role in the original Canadian Premiere production in Toronto the following year 16 Michael Bauer who had originally played DeMille replaced Benzali as Max a role he played until the end of the London run and subsequently on the UK tour and in the BBC concert Buckley and the production garnered rave reviews David Lister of The Independent for example wrote The show looked an improvement on the one that got decidedly mixed reviews last summer 16 Betty Buckley went on to replace Glenn Close as Norma in the second year of the Broadway production Elaine Paige who had filled in when Buckley was ill in 1994 took over the part in the West End in May 1995 17 before joining the Broadway production for the end of its run between 1996 and 1997 Petula Clark filled in for Paige during her holiday in September October 1995 before taking over the role in January 1996 18 when Paige departed for the United States The last actress to play Norma in London was Rita Moreno who filled in for a vacationing Clark in September and October 1996 John Barrowman played Joe until 1995 when he was replaced by Alexander Hanson Graham Bickley played the role for the final year of the London run The show closed on 5 April 1997 after 1 530 performances 19 Los Angeles production edit nbsp Glenn Close in costume for Sunset BoulevardThe American premiere was at the Shubert Theatre in Century City Los Angeles California on 9 December 1993 with Close as Norma and Alan Campbell as Joe Featured were George Hearn as Max and Judy Kuhn as Betty Lloyd Webber had reworked both the book and score tightening the production better organising the orchestrations and adding the song Every Movie s a Circus 20 This new production was better received by the critics and was an instant success running for 369 performances The Los Angeles production also recorded a new cast album that is well regarded It is also the only unabridged cast recording of the show since the original London recording was trimmed by over thirty minutes A controversy arose with this production after Faye Dunaway was hired to replace Glenn Close Dunaway went into rehearsals with Rex Smith as Joe and Jon Cypher as Max Tickets went on sale for Dunaway s engagement but shortly after rehearsals started the producers announced that Dunaway was unable to sing the role to their standards and the production would shut down when Close left 21 Dunaway claims that when advance sales slumped Sir Andrew decided to save money by sending the LA cast of Sunset Boulevard based on the story of a clapped out Hollywood actress to Broadway where it is due to open in November 22 However the Los Angeles Times reported that The cancellation came despite advance ticket sales for the Los Angeles production way in excess of 4 million said Peter Brown a spokesman for Lloyd Webber 21 Dunaway filed a lawsuit claiming her reputation had been damaged by the producer s claims Dunaway s lawsuit was settled and the producers paid her a settlement but no other terms of the agreement have ever been disclosed 23 Original Broadway production edit The musical opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre on 17 November 1994 with Close Campbell and Hearn recreating their roles from the Los Angeles production and Alice Ripley joining the cast as Betty Also in the cast were Alan Oppenheimer as Cecil B DeMille and Vincent Tumeo making his Broadway debut as Artie Green The production opened with the highest advance in the history of Broadway ticket sales at that time 24 25 It closed on March 22 1997 after playing 977 performances 26 Billy Wilder was in attendance on opening night and was coaxed onstage by Close for the curtain call 14 In a season with only one other musical nominated for Best Musical the production won several Tony Awards Glenn Close with only one other nominee as Best Actress in a musical won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role The New York Times theatre critic Vincent Canby commented about the Tony Awards for this year Awards don t really tell you much when the competition is feeble or simply non existent as was the case the year that Sunset Boulevard won its Tony Such prizes are for use in advertising and promotion and to impress the folks back home 27 Patti LuPone who initially had been promised the Broadway run sued Lloyd Webber and received a settlement reported to be 1 million Frank Rich in his book The Hot Seat 28 noted that these lawsuits contributed to Sunset Boulevard setting the record for the most money lost by a theatrical endeavour in the history of the United States According to The New York Times operating costs soared far beyond the budget and the Broadway production has earned back at best 80 of the initial 13 million 29 For example during the week of 2 July 1995 it cost 731 304 to run Sunset Boulevard including advertising fees of 138 352 which had been budgeted at 40 000 a week 29 The road companies also generated large financial losses Rich puts the final figure near or above US 20 million lost making the show what he termed a flop hit as it ran more than two years The musical sold over a million tickets on Broadway 30 Touring productions edit The first national US tour in 1996 starring Linda Balgord 31 ended in early 1997 after only a handful of venues due to exorbitant costs involved in transporting the set 32 Lloyd Webber called in director Susan H Schulman to design a scaled down production with Petula Clark once again in the lead opposite Lewis Cleale as Joe This production featured Anthony Powell s Tony Award nominated costumes a slightly modified libretto by Schulman and Don Black and a new more tour friendly set by Derek McLane 33 The revised production opening in Pittsburgh about a year after the closing of the original tour in Chicago went on the road for almost two years though it avoided the cities covered by the previous tour In August 2001 a UK tour commenced in Plymouth starring Faith Brown as Norma opposite Earl Carpenter as Joe and Michael Bauer reprising his West End performance as Max The production had a completely new set much simpler than the original London set although the overall production remained closer to the original staging than the revamped US national tour Carpenter left midway through the tour and was replaced by Jeremy Finch who had previously understudied the role The tour finished in late 2002 in Manchester and met with both excellent reviews and respectable ticket sales Ria Jones who originated the role of Norma Desmond in the 1991 Sydmonton Workshop and understudied Glenn Close in the 2016 West End revival led a new production opening at Leicester s Curve Theatre on 16 September 2017 for a two week run before embarking on a national tour around the United Kingdom 34 The tour directed by Curve artistic by Nikolai Foster transferred the musical into a Hollywood sound stage setting designed by Colin Richmond with acclaimed use of vintage archive film and projections designed by Douglas O Connell 35 International productions edit The original Canadian production opened in Toronto on October 15 1995 with Diahann Carroll in the lead role Her performance was praised by critics It also starred Rex Smith as Joe Walter Charles as Max and Anita Louise Combe who had played Betty in the London production repeating in this role Toronto performances ended in August 1996 with the production later moving to Vancouver where it ran from November 1996 to March 1997 A highlights recording of this production was released on CD A German production of the musical opened 7 December 1995 at the newly built Rhein Main Theater in Niedernhausen near Wiesbaden starring Helen Schneider and Sue Mathys matinees as Norma and Uwe Kroger as Joe A cast recording with Schneider and Kroger was released in 1996 The role of Norma was later played by Daniela Ziegler and Christina Grimandi with Schneider and for the last few months Sue Mathys both returning to play the lead The production closed in May 1998 In October 1996 the original Australian production of the musical opened at Melbourne s newly restored Regent Theatre The cast included Debra Byrne as Norma Hugh Jackman as Joe and Catherine Porter as Betty 36 Maria Mercedes starred as the alternate Norma performing two of the eight shows each week 37 Amanda Harrison took over the role of Betty for the final months of the show s run The production ran until 14 June 1997 38 A year long Dutch tour commenced in the Netherlands on 10 October 2008 with Simone Kleinsma and Pia Douwes alternating as Norma and Antonie Kamerling as Joe using the same modified libretto that was first used in the 2001 UK tour Kleinsma went on to win the Best Actress Award for the role in the 2009 Dutch Musical Awards and also Best Actress for the Flemish Musical Prizes An official cast album was released with Kleinsma appearing on the main album and with a four track bonus CD of Pia Douwes singing Norma s main arias The Swedish premiere took place at the Varmlandsoperan in September 2009 to mostly positive reviews The role of Norma was played by Maria Lundqvist A second much more elaborate production opened in October 2010 at the Gothenburg Opera House with Gunilla Backman who previously understudied the role of Betty in the original German production starring as Norma A South African production starring Angela Kilian 39 as Norma and Jonathan Roxmouth 40 as Joe was shown at the Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino in Johannesburg from late August 2013 to mid October 2013 and at Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town from late October 2013 until early January 2014 The Czech production with Hana Fialova and Katarina Hasprova in the role of Norma had its premiere in National Moravian Silesian Theatre in Ostrava The premiere took place on 19 February 2015 41 The show closed in March 2017 42 Another German production starring Katharina Scherer as Norma Philippe J Kayser as Joe Antonia Crames as Betty and Stephan Vanecek as Max opened to sold out seats on 15 September 2017 and had its fourteenth and final performance on 8 October 2017 at the Tuchfabrik in Trier 43 The Spanish premiere production opened 27 December 2017 at the Auditorio de Tenerife directed by Jaime Azpilicueta and starring Paloma San Basilio as Norma Desmond Geronimo Rauch as Joe Gillis Inma Mira as Betty Schaefer and Gonzalo Montes as Max von Mayerling 44 Sarah Brightman is set to star as Norma Desmond in a new production of Sunset Boulevard that will premiere in Melbourne in May 2024 at the Princess Theatre followed by an engagement at the Sydney Opera House in August This will be Brightman s first theatrical role in more than three decades 45 London revivals edit An eight week engagement of a minimalist production in which the actors used musical instruments enjoyed a good run at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury over the summer of 2008 Directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood the cast featured Kathryn Evans as Norma and Ben Goddard as Joe A West End transfer of the Watermill production began on 4 December 2008 prior to an official opening 15 December at the Comedy Theatre with Evans and Goddard reprising their roles and Dave Willetts joining the cast as Max 46 The production received rave reviews and extended its run to September 2009 However the production closed just after initially planned on 30 May 2009 47 It had originally been booking until 19 September 2009 There were plans for a UK Tour and also talks of bringing the show to Broadway 48 Opening on 4 April 2016 English National Opera ENO presented a five week semi staged run at the London Coliseum Glenn Close reprised her role as Norma making her West End debut along with Michael Xavier as Joe Siobhan Dillon as Betty and Fred Johanson as Max 49 Michael Linnit and Michael Grade for Gate Ventures PLC worked with ENO to present the show Johnny Hon was the executive producer 50 It was announced on 25 October 2016 that the production will transfer to Broadway at the Palace Theatre in a limited engagement 51 A revival starring Nicole Scherzinger as Norma opened at the Savoy Theatre from September 2023 for a 16 week limited run It is directed by Jamie Lloyd and produced by Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals 52 Rachel Tucker is scheduled to guest star as Norma beginning October 12 2023 and will play Monday evenings beginning October 16 53 Complete casting was announced on August 14 2023 54 2017 Broadway revival edit nbsp 2017 revival at the Palace TheatreGlenn Close reprised her performance as Norma Desmond in a revival on Broadway Featuring a 40 piece onstage orchestra and a relatively minimalist set the production began performances at the Palace Theatre on 2 February 2017 before opening officially on 9 February for a limited run with tickets on sale through 25 June 2017 51 55 The cast featured Michael Xavier as Joe Gillis Siobhan Dillon as Betty Schaefer and Fred Johanson as Max von Mayerling all reprising their roles from the 2016 London ENO production The 2017 Broadway revival was directed by Lonny Price 56 57 Other productions edit In 2004 the first regional production of Sunset Boulevard was staged in the round at the Marriott Theatre in Chicago for a limited period and starred Paula Scrofano as Norma It was the first and only regional production to be licensed by the Really Useful Group RUG for the next six years However in the spring of 2010 the leasing rights were finally released to regional companies and numerous productions have been staged around the United States The Ogunquit Playhouse production ran from 28 July through 14 August 2010 and starred Stefanie Powers as Norma and Todd Gearhart as Joe This was the first fully staged production in the U S in nearly a decade The Ogunquit production was directed by Shaun Kerrison with choreography by Tom Kosis featured costumes by Anthony Powell and an all new set designed exclusively for Ogunquit by Todd Ivins 58 The Arvada Center production ran from 14 September to 10 October 2010 in Denver Colorado the same city that launched the ill fated first US tour in 1996 The show starred Ann Crumb as Norma and Kevin Earley as Joe The production was directed by Rod A Landsberry 59 The Kennedy Center production ran from February 1 8 2023 in Washington D C with Stephanie J Block starring as Norma Derek Klena as Joe and Auli i Cravalho as Betty The show ran as a limited engagement as part of the Kennedy Center s Broadway Center Stage series 60 Concert productions edit In April 2004 Petula Clark reprised her role as Norma opposite Michael Ball in a concert production of the show that ran for two nights at the Cork Opera House in Ireland which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 2 The cast also included Michael Bauer Max Emma Williams Betty Michael Xavier Artie and the BBC Concert Orchestra was conducted by Martin Yates Another two day concert engagement took place in 2004 in Sydney by the Production Company Judi Connelli starred as Norma Michael Cormick played Joe and Anthony Warlow was Max The Production Company staged a slightly more elaborate version of the concert for a week in Melbourne during 2005 Connelli again starred as Norma and David Campbell took the role of Joe The State Theatre was sold out for every performance A concert production of Sunset Boulevard was performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London England on December 3 2021 Produced by Alpha the concert was a fully staged production with direction by Jordan Murphy choreography by Joanna Goodwin and conducted by Alex Parker Ramin Karimloo starred as Joe Gillis Mazz Murray starred as Norma Desmond Zizi Strallen as Betty Schaeffer and Jeremy Secomb as Max 61 Film adaptation editParamount Pictures and the Relevant Picture Company announced in 2005 that they were developing a film adaptation of the musical 62 In 2007 The Daily Telegraph reported that actresses considered for the role of Norma Desmond included Close Paige Meryl Streep Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand 63 In a 2008 interview Andrew Lloyd Webber said that there were no plans for a film adaptation to be made in the near future but remained hopeful that one would be made at some point 64 In 2011 Lloyd Webber indicated that he would have wanted Madonna to star in the film 65 In a 2013 interview with Elaine Paige during her BBC Radio 2 show Elaine Paige on Sunday Lloyd Webber was asked about the progress of the film to which he replied I would love a film to be made of Sunset of course but unfortunately the rights are owned by Paramount who own the original movie and so far talks with them have never led to anything And it s sad for me because I think in many ways Sunset is I think the most complete musical I have written I mean in the sense that the book and the music and everything come together I think in a way that perhaps even some of the others they don t Anyway that s my sadness at the moment and maybe one day the whole thing will get brokered I m doing something else with Paramount because after I ve done this I m producing School of Rock on stage and that s a Paramount picture so maybe if they like what I do with that they ll let me do Sunset 66 In February 2019 it was announced that Rob Ashford had signed on to direct the film with Close reprising her role as Norma Desmond and Tom MacRae penning the script with production slated to begin on October of that year but was then delayed to the fall of 2020 67 In an October 2020 interview Close along with her confirmation of co producing the film alongside Lloyd Webber said that she hoped filming would commence in early 2021 citing the COVID 19 pandemic as the reason for the delay 68 In May 2021 Close stated in an interview that production was very very close to beginning and that they were ready to go while also adding that Lloyd Webber was still working on new music for the film 69 However in October 2021 Lloyd Webber announced that production had been stalled stating I wish I could say it s going into production tomorrow morning but it s not Paramount has not wanted to go ahead with it It s not for want of trying Glenn Close has been absolutely doggedly trying to get it made 70 On May 2 2022 at the 2022 Met Gala Close revealed that We re getting closer believe it or not We re getting closer without disclosing any additional information 71 Awards and nominations editOriginal London production edit Year Award Category Nominee Result1994 Laurence Olivier Award 72 Best New Musical NominatedBest Actress in a Musical Patti LuPone Nominated1995 Betty Buckley Nominated1996 Elaine Paige NominatedOriginal Broadway production edit Year Award Category Nominee Result1995 Tony Award Best Musical WonBest Original Score Andrew Lloyd Webber Don Black and Christopher Hampton WonBest Book of a Musical Don Black and Christopher Hampton WonBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Alan Campbell NominatedBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Glenn Close WonBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical George Hearn WonBest Direction of a Musical Trevor Nunn NominatedBest Choreography Bob Avian NominatedBest Scenic Design John Napier WonBest Costume Design Anthony Powell NominatedBest Lighting Design Andrew Bridge WonDrama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical Glenn Close Won2008 London revival edit Year Award Category Nominee Result2009 Laurence Olivier Award 73 Best Actress in a Musical Kathryn Evans NominatedBest Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical Dave Willetts Nominated2016 London revival edit Year Award Category Nominee Result2016 Evening Standard Theatre Award 74 75 Best Musical NominatedBest Musical Performance Glenn Close Won2017 Laurence Olivier Award 76 Best Musical Revival NominatedBest Actress in a Musical Glenn Close Nominated2017 Broadway revival edit Year Award Category Nominee Result2017 Drama Desk Award Best Lighting Design Mark Henderson NominatedDrama League Award Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off Broadway Musical NominatedOuter Critics Circle Award Outstanding Revival of a Musical NominatedNotes edit Based on liner notes to Boulevard CD release by Richard Stapley Tim J Hutton and Steven M Warner The Bad and the Beautiful Hollywood in the Fifties by Sam Kashner and Jennifer MacNair W W Norton amp Company Inc 2002 p 346 ISBN 0 393 04321 5 On Sunset Boulevard The Life and Times of Billy Wilder by Ed Sikov Hyperion New York New York 1998 pp 467 468 ISBN 0 7868 6194 0 a b c Inspired by Sunset Boulevard Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine from Lloyd Webber s Really Useful Group website Lloyd Webber in Accord For Buyback of Company a February 1990 article from The New York Times The new model Lloyd Webber The Times 6 October 1990 a b A Journey Down un set Blvd Goodspeed Musicals s Show Music magazine squareone org Fall 1993 Retrieved 21 September 2008 Ansdell Caroline 20 Questions With Ria Jones Ria Jones speaking to Caroline Ansdell Archived 10 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine whatsonstage com 5 March 2007 Snelson John Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber Yale University Press 2009 ISBN 0 300 15113 6 p 16 Tim Rice Cricket timrice co uk Inside the Playbill Sunset Boulevard Opening Night at the Minskoff Theatre Act I playbill com Inside the Playbill Sunset Boulevard Opening Night at the Minskoff Theatre Act II playbill com a b Rich Frank Upstaging a New Lloyd Webber Musical The New York Times 14 July 1993 a b On Sunset Boulevard The Life and Times of Billy Wilder p 589 Wolf Matt Sunset Boulevard Has Mixed Reviews But Billy Wilder s Impressed Associated Press 13 July 1993 International News no page number a b Lister David SECOND First Night Hope dawns for Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard Adelphi Theatre The Independent London England 20 April 1994 De Jongh Nicholas Elaine finds new ways to brighten up the Boulevard Sunset Boulevard The Adelphi Evening Standard London 18 May 1995 p 7 Stringer Robin At 62 Petula Succeeds To Sunset Throne Evening Standard London 8 December 1995 p 17 Wolf Matt As Sunsets fade Rug s new era dawns Variety 7 April 1997 13 April 1997 p 175 Weinraub Bernard Hollywood Braces For Look Into Mirror Of Sunset Boulevard The New York Times 9 December 1993 a b Shirley Don Sunset Blvd to Be Closed Dunaway s Singing Faulted Theater Actress reportedly flabbergasted by ouster was to replace Glenn Close Refunds could total 4 million Los Angeles Times 24 June 1994 Reeves Phil Hollywood waits for courtroom theatrics to outshine stage The Independent 26 August 1994 Lloyd Webber and Dunaway Settle The New York Times 17 January 1995 Sunset Boulevard History Inspiration Archived 29 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine reallyuseful com Blvd sets tix record at 1 4 mil Daily Variety 22 November 1994 p 11 Broadway Sunset Boulevard Closes March 22 Playbill com Retrieved 14 July 2021 Canby Vincent Why Whisper About It The Life Is a Joy The New York Times 5 October 1997 Hot Seat Archived 27 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine Theater Criticism for The New York Times 1980 1993 Random House 1998 ISBN 0 679 45300 8 from the author s website a b Weber Bruce Following Sunset Shadows Over Lloyd Webber s Empire The New York Times 24 March 1997 Cumulative Broadway Grosses by Show BroadwayWorld com Retrieved 15 April 2018 Campbell Jackie Linda Balgord Cast As Norma For Sunset Boulevard National Tour Rocky Mountain News abstract from encyclopedia com 28 January 1996 Retrieved 3 August 2010 Newmark Judith Hiatus looms for Boulevard St Louis Post Dispatch abstract from nl newsbank com 23 March 1997 Retrieved 3 August 2010 Strom Harper Regional review Atlanta talkinbroadway com Retrieved 3 August 2010 Hemley Matthew 16 January 2017 Ria Jones to play Norma Desmond in tour of Sunset Boulevard The Stage Retrieved 7 February 2017 Review SUNSET BOULEVARD Bristol Hippodrome Hallett Bryce Opening night shines for troubled Sunset The Australian 28 October 1996 p 3 Local Thomson Helen New star ensures Sunset still shines The Age Melbourne Australia 12 March 1997 p 7 Arts Burchall Greg I m ready for my curtain Melbourne Musicals Sunset sunset The Age Melbourne Australia 13 June 1997 p 1 Metro Actress Profile Angela Kilian Limited Edition South Africa Ltdedition co za Retrieved 7 February 2017 Edmunds Gayle 19 May 2013 The Interview Jonathan Roxmouth SA musical theatre s hottest property City Press Archived from the original on 19 May 2013 Retrieved 15 April 2018 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link SUNSET BOULEVARD Opereta Muzikal Narodni divadlo moravskoslezske www ndm cz Retrieved 1 December 2020 Sunset Boulevard Narodni divadlo moravskoslezske i divadlo cz www i divadlo cz Retrieved 1 December 2020 Official website of Tuchfabrik Trier Retrieved 17 October 2017 Paloma San Basilio sera Norma Desmond en Sunset Boulevard abc es 15 June 2017 Sarah Brightman To Star In Sunset Boulevard Shenton Mark Sunset Boulevard Will Return to the West End in December Archived 7 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine Playbill 17 November 2008 playbill com London Revival of Sunset Boulevard to Close May 30 Watermills SUNSET BOULEVARD to Close in West End May 30 2009 Glenn Close Comes to ENO for Sunset Boulevard eno org Photo Flash Glenn Close Andrew Lloyd Webber and More at Opening Night of SUNSET BOULEVARD BroadwayWorld com 5 April 2016 Retrieved 3 June 2018 a b Gans Andrew Glenn Close Will Revisit Sunset Boulevard on Broadway Playbill 25 October 2016 Nicole Scherzinger to star in Sunset Boulevard in London s West End BBC News 19 May 2023 Al Hassan Aliya Rachel Tucker Joins Andrew Lloyd Webber s SUNSET BOULEVARD in London BroadwayWorld com Retrieved 11 August 2023 Gans Andrew Rachel Tucker Joins Andrew Lloyd Webber s SUNSET BOULEVARD in London Playbill com Retrieved 14 August 2023 Gans Andrew Tix for Sunset Boulevard Revival Starring Glenn Close Now on Sale through June Playbill 7 February 2017 Gans Andrew Complete Casting Announced for Glenn Close Revival of Sunset Boulevard Playbill 9 January 2017 Gans Andrew Glenn Close Returns to Broadway in Revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber s Sunset Boulevard Playbill 2 February 2017 Gans Andrew With One Look Stefanie Powers Is Norma Desmond in Ogunquit Playhouse s Sunset Boulevard Archived 3 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine Playbill 28 July 2010 Blank Matthew PHOTO CALL Ann Crumb Kevin Earley and Jenny Gelwick Cruise Sunset Boulevard in Denver Archived 26 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine Playbill 17 September 2010 Gans Andrew 8 February 2023 Sunset Boulevard Starring Stephanie J Block as Norma Desmond Ends Kennedy Center Run February 8 Information about the Australian production from hjackman com Hastings Chris 10 July 2005 Close and McGregor to star in Sunset Boulevard film The Daily Telegraph London Retrieved 9 May 2012 Hastings Chris Jones Beth 5 August 2007 Meryl Streep competes for Sunset Boulevard The Daily Telegraph London Retrieved 9 May 2012 Espiner Mark 17 December 2008 What to say about Sunset Boulevard The Guardian Retrieved 3 September 2019 Madonna Wanted Archived 10 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine The Village Voice 8 April 2011 Retrieved 8 April 2011 Andrew Lloyd Webber Talks with Elain Paige audio at 8 30 9 21 Elaine Paige on Sunday BBC Radio 2 6 October 2013 Criscitiello Alexa 28 February 2019 Confirmed Glenn Close To Star in Rob Ashford Directed SUNSET BOULEVARD Musical Film Broadway World Retrieved 1 March 2019 Sullivan Lindsey 23 October 2020 Glenn Close Offers an Update on the Upcoming Sunset Boulevard Movie Musical Broadway com Retrieved 30 December 2020 Malkin Marc 5 May 2021 Glenn Close Talks Wanting to Play Cruella Again and Her New Jazz Album EXCLUSIVE Variety com Variety Retrieved 6 May 2021 Major Michael Andrew Lloyd Webber Reveals Production on SUNSET BOULEVARD Film Has Been Stalled BroadwayWorld com Retrieved 25 November 2021 Major Michael Glenn Close Reveals SUNSET BOULEVARD Film is Getting Closer BroadwayWorld com Retrieved 5 May 2022 Olivier Winners 1994 Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine olivierawards com Retrieved 29 March 2011 Olivier Winners 2009 Archived 27 May 2012 at archive today olivierawards com Retrieved 29 March 2011 Dex Robert 9 November 2016 Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2016 The shortlist www standard co uk Retrieved 30 March 2021 Thompson Jessie 14 February 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2016 The winners www standard co uk Retrieved 30 March 2021 Olivier Winners 2017 Olivier Awards Retrieved 30 March 2021 References editGanzl Kurt Ganzl s book of the Broadway musical 75 shows from H M S Pinafore to Sunset Boulevard New York Schirmer Books 1995 ISBN 0 02 870832 6 Plot and production listing guidetomusicaltheatre com Profile of the musical Broadway Musical HomeExternal links edit Sunset Boulevard at the Internet Broadway Database Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sunset Boulevard musical amp oldid 1188334309, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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