Sunset Boulevard (musical)

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Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Musical

Sunset Boulevard is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyrics and libretto by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, based on the 1950 film. The plot follows Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent-screen era, living in her decaying mansion on Sunset Boulevard in 1949 Los Angeles. When young screenwriter Joe Gillis accidentally crosses her path, she sees 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. The 1994 Broadway production was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning 7, including best musical. The 2023 West End revival was nominated for 11 Olivier Awards, winning 7, including best musical revival. The 2024 Broadway revival was nominated for 7 Tony Awards and won 3, including Best Revival of a Musical.

Background

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!.<ref name=StapleyHughes>Based on liner notes to Boulevard! CD release by Richard Stapley, Tim J. Hutton, and Steven M. Warner</ref> It ended on a happier note than the film, with Norma Desmond allowing Joe Gillis to leave and pursue a happy ending with Betty Schaefer. 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."<ref>The Bad and the Beautiful: Hollywood in the Fifties by Sam Kashner and Jennifer MacNair, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2002, p. 346, Template:ISBN</ref> 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 at Austin, 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.<ref>On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder by Ed Sikov, Hyperion, New York, New York, 1998, pp. 467–468, Template:ISBN</ref>

When Andrew 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.<ref name="alwinspire">"...Inspired by Sunset Boulevard" Template:Webarchive from Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group website</ref> 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.<ref name="alwinspire"/> At that point, Lloyd Webber "felt it was the subject [he] had to compose next",<ref name="alwinspire"/> though by February 1990 he had announced plans to turn Really Useful Group private so he could "make movies rather than musicals."<ref>Lloyd Webber in Accord For Buyback of Company, a February 1990 article from The New York Times</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="showmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> 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, Michael Ball as Joe, Frances Ruffelle as Betty, and Kevin Colson as Max.<ref>Ansdell, Caroline. "20 Questions With... Ria Jones (Ria Jones speaking to Caroline Ansdell)" Template:Webarchive whatsonstage.com, 5 March 2007</ref> It was still in the experimental stage, however, and not ready for potential producers. A revised version, written by Black and Christopher Hampton, had a complete performance at the 1992 Sydmonton Festival, with Patti LuPone playing Norma,<ref>Snelson, John. Andrew Lloyd Webber Template:Webarchive Andrew Lloyd Webber, Yale University Press, 2009, Template:ISBN, p.16</ref> Kevin Anderson as Joe, Michael Bauer as Max, and Meredith Braun as Betty. This "met with great success".<ref name="showmusic"/> 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.<ref>"Tim Rice – Cricket" Template:Webarchive timrice.co.uk</ref>

Synopsis

Act I

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

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"). Max tells Joe of the depth of his commitment to protecting Norma from discovering the truth, revealing that he was Norma's first husband and has stayed with her all these years ("New Ways to Dream" (reprise)). 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 Betty he enjoys being Norma's pet and that she should go back to Artie. Betty departs, confused and heartbroken, 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." ("The Final Scene").

Major characters

  • Norma Desmond – a faded, eccentric, former silent screen star
  • Joe Gillis – a struggling young screenwriter
  • Max von Mayerling – Norma's first husband and butler
  • Betty Schaefer – a budding writer and Joe's love interest
  • Artie Green – Betty's fiancé
  • Cecil B. DeMille – the famous director

Casts

Character West End Los Angeles Broadway U.S. tour U.K. tour West End revival Broadway revival West End revival Broadway revival
1993 1994 1996 2001 2008 2017 2023 2024
Norma Desmond Patti LuPone Glenn Close Linda Balgord Faith Brown Kathryn Evans Glenn Close Nicole Scherzinger°
Joe Gillis Kevin Anderson Alan Campbell Ron Bohmer Earl Carpenter Ben Goddard Michael Xavier Tom Francis
Max von Mayerling Daniel Benzali George Hearn Ed Dixon Michael Bauer Dave Willetts Fred Johanson David Thaxton
Betty Schaefer Meredith Braun Judy Kuhn Alice Ripley Lauren Kennedy Ceri Ann Gregory Laura Pitt-Pulford Siobhan Dillon Grace Hodgett Young
Artie Green Gareth Snook Vincent Tumeo James Clow Jeremy Finch Tomm Coles Preston Truman Boyd Ahmed Hamad Diego Andres Rodriguez
Cecil B. DeMille Michael Bauer Alan Oppenheimer William Chapman Vincent Pirillo Craig Pinder Paul Schoeffler Jon Tsouras Shavey Brown

°Rachel Tucker played Norma Desmond at select performances in the 2023 West End revival,<ref name=TuckerAlt/> and Mandy Gonzalez played Norma at select performances in the 2024 Broadway revival.<ref name=Gonzalez/>

Notable replacements

West End (1993–97)

Broadway (1994–97)

UK Tour (2001–02)

Broadway revival (2024–25)

Musical numbers

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Act I<ref>"Sunset Boulevard", playbill.com</ref>

  • "Overture" / "Prologue" – Joe
  • "Let's Have Lunch" – Joe, Artie, Sheldrake, Betty, Actors, Actress & Scriptwriters
  • "Every Movie's a Circus" † – Betty, Joe, Finance Man 1 & Finance Man 2
  • "Surrender" – Norma
  • "With One Look" – Norma
  • "Salome" – Norma & Joe
  • "The Greatest Star of All" – Max
  • "Every Movie's a Circus" (reprise) ∞ † – Artie, Joe, Betty, Barman, Actors, Actress & Waiters
  • "Girl Meets Boy" – Joe & Betty
  • "New Ways to Dream" – Norma & Joe
  • "The Lady's Paying" ^ – Norma, Joe, Manfred & Men's Shop Salesmen
  • "The Perfect Year" – Norma & Joe
  • "This Time Next Year" – Joe, Betty, Artie & Ensemble

Template:Col-break

Act II

  • "Entr'acte" – Orchestra
  • "Sunset Boulevard" – Joe
  • "There's Been a Call" – Norma & Joe
  • "As If We Never Said Goodbye" – Norma
  • "Surrender" (reprise) – Cecil B. DeMile
  • "Girl Meets Boy" (reprise) – Joe & Betty
  • "Eternal Youth Is Worth a Little Suffering" ^ – Norma, Astrologer & Beauticians
  • "Too Much in Love to Care" – Betty & Joe
  • "New Ways to Dream" (reprise) – Max
  • "The Final Scene" – Joe, Betty, Norma & Max

Template:Col-end

† Added for Los Angeles production

^ Cut from the 2023 West End and 2024 Broadway productions

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

Productions

Original West End production

Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre

The original West End production, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Bob Avian, with costumes by 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 Max.<ref name=rich>Rich, Frank. "Upstaging a New Lloyd Webber Musical" Template:Webarchive The New York Times, 14 July 1993</ref> Billy Wilder and his wife Audrey Young were joined by Nancy Olson, who had played Betty in the original film, at the opening night performance. Wilder said, "The best thing they did was leave the script alone", and praised LuPone.<ref name="onpg589">On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder, p. 589</ref> Reviews were mixed, according to the Associated Press (AP) review summary, quoting the AP critic, Michael Kuchwara: "Some reviewers felt Lloyd Webber took the sting out of a cynical tale. Wilder's bitter brew has been diluted. ... When LuPone is off stage, the show sags.'"<ref>Wolf, Matt. "Sunset Boulevard Has Mixed Reviews, But Billy Wilder's Impressed", Associated Press, 13 July 1993, International News (no page number)</ref> Frank Rich wrote in The New York Times: Template:Blockquote

The show closed for three weeks, re-opening on 19 April 1994, revamped to follow the Los Angeles production, with a second official "opening". It had a new song, "Every Movie's a Circus", a new set, and new stars, Betty Buckley and John Barrowman. Anita Louise Combe took the role of Betty and repeated the role in the original Canadian production the following year.<ref name=lister>Lister, David. "(Second) First Night / Hope dawns for Sunset Boulevard: Sunset Boulevard; Adelphi Theatre" Template:Webarchive The Independent (London, England), 20 April 1994</ref> Michael Bauer, who had originally played DeMille, played Max until the end of the London run and then on the UK tour and in the BBC concert. Buckley and the production garnered improved reviews.<ref name=lister/> Elaine Paige, who had filled in when Buckley was ill in 1994, took over the part in May 1995.<ref>De Jongh, Nicholas. "Elaine finds new ways to brighten up the Boulevard; Sunset Boulevard, The Adelphi", Evening Standard (London), 18 May 1995, p. 7</ref> Petula Clark replaced Paige in September/October 1995 and again from January 1996.<ref>Stringer, Robin. "At 62, Petula Succeeds to Sunset Throne", Evening Standard (London), 8 December 1995, p.17</ref> The last new actress to play Norma in London was Rita Moreno. Alexander Hanson took over Joe in 1995. Graham Bickley played Joe for the final year of the run. The show closed on 5 April 1997 after 1,530 performances.<ref>Wolf, Matt. "As \'Sunsets\' fade, Rug's new era dawns", Variety, 7 April 1997 – 13 April 1997, p. 175</ref>

Los Angeles production

Glenn Close in costume as Norma Desmond

The first American production opened at the Shubert Theatre in Century City, Los Angeles, California, on 9 December 1993, with Glenn 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".<ref>Weinraub, Bernard."Hollywood Braces For Look Into Mirror Of 'Sunset Boulevard'" Template:Webarchive. The New York Times, 9 December 1993</ref> This new production was better received by the critics than the premiere, and was an instant success, running for 369 performances. The production also recorded a new cast album that is well regarded.Template:Citation needed It is also the only first cast recording of the show, since the original London recording was trimmed by over thirty minutes.

Faye Dunaway was hired to replace Close and began 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; the production would shut down when Close left.<ref name=faye>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</ref> Lloyd Webber's spokesman stated: "The cancellation came despite advance ticket sales for the Los Angeles production 'way in excess of $4 million";<ref name=faye/> Dunaway denied this.<ref>Reeves, Phil. "Hollywood waits for courtroom theatrics to outshine stage" Template:Webarchive The Independent, 26 August 1994</ref> She filed a lawsuit claiming her reputation had been damaged by the producer's claims. The producers paid her a settlement.<ref>"Lloyd Webber and Dunaway Settle" Template:Webarchive The New York Times, 17 January 1995</ref>

Original Broadway production

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 as Artie Green. The production opened with the highest ticket sale advance in Broadway history to that time.<ref>"Sunset Boulevard History Inspiration" Template:Webarchive reallyuseful.com</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Billy Wilder, in attendance on opening night, was coaxed onstage by Close for the curtain call.<ref name="onpg589"/> In a season with only one other original musical nominated, the production won several Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Score and Book; 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 critic Vincent Canby later commented about the Tony season: "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."<ref>Canby, Vincent. "Why Whisper About It? The Life Is a Joy" Template:Webarchive, The New York Times, 5 October 1997</ref> During the run, Buckley replaced Close as Norma, followed by Paige.<ref>Gans, Andrew. "Diva Talk: A History of Great Ladies in Sunset", Playbill, 3 February 1997</ref> It closed on 22 March 1997, after playing 977 performances.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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,<ref>Hot Seat Template:Webarchive: Theater Criticism for The New York Times, 1980–1993 (Random House, 1998. Template:ISBN) from the author's website</ref> 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".<ref name="nyt1997">Weber, Bruce. "Following Sunset, Shadows Over Lloyd Webber's Empire", The New York Times, 24 March 1997</ref> The paper reported that 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)".<ref name= "nyt1997"/> 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, and the musical sold over a million tickets on Broadway.<ref name="BroadwayWorld">Template:Cite web</ref>

Touring productions

The first national US tour in 1996 starring Linda Balgord<ref>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</ref> ended in early 1997 after only a handful of venues due to exorbitant costs involved in transporting the set.<ref>Newmark, Judith."Hiatus looms for 'Boulevard'" Template:Webarchive St. Louis Post-Dispatch, abstract from nl.newsbank.com, 23 March 1997. Retrieved 3 August 2010</ref> 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 costumes, a slightly modified libretto by Schulman and Don Black and a new, more tour-friendly set by Derek McLane.<ref>Strom, Harper.Regional review, Atlanta Template:Webarchive talkinbroadway.com. Retrieved 3 August 2010</ref> 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 London revival, led a production opening at Leicester's Curve Theatre on 16 September 2017 for a two-week run before embarking on a UK national tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Starring opposite Jones as Norma was Danny Mac as Joe Gillis. The tour, directed by Curve artistic director 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. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

West End and London revivals

An eight-week engagement of a minimalist production, in which the actors used musical instruments, ran 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 Desmond and Ben Goddard as Joe Gillis. A West End transfer of the production began on 4 December 2008 prior to an official opening on 15 December at the Comedy Theatre, with Evans and Goddard reprising their roles, and Dave Willetts joining the cast as Max.<ref>Shenton, Mark. "Sunset Boulevard Will Return to the West End in December" Template:Webarchive, Playbill, 17 November 2008</ref> The production received rave reviews. The production closed on 30 May 2009.<ref>playbill.com "London Revival of Sunset Boulevard to Close May 30"</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Opening on 4 April 2016, English National Opera (ENO) presented a five-week 'semi-staged' production at the London Coliseum. Close reprised her role as Norma, making her London theatre debut, along with Michael Xavier as Joe, Siobhan Dillon as Betty and Fred Johanson as Max.<ref>"Glenn Close Comes to ENO for 'Sunset Boulevard'" eno.org</ref> Michael Linnit and Michael Grade for Gate Ventures PLC worked with ENO to present the show; Johnny Hon was the executive producer.<ref name="BroadwayWorld.com 2016">Template:Cite web</ref>

A revival opened at the Savoy Theatre in September 2023 for a 16-week limited run. Starring Nicole Scherzinger as Norma, the piece was reimagined in a modern and minimalist staging directed by Jamie Lloyd and produced by Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Others in the cast were Tom Francis, David Thaxton, and Grace Hodgett Young (making her professional debut) starring as Joe, Max, and Betty, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rachel Tucker guest starred as Norma on 12 October 2023, and played on Monday evenings beginning 16 October.<ref name=TuckerAlt>Template:Cite web</ref> Changes to the score included cutting two songs and substantial lyric rewrites. "Let's Have Lunch" became "Let's Do Lunch", and the "Exit Music" was more substantively incorporated into the show. The revival received eleven nominations at the 2024 Laurence Olivier Awards and won seven, the most for any production of the season, including Best Musical Revival, Best Actress and Actor in a Musical for Scherzinger and Francis, and Best Director for Lloyd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A cast album, recorded live at the Savoy Theatre, Sunset Blvd: The Album, was released on 25 October 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Broadway revivals

2017 revival at the Palace Theatre

Close reprised her performance as Norma Desmond in the first 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.<ref name=glenn>Gans, Andrew. "Glenn Close Will Revisit Sunset Boulevard on Broadway" Template:Webarchive, Playbill, 25 October 2016</ref><ref>Gans, Andrew. "Tix for 'Sunset Boulevard' Revival, Starring Glenn Close, Now on Sale through June" Template:Webarchive Playbill, 7 February 2017</ref> The cast featured Xavier as Joe, Dillon as Betty, and Johanson as Max, all reprising their roles from the 2016 London ENO production. Paul Schoeffler played DeMille. The 2017 Broadway revival was directed by Lonny Price.<ref>Gans, Andrew. "Complete Casting Announced for Glenn Close Revival of Sunset Boulevard" Template:Webarchive Playbill, 9 January 2017</ref><ref>Gans, Andrew. "Glenn Close Returns to Broadway in Revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Sunset Boulevard'" Template:Webarchive Playbill, 2 February 2017</ref>

The 2023 West End revival transferred to Broadway for a limited run at the St. James Theatre, with previews from 28 September 2024 and an opening night on 20 October.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It closed on 20 July 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Scherzinger reprised her role as Norma, with West End co-stars Francis as Joe, Thaxton as Max, and Young as Betty.<ref>Gans, Andrew. "Nicole Scherzinger to Star in Minimalist Sunset Boulevard on Broadway", Playbill, 4 January 2024</ref> In a six-minute sequence at the start of the second act, Joe walked through the backstage area of the theater, exited onto West 44th Street, and began to sing "Sunset Boulevard". As he sang, he strode down the street and through Shubert Alley, joined by the company before reentering the theater at the end of the song. A Template:Convert LCD screen inside the theater followed the sequence live.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Mandy Gonzalez played Norma Desmond at select performances once a week beginning 22 October 2024.<ref>Gans, Andrew."Mandy Gonzalez Will Play Norma Desmond in Select Performances of Sunset Blvd. Broadway Revival", Playbill, 18 July 2024</ref><ref name=Gonzalez>Gans, Andrew."Mandy Gonzalez Reveals Final Performance Dates as Norma Desmond in Broadway's Sunset Blvd.", Playbill, 7 April 2025</ref> Jordan Donica took over the role of Max on 10 June 2025.<ref>Gans, Andrew. Jordan Donica Joins Cast of Tony-Winning Sunset Blvd. Revival June 10; Get a First Look Here, Playbill, 10 June 2025</ref> The revival was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning three for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical for Scherzinger and Best Lighting Design.<ref>Culwell-Block, Logan, and Andrew Gans. "Tony Awards 2025: The Full List of Winners", Playbill, 8 June 2025</ref>

International productions

The original Canadian production opened in Toronto on 15 October 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.<ref>Hallett, Bryce. "Opening night shines for troubled 'Sunset'", The Australian, 28 October 1996, p. 3 (Local)</ref> Maria Mercedes was the alternate Norma, performing two of the eight shows each week.<ref>Thomson, Helen. "New star ensures Sunset still shines", The Age (Melbourne, Australia), 12 March 1997, p. 7 (Arts)</ref> Amanda Harrison took over the role of Betty for the final months of the show's run. The production ran until 14 June 1997.<ref>Burchall, Greg. "I'm ready for my curtain, Melbourne; Musicals: Sunset sunset", The Age (Melbourne, Australia), 13 June 1997, p. 1 (Metro)</ref>

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 at 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 understudied the role of Betty in the original German production) starring as Norma.

The first Danish production of Sunset Boulevard opened 2011 at NørregadeTeatret, Maribo, starring Karen-Lise Mynster as Norma.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A South African production starring Angela Kilian<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as Norma and Jonathan Roxmouth<ref name="Edmunds">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The show closed in March 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>"Paloma San Basilio será Norma Desmond en «Sunset Boulevard" Template:Webarchive abc.es, 15 June 2017</ref>

Another Danish production by Den Jyske Opera opened 12 August 2022 at Musikhuset Aarhus, directed by Philipp Kochheim and starring Tammi Øst as Norma, Randy Diamond as Joe, Katharina Maria Abt as Betty, and Martin Loft as Max.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The production received mixed reviews from critics who praised the performances of Øst and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra while criticizing the direction and the casting of Diamond as Joe due to his advanced age.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sarah Brightman starred as Norma in a production that opened in Melbourne on 21 May 2024, at the Princess Theatre with an official opening night on 29 May. The cast also included Tim Draxl as Joe, Robert Grubb as Max, Ashleigh Rubenach as Betty, Jarrod Draper as Artie, and Paul Hanlon as Cecil B. DeMille. Silvie Paladino was the alternate Norma.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was followed by an engagement at the Sydney Opera House beginning 28 August.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was Brightman's first theatrical role in more than three decades.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The production was directed by Paul Warwick Griffin with set and costume design by Morgan Large and choreography by Ashley Wallen.<ref name="BW">Template:Cite news</ref> The production transferred to Singapore's Marina Bay Sands in February 2025<ref name="PB">Template:Cite news</ref> and toured China from March to May 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Other productions

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.<ref>Gans, Andrew.""With One Look": Stefanie Powers Is Norma Desmond in Ogunquit Playhouse's 'Sunset Boulevard'" Template:Webarchive Playbill, 28 July 2010</ref>

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.<ref>Blank, Matthew."PHOTO CALL: Ann Crumb, Kevin Earley and Jenny Gelwick Cruise 'Sunset Boulevard' in Denver" Template:Webarchive Playbill, 17 September 2010</ref>

The Kennedy Center production ran from 1–8 February 2023 in Washington, D.C., with Stephanie J. Block starring as Norma, Derek Klena as Joe, Nathan Gunn as Max, Auli'i Cravalho as Betty, and Michael Maliakel as Artie. Schoeffler reprised the role of DeMille. The show ran as a limited engagement as part of the Kennedy Center's Broadway Center Stage series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Concert productions

In April 2004, Petula Clark reprised her role as Norma opposite Michael Ball as Joe in a two-night concert production 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); the BBC Concert Orchestra was conducted by Martin Yates.Template:Citation needed Another two-day concert engagement took place in 2004 at the State Theatre in Sydney; 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 with Connelli again as Norma and David Campbell as Joe.Template:Citation needed

A concert production of Sunset Boulevard was performed Off West End at the Alexandra Palace in June 2021. Ramin Karimloo starred as Joe Gillis, with Mazz Murray as Norma Desmond, Zizi Strallen as Betty Schaeffer, Jeremy Secomb as Max von Mayerling, and Sharif Afifi as Artie Green.<ref>Ramin Karimloo, Mazz Murray, Zizi Strallen, More Star in London Sunset Boulevard Concerts Beginning June 13</ref> The production transferred to the Royal Albert Hall in London, England on 3 December 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. Karimloo, Murray, Strallen, and Secomb reprised their performances.<ref>Information about the Australian production Template:Webarchive from hjackman.com</ref>

Planned film adaptation

Paramount Pictures and the Relevant Picture Company began developing a film adaptation of the musical by 2005.<ref name="telegraph">Template:Cite news</ref> Actresses reportedly considered for the role of Norma Desmond included Close, Paige, Meryl Streep, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Madonna.<ref>"Madonna Wanted" Template:Webarchive, The Village Voice, 8 April 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.</ref> In 2013 Lloyd Webber said: [T]alks with [Paramount] have never led to anything. ... I think in many ways Sunset is ... the most complete musical I have written. ... 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.<ref>Andrew Lloyd Webber Talks with Elain Paige Template:Webarchive (audio; at 8:30–9:21). Elaine Paige on Sunday. BBC Radio 2. 6 October 2013.</ref> By 2019 Rob Ashford had agreed to direct the film, with Close as Norma Desmond, Tom MacRae penning the script, and production hoped to begin later that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Further delays followed, including from the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, Lloyd Webber stated: "Paramount has not wanted to go ahead with it. .... Glenn Close has been absolutely doggedly trying to get it made."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, Close stated that the film is still moving forward, but Ashford is no longer directing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2025, Nicole Scherzinger said: "There has been some talk" that she might play Norma in the film.<ref>Carson, Lexi. "Nicole Scherzinger on How Her 'Pop Star Mentality. Prepared Her for Sunset Blvd., 'Manifesting' a Film Adaptation and First Tony Nom", The Hollywood Reporter, May 8, 2025</ref>

Awards and nominations

Original West End production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1994 Laurence Olivier Awards<ref>"Olivier Winners 1994" Template:Webarchive olivierawards.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011</ref> Best New Musical Template:Nom
Best Actress in a Musical Patti LuPone Template:Nom
1995 Betty Buckley Template:Nom
1996 Elaine Paige Template:Nom

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1995 Tony Awards Best Musical Template:Won
Best Original Score Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton Template:Won
Best Book of a Musical Don Black and Christopher Hampton Template:Won
Best Actor in a Musical Alan Campbell Template:Nom
Best Actress in a Musical Glenn Close Template:Won
Best Featured Actor in a Musical George Hearn Template:Won
Best Direction of a Musical Trevor Nunn Template:Nom
Best Choreography Bob Avian Template:Nom
Best Scenic Design John Napier Template:Won
Best Costume Design Anthony Powell Template:Nom
Best Lighting Design Andrew Bridge Template:Won
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actress in a Musical Glenn Close Template:Won

2008 West End revival

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2009 Laurence Olivier Awards<ref>"Olivier Winners 2009" Template:Webarchive olivierawards.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011</ref> Best Actress in a Musical Kathryn Evans Template:Nom
Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical Dave Willetts Template:Nom

2016 London revival

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2016 Evening Standard Theatre Awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Best Musical Template:Nom
Best Musical Performance Glenn Close Template:Won
2017 Laurence Olivier Awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Best Musical Revival Template:Nom
Best Actress in a Musical Glenn Close Template:Nom

2017 Broadway revival

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

2023 West End revival

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2023 Evening Standard Theatre Awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Best Musical Performance Nicole Scherzinger Template:Won
Best Director Jamie Lloyd Template:Won
2024 Laurence Olivier Awards<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Best Musical Revival Template:Won
Best Actress in a Musical Nicole Scherzinger Template:Won
Best Actor in a Musical Tom Francis Template:Won
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical Grace Hodgett Young Template:Nom
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical David Thaxton Template:Nom
Best Director Jamie Lloyd Template:Won
Best Theatre Choreographer Fabian Aloise Template:Nom
Best Set Design Soutra Gilmour (Set Design), Nathan Amzi & Joe Ransom (Video Design) Template:Nom
Best Lighting Design Jack Knowles Template:Won
Best Sound Design Adam Fisher Template:Won
Outstanding Musical Contribution Alan Williams (Musical Supervision & Musical Direction) Template:Won

2024 Broadway revival

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2025 Tony Awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Best Revival of a Musical Template:Won
Best Actor in a Musical Tom Francis Template:Nom
Best Actress in a Musical Nicole Scherzinger Template:Won
Best Sound Design of a Musical Adam Fisher Template:Nom
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Jack Knowles Template:Won
Best Direction of a Musical Jamie Lloyd Template:Nom
Best Orchestrations David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber Template:Nom
Drama Desk Awards<ref>"2025 Drama Desk Award Winners", Drama Desk Awards. Retrieved 1 June 2025</ref> Outstanding Revival of a Musical Template:Nom
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Tom Francis Template:Nom
Nicole Scherzinger Template:Nom
Outstanding Director of a Musical Jamie Lloyd Template:Nom
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical Jack Knowles Template:Won
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Adam Fisher Template:Nom
Outstanding Projection Design Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom Template:Nom
Drama League Awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Outstanding Revival of a Musical Template:Won
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Jamie Lloyd Template:Nom
Distinguished Performance Tom Francis Template:Nom
Nicole Scherzinger Template:Won
Outer Critics Circle Awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Outstanding Revival of a Musical Template:Nom
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical Nicole Scherzinger Template:Nom
Outstanding Sound Design Adam Fisher Template:Nom
Outstanding Video/Projections Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom Template:Nom
Theatre World Awards<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance Nicole Scherzinger Template:Honored

Notes

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References

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