description Sunset Boulevard (musical) Overview
Sunset Boulevard is a 2003 Broadway musical drama based on Billy Wilder’s film of the same name. The production explores themes of fading fame and obsessive devotion through the story of Norma Desmond, a forgotten silent movie star. It features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and a book by Don Black and Mark Schoenfeld. The show is primarily for audiences interested in classic Hollywood stories, musical theatre productions, and character-driven melodramas.
insights Ranking position
Sunset Boulevard (musical) ranks #11 of 17 in the Melodrama ranking, behind Devdas (1955), ahead of Kill Me, Heal Me.
help Sunset Boulevard (musical) FAQ
When did Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard musical premiere?
The musical premiered in London's West End in 1993 with Patti LuPone as Norma Desmond. Its first Broadway production opened in 1994 starring Glenn Close, so it was not originally a 2003 musical.
Which songs from Sunset Boulevard are best known?
The score includes "With One Look," "As If We Never Said Goodbye," and the title song "Sunset Boulevard." Don Black and Christopher Hampton wrote the lyrics and book around Andrew Lloyd Webber's music.
How closely does the musical follow Billy Wilder's film?
It retains screenwriter Joe Gillis's fatal relationship with silent-film star Norma Desmond and his narration from beyond the grave. Max von Mayerling, Betty Schaefer, and Cecil B. DeMille also remain central characters.
What was unusual about the 2023 London revival?
Jamie Lloyd's production used cameras, live video, and a stripped-back set instead of reproducing Norma's mansion literally. Nicole Scherzinger played Norma before the production transferred to Broadway.
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