Broadway’s “Sunset Boulevard” Live Onstage In Concert Staging From Showtunes

January 7, 2024• byMichael Strangeways

Musical theater fans in Seattle will have a rare opportunity to experience Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic 1991 musical SUNSET BOULEVARD next month when Showtunes presents the mammoth musical in a live concert production with a full cast and orchestra.

Based on the beloved Billy Wilder film from 1950 starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden, “Sunset Blvd” is the ultimate Hollywood movie musical about a nutty hasbeen movie queen living in her decaying mansion and willing to do anything to make a big comeback. The Broadway musical production also delighted audiences in its original run, and not just because it has a divine diva in its leading role. The original production also made headlines when Andew Lloyd Webber replaced Patti LuPone, who had originated the role of Norma Desmond in London and was set to star in the original Broadway production, with actress Glenn Close who went on to win the Tony Award for her performance. An angry LuPone sued Lloyd Webber and won a settlement big enough to build her a pool at her Connecticut home!

The Showtunes production will (probably) have less offstage drama but plenty ONstage with a great cast including local favorite Billie Wildrick as Norma. And, while it’s officially a concert version, the actors will still be in costumes/hair and make-up and the entire show will be performed. In reality, the only thing missing from a full production will be sets and elaborate choreography.

It’s been a big year for fans of “Sunset Boulevard”…the show just had a hugely popular revival on London’s West End with Nicole Scherzinger and it was just announced that that production will transfer to Broadway in the fall.

As for the Seattle production, more info below and snag tickets at https://www.showtunestheatre.org/sunsetboulevard

Sunset Boulevard is a multi-Tony Award winning Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that truly is a benchmark of musical theatre. It has never locally been produced in Seattle, and Showtunes, with our full orchestra and cast, bring it to you in a spectacular concert.

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.

Don’t miss the incredible cinematic orchestration with a 25 person orchestra, 23 person cast and starring Billie Wildrick as Norma Desmond, Matthew Kacergis as Joe Gillis, Karin Terry as Betty Schaefer and Jeff Church as Max Von Mayerling.

Click here to see the full cast list.

February 3, 4, 10 & 11
at Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center

https://www.showtunestheatre.org/sunsetboulevard

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.