Musical (1993)


Musique: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Paroles: Christopher Hampton • Don Black
Livret: Christopher Hampton • Don Black
Production à la création:

Version 7

Sunset Boulevard (1996-06-Us Tour 1)

Type de série: US Tour
Théâtre: US Tour ( - Etats-Unis)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : samedi 01 juin 1996
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Bob Avian
Producteur :

Impoverished screenwriter Joe Gillis stumbles upon the stuffy mansion of faded filmstar Norma Desmond by chance. She initially employs him to edit her script for a movie of Salome, which she plans to use as her comeback vehicle, demanding he reside at her home whilst he works. She soon falls hoplessly in love with him, and persuades him to stay on as her live-in lover, much to the shock of her loyal butler (and ex-husband) Max. Joe finds himself torn away from his old lifestyle and friendships. Meanwhile, Norma has proceeded with her plans for her return to the screen, and visits Paramount studios to seek Cecil B. DeMille's help. Away from Norma's glare, however, Joe collaborates in secret with young studio employee Betty Schaefer, and they soon declare their love for one another. Torn between his life of luxury supplied by Norma, and his genuine affection for Betty, Joe decides to leave Hollywood and start life afresh in his native Ohio. Norma, in a fit of shock and rage, shoots Joe as he leaves her home on Sunset Boulevard. In the final scene, she descends into insanity as press and police invade her home, and, believing herself to be back on the set of one of her movies, descends the grand staircase in ger mansion with the immortal words: "and now, Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.."

Synopsis complet

Sans doute, à notre avis, l'un des plus belles réussite de Andrew Lloyd Webber, on n(est pas loin du pur chef d'œuvre. Patti Lupone (Evita) a créé le rôle à Londres. Les problèmes vont naître dès qu'Andrew Lloyd Webber va décider de porter sa nouvelle oeuvre à Los Angeles. Lloyd Webber, déçu de la première version la retravaille, et propose le rôle à Faye Dunaway. Celle-ci ne convainc pas et est forcée de quitter les répétitions ce qui l'amène à porter plainte Andrew Lloyd Webber va trouver la perle rare, LA Norma Desmond : Glenn Close. En Décembre 1993, "Sunset Boulevard" ouvre à Los Angeles au Shubert Theater, et remporte un vif succès. Andrew Lloyd Webber avait promis à Patti Lupone qu'elle jouerait le rôle à Broadway, mais finalement il impose Glenn Close. Patti Lupone à son tour porte plainte pour rupture de contrat !!!!
Le spectacle fut un succès à Londres: 1529 représentations.

1 Sunset Boulevard peut-être considéré comme un Top musical


From approximately 1952 to 1956, Gloria Swanson worked with actor Richard Stapley (aka Richard Wyler) and cabaret singer/pianist Dickson Hughes on a musical adaptation originally entitled Starring Norma Desmond, then Boulevard! It ended on a happier note than the film, with Norma allowing Joe to leave and pursue a happy ending with Betty. Paramount 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 Swanson a letter in which he asked 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." 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 comedienne rather than a silent film star, Sondheim declined, citing his conversation with Wilder.

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. 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.

At that point, Lloyd Webber "felt it was the subject [he] had to compose next", though by February 1990 he had announced plans to turn Really Useful Group private so he could "make movies rather than musicals."

In 1991, Lloyd Webber asked Amy Powers, a lawyer from New York with no professional lyric-writing experience, to write the lyrics for Sunset Boulevard. 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 but it was not a success. A revised version, written by Black and Christopher Hampton had a complete performance at the 1992 Sydmonton Festival, now with Patti LuPone playing Norma, and "met with great success". Lloyd Webber borrowed several of the tunes from his 1986 mini-musical Cricket, written with Tim Rice, which had had an acclaimed run at Windsor Castle and later at the Sydmonton Festival.

Sunset had its World Premiere at London's Adelphi Theatre on July 12, 1993, with Patti LuPone (Norma Desmond) and Kevin Anderson (Joe Gillis) starring and Daniel Benzali playing Max. The opening had been delayed slightly due to complex technical problems which plagued the show during development. Press interest had been unprecedented ever since the project was announced, but initial reviews were mixed. This did not stop the show receiving record advance bookings, however.
The American Premiere took place on December 9, 1993 not on Broadway, but in Los Angeles at the Shubert Theatre. This time the show starred Glenn Close (Norma Desmond), Alan Campbell (Joe Gillis), Judy Kuhn (Betty Schaefer) and George Hearn (Max von Mayerling).
Soon, it was decided that Close should open the Broadway production, with Faye Dunaway replacing her in LA. This caused great problems, as Patti LuPone had been promised the leading role on Broadway. She filed a million dollar lawsuit, feeling she had been badly let down. When Faye Dunaway came to rehearse for the LA show, it quickly became clear that her singing voice was not up to standard, and she too filed a court case (both were settled by out-of-court agreements). Without a leading lady, the LA production was closed when its cast moved to New York.
On November 17 1994, Sunset Boulevard opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre, with Close, Campbell and Hearn reprising their roles and Alice Ripley joining as Betty Schaefer. The show had the highest advance in Broadway history ($37.5 million in ticket sales). Sunset Boulevard gained the theatre's highest honour when it received seven Tony Awards in 1995, including Best Musical, Best Leading Actress, Best Score, Best Lighting and Best Scenic Design. The improvements made to the show for its American opening were incorporated into the London production in 1994, and it closed for a short while whilst these were implemented, reopening with a new star - Betty Buckley.
Divas Rita Moreno, Elaine Paige, Petula Clark and Karen Mason were all to play the title role on London and/or Broadway.
Sunset closed on Broadway on March 22nd 1997. The London production closed on the 5th April 1997 with Petula Clark and Graham Buckley playing the title roles.
The Canadian production opened on October 15, 1995 starring Diahann Carroll (Norma), Rex Smith (Joe) and Walter Charles (Max), but despite public interest, closed after a relatively short run.
The First US National Tour of Sunset Boulevard premiered in June 1996 with Linda Balgord in the starring role, but the tour ended in Chicago in 1997, despite having had plans to tour for at least a further two years. The Broadway production - flying mansion and all - had been recreated for this tour, and the sheer expense of moving the production around eventually proved its Achilles heel.
The show opened in Melbourne, Australia in October 1996 but it closed in 1997. Plans for an entirely new production to play the Sydney Opera House in November 1999 did not come to fruition.
Sunset Boulevard also played at Niederhausen near Frankfurt, Germany in a theatre specially constructed to house the show. The show was translated into German, and seemed to adapt very well. The production starred US jazz singer Helen Schneider, and TV-personality Daniela Ziegler during its respectable 2 1/2 year run; and was seen by nearly 1 million people. German Sunset had been set to close in 1997 alongside the London and Broadway productions, but it was saved by Peter Buck, a building contractor who bought the German rights to the musical from the Really Useful Group. He attempted to cut back on the running costs of the show, but unfortunately it still proved financially unsound. It closed on May 3rd 1998 with Sue Mathys (Norma Desmond) and Yngve Gasoy Romdal (Joe Gillis) in the lead roles.
A new US Touring Production opened in December 1998 in Pittsburgh, starring Petula Clark. This was a new production, with entirely new scenic design and direction, which was the cause of much controversy among fans of the show, many of whom saw it as highly inferior to the lavish original. The tour ran for over a year, however, and was well received by press all over the US.


Act I
• "Overture" / "I Guess It Was 5 am" – Joe
• "Let's Have Lunch" – Joe, Actors, actress, scriptwriters, Artie, Sheldrake, Betty
• "Every Movie's A Circus" † – Betty, Joe
• "Car Chase" – orchestra
• "At the House on Sunset" – Joe
• "Surrender" – Norma
• "With One Look" – Norma
• "Salome" – Norma, Joe
• "Greatest Star of All" – Max
• "Every Movie's a Circus (Reprise)" ∞ † – Actors, Actress, Waiters, Artie, Joe, Betty, Barman
• "Girl Meets Boy" – Joe, Betty
• "Back at the House" on Sunset – Joe, Max
• "New Ways to Dream" – Norma, Joe
• "Completion of the Script" – Norma, Joe
• "The Lady's Paying" – Norma, Manfred, Joe, Ensemble
• "New Year's Eve" – Joe, Max
• "The Perfect Year" – Norma, Joe
• "This Time Next Year" – Ensemble, Artie, Betty, Joe, Cecil B. DeMile
• New Year's Eve (Back at the House on Sunset) – Joe, Norma

Act II
• "Entr'acte" – orchestra
• "Sunset Boulevard" – Joe
• "There's Been a Call (Perfect year [Reprise])" – Norma
• "Journey to Paramount" – Joe, Norma
• "As If We Never Said Goodbye" – Norma
• "Paramount Conversations" – Betty, Joe, Norma, Cecil B. DeMile, Sheldrake, Max
• "Surrender (Reprise)" – Cecil B. DeMile
• "Girl Meets Boy (Reprise)" – Joe, Betty
• "Eternal Youth Is Worth a Little Suffering" – Norma, Astrologer, Beauticians
• "Who's Betty Schaefer?" – Joe
• "Betty's Office at Paramount" – Joe, Betty
• "Too Much in Love to Care" – Betty, Joe
• "New Ways to Dream (Reprise)" – Max
• "The Phone Call" – Norma
• "The Final Scene" – Joe, Betty, Norma, Max

† This is not included on the Original London Production or in the World Premiere recording.
∞ Originally a reprise of "Let's Have Lunch"

Norma Desmond - a star of the silent screen
Joe Gillis - a young screenwriter
Max von Mayerling - Norma's Major-Domo
Betty Schaefer - a secretary at Paramount
Cecil B. DeMille - Film Director
Artie Green

Aucun dossier informatif complémentaire concernant Sunset Boulevard


Version 1

Sunset Boulevard (1991-xx-Sydmonton Festival)

Type de série: Workshop
Théâtre: Sydmonton Festival (Sydmonton - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Inconnu
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Aucun
Chorégraphie : Aucun
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: SUNSET BOULEVARD a Cabaret by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Amy Powers (1991)

Version 2

Sunset Boulevard (1992-xx-Sydmonton Festival)

Type de série: Workshop
Théâtre: Sydmonton Festival (Sydmonton - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Inconnu
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Aucun
Chorégraphie : Aucun
Producteur :
Commentaires longs: SUNSET BOULEVARD the complete musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton (1992)

Version 3

Sunset Boulevard (1993-07-Adelphi Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Adelphi Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)

Durée : 3 ans 8 mois 4 semaines
Nombre : 1529 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : lundi 12 juillet 1993
Dernière : samedi 05 avril 1997
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Bob Avian
Producteur :
Avec : Version 1:
Patti LuPone
12 juil 1993 - 12 mars 1994

Version 2:
Betty Buckley
19 avr 1994 - 14 mai 1995
(out du 29 nov 1994 - 7 jan 1995 remplacée par Elaine Page)

Elaine Paige
17 mai 1995 - 6 jan 1996
(out du 2 sept - 14 oct 1995, remplacée par Petula Clark)

Petula Clarck
9 jan 1996 - 5 avr 1997
(out du 9 sept - 2 nov 1996, remplacée par Rita Moreno)
Commentaires : A londres, Norma Desmond sera jouée successivement par Patti LuPone, Betty Buckley, Elaine Paige, Petula Clark et Rita Moreno.
Les critiques ayant été mitigée à l'ouverture, le show va fermer trois semaines et rouvrir le 19 avril 1994 avec de nombreuses modifications rapprochant cette version de celle de Los Angeles (Glenn Close) qui avait elle été très bien accueillie.

Early in 1997, Andrew Lloyd Webber announced the immediate closure of both the West End and Broadway productions, claiming it was impossible to find cast replacements of sufficiently high quality. (Later it was disclosed the whole undertaking had lost an absolute fortune and was seriously impacting on the overall finances of Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Company. The sum of money paid to Faye Dunaway for breach of contract when she was sacked from the USA version was never disclosed, but it was claimed that Patti LuPone, initially promised the Broadway run, sued Lloyd Webber and received a settlement reported to be $1 million.
According to Broadway critic Frank Rich in his book “The Hot Seat”, these lawsuits contributed to “Sunset Boulevard” setting the record for the biggest loss ever made on a musical show. The operating costs exceeded the income, and the touring companies also generated large financial losses. In spite of running for more than two years and selling over a million tickets on Broadway, Rich puts the final losses near or above $20 million.

Version 4

Sunset Boulevard (1993-12-Shubert Theatre-Los Angeles)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Shubert Theatre (Los Angeles - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 7 mois 2 semaines
Nombre : 232 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : jeudi 09 décembre 1993
Dernière : mardi 26 juillet 1994
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Bob Avian
Producteur :
Commentaires : Initially, Faye Dunaway and Rex Smith were to replace Close and Campbell. However, Dunaway was hired with no prior musical stage (or film) experience, and a week before her previews were to begin, Lloyd Webber fired her and decided to close the show.

Version 5

Sunset Boulevard (1994-11-Minskoff Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Original Broadway
Théâtre: Minskoff Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 2 ans 4 mois
Nombre : 17 previews - 977 représentations
Première Preview : mardi 01 novembre 1994
Première : jeudi 17 novembre 1994
Dernière : samedi 22 mars 1997
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Bob Avian
Producteur :

Version 6

Sunset Boulevard (1995-12-Rhein-Main-Theater-Niedernhausen)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Rhein-Main-Theater (Niederhausen - Allemagne)
Durée : 2 ans 4 mois 4 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : jeudi 07 décembre 1995
Première : jeudi 07 décembre 1995
Dernière : mardi 05 mai 1998
Mise en scène :
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :

Version 7

Sunset Boulevard (1996-06-Us Tour 1)

Type de série: US Tour
Théâtre: US Tour ( - Etats-Unis)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : samedi 01 juin 1996
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Trevor Nunn
Chorégraphie : Bob Avian
Producteur :

Version 8

Sunset Boulevard (1998-12-Us Tour 2)

Type de série: US Tour
Théâtre: US Tour ( - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 1 an 4 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : mardi 17 novembre 1998
Première : mardi 01 décembre 1998
Dernière : dimanche 09 avril 2000
Mise en scène :
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :

Version 9

Sunset Boulevard (1998-12-Us Tour 2-1998-02-NJPAC-Newark)

Type de série: US Tour
Théâtre: NJPAC (New Jersey Performing Arts Center) (Newark - Etats-Unis)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : lundi 01 février 1999
Première : lundi 01 février 1999
Dernière : dimanche 07 février 1999
Mise en scène :
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :

Version 10

Sunset Boulevard (2008-10-Nederlandse Tour-Nederland)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Nederlandse Tour ( - Pays-Bas)
Durée : 9 mois 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : vendredi 10 octobre 2008
Dernière : dimanche 19 juillet 2009
Mise en scène : Paul Eenens
Chorégraphie : ???? ????
Producteur :

Version 11

Sunset Boulevard (2008-12-Comedy Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Harold Pinter Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 5 mois 2 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : jeudi 04 décembre 2008
Première : lundi 15 décembre 2008
Dernière : samedi 30 mai 2009
Mise en scène : Craig Revel Horwood
Chorégraphie : Craig Revel Horwood
Producteur :
Avec : Kathryn Evans (Norma Desmond), Ben Goddard (Joe Gillis), Laura Pitt-Pulford (Betty Schaefer), Dave Willetts (Max)
Commentaires : Over the fifteen years since it first opened “Sunset Boulevard” had been associated with awards, lawsuits, long runs, big stagings and even bigger losses. But this revival revealed a smaller, more dramatic and intensely gripping show. With just a chaise longue and a spiral staircase to suggest Norma Desmond’s faded glamour, some people felt it failed to capture the decadent spirit of the original, and with actors doubling as musicians, it felt a bit cheap and “Brechtian”. However, most of the critics felt being able to concentrate on the essence of the characters and the score was an enormous advantage– and confirmed that, at heart, “Sunset Boulevard” is a great and undervalued musical. Originally the show was scheduled to close in mid-April, but the booking period was extended to mid-September. However, six weeks into the extended period, on May 30 th, the show closed due to a downturn in sales.
Presse : NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Small is better and sometimes beautiful when it comes to this scaled-down, intimate version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1993 musical melodrama."
MICHAEL COVENEY for THE INDEPENDENT says, "...a score that is as dynamic and complex as any that Lloyd Webber has written."
MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Intelligently pared-down production...the main discovery is that inside Lloyd Webber's big belter of a musical, there is a smaller, more dramatic show that has been waiting for years to be let out."
DOMINIC MAXWELL for THE TIMES says, "Revel Horwood’s production is persuasive. As this jaw-droppingly skilful cast jump between instruments, Lloyd Webber’s score is always interesting, sometimes catchy."
CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Knockout revival...blessed with both sharp wit and a superb ensemble...[Craig Revel] Horwood's choreography is neat and witty, but it is the sheer panache of the whole ensemble that makes this revival so special, plus the sense that justice has finally been done to a great and undervalued musical."

Version 12

Sunset Boulevard (2011-06-Stiftsruine-Bad Hersfeld)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Stiftsruine (Bad Hersfeld - Allemagne)
Durée : 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : mardi 21 juin 2011
Dernière : dimanche 03 juillet 2011
Mise en scène : Gil Mehnert
Chorégraphie : Melissa King
Producteur :
Avec : Helen Schneider (Norma Desmond), Rasmus Borkowski (Joe Gillis), Wietske van Tongeren (Betty Schaefer), Helmut Baumann (Max von Mayerling), Wolfgang Scheiner (Celile B. DeMille), Martin Kiuntke (Artie Green), Daniel Berger (Sheldrake), Claus Dam (Manfred / Myron), Suzana Novosel, Stefanie Köhm, Yara Hassan, Sabine Ruflair, Jessica Fendler, Marthe Römer, Amélie Dobler, Ariana Schirasi-Fard, Fredrik Andersson, Christopher Hemmans, Wolfgang Türks, Martin Kiuntke, Oliver Mülich, Daniel Dimitrow, Daniel Berger, Klaus Brantzen, Bernard Niemeyer, Christian Hante

Version 13

Sunset Boulevard (2013-07-Carpenter Performing Arts Center-Long Beach)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Carpenter Performing Arts Center (Long Beach - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 2 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : vendredi 12 juillet 2013
Première : vendredi 12 juillet 2013
Dernière : dimanche 28 juillet 2013
Mise en scène : Larry Raben
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Avec : Valerie Perri (Norma Desmond), David Burnham (Joe Gillis), Norman Large (Max Von Mayerling), Ashley Fox Linton (Betty Schaefer), Jeff Skowron (Sheldrake & Manfred), Marc Ginsburg (Artie), Lucas Coleman, Peyton Crim, Marisa Field, Brad Fitzgerald, Karla Franko, Juan Guillan, Caitlin Humphreys, Will Huse, Tom Mcmahon, Tiana Okoye, Kirklyn Robinson, Trance Thomas, John Todd.

Version 14

Sunset Boulevard (2014-06-Plays in the Park-Edison)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Plays-in-the-Park (Edison - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 1 semaine
Nombre :
Première Preview : mercredi 18 juin 2014
Première : mercredi 18 juin 2014
Dernière : samedi 28 juin 2014
Mise en scène : Gary P. Cohen
Chorégraphie : Michelle Massa
Producteur :
Avec : Julie Steil (Norma), Billy Piscopo (Joe), Scott Daniels (Max), Emma McGahan (Betty), Kirk Geritaino (Artie), Bob Nutter (Demille), Jeff O’Neill (Manfred), Abe Vorensky (Sheldrake), Peter LoRicco, Kyle Abel, Tyler Barnick, Matthew Maiolo, David DeSio, Jack Cibrian, Moriel Behar, Stephanie Turci, Heather Welsh, Joanna Karausz, Neha Patel, Dana Simone, Elizabeth Valenti

Version 15

Sunset Boulevard (2014-07-Freilichtspiele-Tecklenburg)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Freilichtspiele Tecklenburg (Tecklenburg - Allemagne)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : vendredi 25 juillet 2014
Première : vendredi 25 juillet 2014
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Andreas Gergen
Chorégraphie : Danny Costello
Producteur :
Avec : Maya Hakvoort (Norma Desmond), Julian Looman (Joe Gillis), Reinhard Brussmann (Max von Mayerling), Elisabeth Hübert (Betty Schaefer), Wietske van Tongeren (Betty Schaefer), Thomas Hohler (Artie Green), Erwin Bruhn (Cecil B. deMille), Jan Altenbockum (Ensemble), Alexander Bellinkx (Ensemble), Juliane Bischoff (Ensemble), Sophie Blümel (Ensemble), Sebastian Brandmeir (Ensemble), Jürgen Brehm (Ensemble), Cihan Demir (Ensemble), Marco Herse Foti (Ensemble), Andrew Hill (Ensemble), Mathias Meffert (Ensemble), Daniel Meßmann (Ensemble), Esther Mink (Ensembel), Timothy Roller (Ensemble), Daniela Römer (Ensemble), Marthe Römer (Ensemble), Silja Schenk (Ensemble), Sebastian Smulders (Ensemble), Florian Theiler (Ensemble), Yael de Vries (Ensemble), Benjamin Witthoff (Ensemble), Giulia Sophia Young (Ensemble)

Version 16

Sunset Boulevard (2016-04-Coliseum Theatre-London)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Coliseum Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 1 mois
Nombre :
Première Preview : vendredi 01 avril 2016
Première : lundi 04 avril 2016
Dernière : samedi 07 mai 2016
Mise en scène : Lonny Price
Chorégraphie : Stephen Mear
Producteur :
Avec : Glenn Close (Norma Desmond), Michael Xavier (Joe Gillis), Siobhan Dillon (Betty Shaefer), Fred Johanson (Max), Julian Forsyth (Cecil B DeMille), Mark Goldthorp (Sheldrake), Fenton Gray (Manfred), Haydn Oakley (Artie Green), James Paterson (Jonesy), Carly Anderson, Michelle Bishop, Jacob Chapman, Nadeem Crowe, Cornelia Farnsworth, Ria Jones, Katie Kerr, Aaron Lee Lambert, Matthew McKenna, Jo Morris, Tanya Robb, Ashley Robinson, Vicki Lee Taylor, Gary Tushaw, Adam Vaughan and Stuart Winter.
Presse : "Thrill a minute... Triumphant" - Daily Telegraph

"The most sumptuous sound I've heard in a musical" The Guardian

Version 17

Sunset Boulevard (2017-02-Palace Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Palace Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 4 mois 2 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : jeudi 02 février 2017
Première : jeudi 09 février 2017
Dernière : dimanche 25 juin 2017
Mise en scène : Lonny Price
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :
Avec : Glenn Close (Norma Desmond)
Commentaires : Strictly Limited Run
Glenn Close revisits her iconic, Tony-winning role as Norma Desmond

She's ready for her close-Up
After captivating London audiences last year, Glenn Close revisits the role of fading diva Norma Desmond on Broadway in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard. Based on the classic Billy Wilder movie, Sunset is the greatest Hollywood tragedy of them all, telling the story of an aspiring screenwriter seduced by the old-school movie glamour that surrounds an aged actress. Little does he know what squalid depths her self-deception will drag them both down to. One of Lloyd-Webber's finest works, Boulevard is resplendent with a lush, noir-influenced score, which will be brought to life in New York by a 40-piece orchestra.

An icon of stage and screen
Glenn Close originated the role of Norma Desmond in the musicals' original 1994 Broadway production in a Tony-winning performance, and recently played it to huge acclaim in a sold-out run in London with the English National Opera. One of Hollywood's finest, Glenn Close has countless iconic screen credits to her name, including Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons, while her role in the legal TV drama Damages garnered her two Emmy Awards.
Presse : "Yes, Hollywood’s most fatally narcissistic glamour girl, Norma Desmond, is back in town, in the pared-down revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'Sunset Boulevard' that opened on Thursday night. It is a show that exists almost entirely to let its star blaze to her heart’s content. The light she casts is so dazzling, this seems an entirely sufficient reason to be." Ben Brantley for New York Times

"Glenn Close is ready for her close-up in “Sunset Boulevard” — and then some... If a few vocals are strained, Close commands the stage in this concert production from the English National Opera." Joe Dziemianowicz for New York Daily News

"Those who go to see Close reprise her celebrated turn in the musical’s 1994 Broadway production will not be disappointed." Adam Feldman for Time Out New York

"Ultimately, it’s Close’s return that is this revival’s reason for being, and the rapturous audience reaction makes it clear that despite the plethora of talented actresses who have starred in the musical before and since — Patti LuPone, Betty Buckley, Diahann Carroll and Elaine Page, among them — she owns the role. Now all we need is a film adaptation before she ages out of the part." Frank Scheck for Hollywood Reporter

"Glenn Close makes a triumphant return to the star role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'Sunset Boulevard,' a once-in-a-lifetime role that won her a Tony Award in 1995. Ever an elegant actress, she’s positively regal in the English National Opera production which won her kudos on the West End last year and will play a limited 16-week run at the Palace Theater — a fitting setting for this star." Marilyn Stasio for Variety

Version 18

Sunset Boulevard (2018-07-Festival Bruxellons-Bruxelles)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Festival Bruxellons! (Bruxelles - Belgique)
Salle : La Cour
Durée : 1 mois 3 semaines
Nombre : 25 représentations
Première Preview : lundi 09 juillet 2018
Première : jeudi 12 juillet 2018
Dernière : lundi 03 septembre 2018
Mise en scène : Jack Cooper • Simon Paco
Chorégraphie : Kylian Campbell
Producteur :
Avec : Anne Mie Gils (Norma Desmond), Gaétan Borg (Joe Gillis), Franck Vincent (Max von Mayerling), Oonagh Jacobs (Betty Schaefer), Steven Colombeen (Artie Green), Guy Pion (Cecil B. DeMille), Alexandre Von Sivers (Cecil B. DeMille), Antonio Macipe (Manfred), Floris Devooght (Sheldrake), Bart Aerts (Ensemble), Jolijn Antonissen (Ensemble), Niels Batens (Ensemble), Roland Bekkers (Ensemble), Kylian Campbell (Ensemble), Line Ellegiers (Ensemble), Sonia Sheridan Jacquelin (Ensemble), Hélène Kamers (Ensemble), Damien Locqueneux (Ensemble), Jeroen Logghe(Ensemble), Helena Nijs (Ensemble), Romina Palmeri (Ensemble), Milou Van Mieghem (Ensemble), Jervin Weckx (Ensemble)
Commentaires : Création mondiale en français
Presse : "Les metteurs en scène Jack Cooper et Simon Paco ont réuni un casting de première classe. Anne Mie est une Norma parfaite qui aborde les différentes facettes de son personnage sans effort. Fière, mais en même temps manquant de confiance en elle et fragile. Ambitieuse et têtue, mais surtout complètement perturbée. La dernière scène est tout bonnement fascinante.
L'entièreté du cast est totalement convaincant, tant au point de vue musical que théâtral. Gaëtan Borg est un Joe Gillis idéal. Sa chanson "Sunset Boulevard" est un des temps fort de la soirée.
Le niveau de la soirée est à nouveau au Top!"
Tatiana van den Branden - Musical Vibes - 13 juillet 2018

"Jack Cooper et Simon Paco doivent être fiers non seulement de leur impeccable mise en scène, mais aussi d’amener le théâtre musical à Bruxelles, trop absent jusqu'à présent. Le public ressent leur passion pour le genre musical tout au long de la soirée. (…) Cette production est servie par un casting exceptionnel, dirigé par Anne Mie Gils, vocalement impressionnante et étonnamment convaincante en Norma Desmond, en nous donnant une version plus douce du personnage que Glenn Close ou Patti LuPone ont peut-être parfois exagéré. (…) Le dynamisme du grand ensemble, chorégraphié à la perfection par Kylian Campbell, rempli magnifiquement le plus que spectaculaire décor de Renata Gorka. Et l’orchestre de 18 musiciens, sous la baguette de laure Campion, rend justice à la musique radicale et puissante Andrew Lloyd Weber. L’œuvre favorite de Weber est sans doute sa meilleure. (…) C'est stimulant de voir l’œuvre Sunset Boulevard exister de par elle-même avec une mise en scène minimaliste mais totalement brillante. Et félicitations encore à la chef d’orchestre Laure Campion."
Boradwayworld.com - 8 août 2018

"Une femme domine la scène : Anne Mie GILS. Sa première chanson «D'un regard» produit déjà la chair de poule. Elle a une magnifique voix forte et claire, avec laquelle elle charme les spectateurs. Son apogée vocale et émotionnelle est la chanson «Comme si on ne s'était jamais quittés». Elle gère également ses expressions faciales à la perfection. Face à une actrice et chanteuse à ce point exceptionnelle, tous les autres membres du cast doivent donner leur meilleur,
Gaëtan Borg maîtrise habilement son rôle d’amant. Ses points culminants sont « Sunset Boulevard » et avec Oonagh Jacobs « Elle et lui » qui elle aussi est excellente, tant au niveau du jeu que du chant. Un autre point fort est Franck Vincent. Avec sa voix sombre, il montre avec « L’Étoile parmi les stars » combien il admirait Norma. Sa façon de cacher ses sentiments, à quelques expressions près, et de pourtant tout exprimer est remarquable.
Par conséquent, cette version Française est magistrale et à ne pas manquer."
Christian Spielmann - Lëtzebuerger Journal (Luxembourg) - 16 juillet 2018

"Le festival a acquis un réel savoir-faire dans la comédie musicale.
Vingt-deux comédiens-chanteurs, vingt-six musiciens et autant de talents dans l’équipe de création technique et artistique : le festival Bruxellons! n’a pas lésiné sur la production de sa troisième comédie musicale estivale!
Anne-Mie Gils joue et chante superbement le rôle délicat de Norma, obligée d’osciller entre les clichés de sa gloire éteinte et les fêlures de la femme, de l’actrice, de plus en plus prégnantes au fil du spectacle, jusqu’à sombrer dans la folie."
Michèle Friche - Le Soir - 14 juillet 2018

"Arrêtez tout! Sunset Boulevard au château du Karreveld, c'est FANTASTIQUE. Plus belle standing ovation EVER. Votre servante en a pleuré."
Myriam Leroy - RTBF - Via Twitter

Version 19

SunsetBoulevard (2023-09-Savoy Theatre-London)

Type de série: UK Revival
Théâtre: Savoy Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 3 mois 2 semaines
Nombre :
Première Preview : lundi 18 septembre 2023
Première : lundi 18 septembre 2023
Dernière : samedi 06 janvier 2024
Mise en scène : Jamie Lloyd
Chorégraphie :
Producteur :

Annonce 21/4/2016

Sunset Boulevard (2016-04-Coliseum Theatre-London)

Qualité: ***** Intérêt: *****
Langue:
Anglais Durée:


Annonce 23/4/2016

Sunset Boulevard (2016-04-Coliseum Theatre-London)

Qualité: ***** Intérêt: *****
Langue:
Anglais Durée: