Sunset Boulevard
Sydney Opera House
The lavish new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award winning musical masterpiece, SUNSET BOULEVARD, starring superstar Sarah Brightman, has arrived at Sydney Opera House. Ahead of its the official opening on Saturday night, Norma Desmond made her grand entrance at the iconic venue.
This marks Sarah Brightman’s Sydney Opera House debut, as with the musical itself also playing at the renowned venue for the very first time. This dazzling newly imagined revival will see the incredible cast led by Sarah Brightman and Tim Draxl, and a 28-piece orchestra bring the spectacular Andrew Lloyd Webber masterpiece to life on the Sydney Opera House stage until November 1.
Tickets on sale now sunsetmusical.com.au
Sarah Brightman stars as Norma Desmond, the legendary role that catapulted Glenn Close to Broadway stardom and recently earned Nicole Scherzinger an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in the West End. Alongside her is critically acclaimed Australian actor and performer Tim Draxl in the role of Joe Gillis, a role last played on stage in Australia by Hugh Jackman in 1996.
Joining Sarah and Tim on stage in the role of Max Von Mayerling is stage and screen veteran Robert Grubb, with the role of Betty Schaefer played by emerging leading lady Ashleigh Rubenach. Musical theatre performer Jarrod Draper plays the role of Artie Green, whilst the roles of Cecil B. DeMille and Sheldrake are played by established theatre actors Paul Hanlon and Troy Sussman. The role of Norma Desmond, at select performances, is played by the remarkable Silvie Paladino. 
The extremely talented ensemble cast include Regan Barber, Amy Berrisford, Billy Bourchier, Campbell Braithwaite, Benjamin Colley, Grace Driscoll, Madison Green, Peter Ho, Leah Lim, Mary McCorry, Charlotte Page, Morgan Palmer, Caity Plummer, Taylor Scanlan, Tom Sharah, Lisa Sontag, Riley Sutton and Dean Vince.
Based on the Paramount Pictures film, the musical version of SUNSET BOULEVARD had its world premiere at London’s Adelphi Theatre on July 12th 1993. The show received its American premiere in December 1993 at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles starring Glenn Close as Norma Desmond. The show subsequently opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre in November 1994 with the highest advance ticket sales in Broadway history at the time. The original Broadway production won six Tony Awards of the eleven Tony Awards for which it was nominated including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book.
This spectacular new staging features stunning sets and costumes, evoking the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood. The thrillingly atmospheric score features the hits ‘With One Look’, ‘The Perfect Year’, and the anthemic ‘As If We Never Said Goodbye’.
SUNSET BOULEVARD is presented by Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment by arrangement with The Really Useful Group. This newly imagined revival will mark SUNSET BOULEVARD’S first return to Australia in almost thirty years, where it played to sold out audiences.
SUNSET BOULEVARD has Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Book and Lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, and is based on the Paramount Pictures film. This new production will be Directed by Paul Warwick Griffin with Set and Costume Design by Morgan Large. Choreography by Ashley Wallen with Musical Supervision by Kristen Blodgette.
SUNSET BOULEVARD weaves a magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition. Having been discarded by Hollywood with the advent of “talkies”, legendary silent movie star, Norma Desmond, is tortured by her longing for a return to the big screen. When she meets struggling Hollywood screenwriter Joe Gillis in a dramatic chance encounter, their subsequent passionate and volatile relationship leads to an unforeseen and tragic conclusion.
SUNSET BOULEVARD is the theatrical event of the year.
★★★★★
‘Oozes HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR, LUXURY, and DECADENCE’
Theatre Matters
★★★★
‘A VISUAL SPECTACLE!’
Scenestr
★★★★
‘Electrifying old Hollywood extravaganza you cannot miss’
AU Review
‘The iconic Sarah Brightman fills the role of Norma Desmond with sheer delight’
Scenestr
‘Tim Draxl is the complete package’
Australian Arts Review
