Hawaii native Nicole Scherzinger will make her Broadway debut when she stars in a Broadway revival of “Sunset Boulevard,” portraying Norma Desmond, in the Andrew Lloyd-Webber hit. The show has been a hot ticket in London, where it just closed on Jan. 6.
The stripped-back production, directed by Jamie Lloyd, had huge buzz during its West End run at the Savoy Theatre.
Scherzinger making Broadway debut in “Sunset Boulevard.”
The modern take shucks much of the glamor of the original and targets a modern vision, embracing hand-held live photography, showing actors in often massive closeups, and also tracks backstage exits and entrances seemingly like an earlier, innovative element attemped by a failed “West Side Story” revival on Broadway.
Scherzinger’s co-stars from London – Tom Francis as Joe Gillis, the struggling screenwriter; Grace Hodgett-Young as Betty Schaefer as Gillis’ girlfriend; and David Thaxton as Max Von Mayerling, Norma’s butler– will also be making their Broadway debut.
Scherzinger previously starred as Grizabella in a London run of “Cats.”
She is widely known for her work and popularity as leader of the Pussycat Dolls, so she brings a vigorous, powerful voice to the stage.
The production removes much of the glamor of the original, in the tale of a fading silent movie star incapable of transitioning to talkies.
As Norma, Scherzinger is costumed only in a black slip throughout the show, and she roams. bare feet like an alley cat, shadowed by her mute younger shadow (Hannah Yun Chamberlain).
The mood is dark and shadowy, befitting Norma’s looming madness.
“Sunset Boulevard” revival is dark, moody and modern.
Gone is the trademark grand staircase of the past, where the likes of Patti LuPone, Glenn Close, Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige have descended — to deliver the character’s memorable line, “I’m ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille,” alluding to iconic director Cecil B. DeMille.
Her pipes surely will make “With One Look” and “:”As If We Never Said Goodbye” show-stoppers…
Tam in off-Broadeway ‘White Chip‘
Jason Tam, a Honolulan who’s become a regular Broadway trouper, will be in the cast of “The White Chip,” an autobiographical recovery comedy by Sean Daniels, set for a run from Feb.1 through March 9 at the Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater aI The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theatre Space. Previews of the off-Broadway show begin Jan. 22.
Sheryl Kaller, a Tony nominee, will direct.
Tam, pictured left, is best known for his role as Paul San Marco, in the last revival of :”A Chorus Line,” and launched his Broadway career playing Gavroche in “Les Miserables.”
The cast for “Chip” also\features Crystal Dickinson and Joe Tapper…
And that’s Show Biz…