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Sunset Boulevard received its American premiere on 9th December 1993 at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles. Based on the Billy Wilder film, the musical version of Sunset Boulevard features music by Andrew with lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black.

The LA production starred Glenn Close (Norma Desmond), Alan Campbell (Joe Gillis), Judy Kuhn (Betty Schaefer) and George Hearn (Max von Mayerling), with Close, Campbell and Hearn later going on to recreate their roles for the show’s 1994 Broadway opening at the Minskoff Theatre.

Sunset Boulevard weaves a magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition. Silent movie star Norma Desmond longs for a return to the big screen, having been discarded by tinsel town with the advent of “talkies.” Her glamour has faded in all but her mind. When she meets struggling Hollywood screen-writer Joe Gillis in dramatic circumstances, their subsequent passionate and volatile relationship leads to an unforeseen and tragic conclusion, perfectly captured by Andrew’s sweeping score.