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Overview

Synopsis

Both haunting and desperately sad, Sunset Boulevard revolves around the former star of the silent screen era, Norma Desmond. Aging and largely forgotten for years, she lives in her dilapidated mansion in Hollywood with her butler and chauffeur, Max. Lost in her memories, she is stirred into action when struggling screenwriter, Joe Gillis, suddenly enters her home and her life. Joe is down on his luck and struggling to escape debt collectors. Norma offers him a room and board if he agrees to edit her incomprehensible script of Salome, a movie she has written and in which she wants to star as the teenage seductress. Norma is convinced that she is still as beautiful and in demand as ever. This misguided belief is sustained by Max, who writes fake fan letters to her and shields her from the realities of the much changed, modern-day movie business. Buoyed by Joe’s presence in her house, she lavishes him with gifts and soon declares her love for him. Her obsession with the young writer further reveals her increasing mental instability, and she threatens to commit suicide if Joe ever leaves her. When Norma visits the film set of a new Cecil B. DeMille movie, she becomes convinced that the director wants to produce Salome and begins to imagine her dramatic return to the screen. However when Norma learns of Joe’s secret work and love affair with the young Betty Schaefer, her fragile mental state completely breaks down and she fatally shoots Joe as he tries to leave the mansion. With no grip on reality any longer, Norma grandly sweeps down the stairs to the waiting police, declaring, “And now, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up."

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Sunset Boulevard (1950, film)
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1993
Genres
Drama, Romance
Settings
Contemporary, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1949, hollywood
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Musical Staging
Ideal For
Professional Theatre, Small Cast, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Joe Gillis

Lead

Male

Baritone

Norma Desmond

Lead

Female

Alto

Betty Schaefer

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Artie Green

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Cecil B. DeMille

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Max von Mayerling

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Mr. Sheldrake

Featured

Male

Baritone

Mr. Manfred

Featured

Male

Baritone

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act One

  • Prologue – Joe
  • Let's Have Lunch – Joe, Artie, Sheldrake, Betty & Ensemble
  • Surrender – Norma
  • With One Look – Norma
  • Salome – Norma, Joe
  • The Greatest Star of All – Max
  • *Every Movie's a Circus – Joe, Artie, Betty & Ensemble
  • Girl Meets Boy – Joe, Betty
  • New Ways to Dream – Norma
  • The Lady's Paying – Norma, Manfred, Joe & Ensemble
  • The Perfect Year – Norma, Joe
  • *This Time Next Year – Artie, Betty, Joe, Cecil B. DeMile & Ensemble

Act Two

  • Sunset Boulevard – Joe
  • The Perfect Year (Reprise) – Norma
  • As If We Never Said Goodbye – Norma
  • Surrender (Reprise) – Betty, Joe
  • Girl Meets Boy (Reprise) – Joe, Betty
  • A Little Suffering – Norma & Ensemble
  • Too Much in Love to Care – Betty, Joe
  • New Ways to Dream (Reprise) – Max
  • Sunset Boulevard (Reprise) - Joe, Betty
  • The Greatest Star of All (Reprise) - Norma, Max
  • Surrender (Reprise) - Norma

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher

Emma Houlahan

Emma Houlahan

Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.