Obie winner Mandy Gonzalez, who created the role of Nina in the Tony-winning In the Heights, guest stars as Norma Desmond in select performances of the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Blvd., which officially opened October 20 following previews that began September 28 at the St. James Theatre.

Gonzalez plays her first performance October 22 and will normally perform Tuesday evenings with Olivier winner Nicole Scherzinger scheduled to play all other performances. For the exact performance schedule, click here. 

In an earlier statement Lloyd Webber said, “It is such an honor to be working with the truly wonderful Mandy Gonzalez. Nicole Scherzinger and I are so thrilled that Mandy will be joining the Sunset Blvd. company. I can’t wait to collaborate with her.”

Gonzalez added, “In my 25 years playing leading ladies on Broadway, I’ve never been more excited for a show. The role of ‘Norma Desmond’ is iconic, Jamie Lloyd's direction is masterful, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score is sumptuous. To reinterpret a timeless story with such raw sophistication, especially as the first Latina to take this role on Broadway, is a dream come true.”

Gonzalez has also been seen on Broadway in Hamilton, Wicked, and Aida. Her screen credits include Across the Universe, Man on a Ledge, Only Murders in the Building, Quantico, and Madam Secretary. She was awarded the Obie for her work in Off-Broadway's Eli’s Comin. See Gonzalez and the cast of Sunset Blvd at the show's opening night below.

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Photos: Opening Night of Sunset Boulevard on Broadway

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Joining Scherzinger and Gonzalez on Broadway are the former's co-stars of the London production: 2024 Olivier Award winner Tom Francis as Joe Gillis, 2024 Olivier nominee Grace Hodgett-Young as Betty Schaefer, and Olivier winner and 2024 Olivier nominee David Thaxton as Max Von Mayerling. (In London, Scherzinger shared the role of Norma with Rachel Tucker.) The standby for the role of Norma on Broadway is Caroline Bowman.

The Broadway company also includes Olivia Lacie Andrews as Nancy, Brandon Mel Borkowsky as John, Shavey Brown as DeMille/Stan/Finance Man, Hannah Yun Chamberlain as Young Norma/Patsy, Cydney Clark as Joanna/Guard, Raúl Contreras as Finance Man/Frank, Tyler Davis as Sheldrake, E.J. Hamilton as Lisa, Sydney Jones as Dorothy, Emma Lloyd as Mary/Heather, Pierre Marais as Sammy, Shayna McPherson as Camera Operator, Jimin Moon as Morino/Hog Eye, Justice Moore as Jean, Drew Redington as Myron/Jones/Camera Operator, and Diego Andres Rodriguez Artie. Swings are Giuseppe Bausilio (dance captain), Kristina Garvida Doucette (assistant dance captain), Brandon LaVar, Maggie Likcani, Abby Matsusaka, and Rixey Terry.

The London Sunset Blvd. revival was a startling departure for the traditionally opulently designed musical; it featured a minimalist set and ample use of live video. Images of the curtain call, featuring Scherzinger covered in blood, went viral on social media. The show opened in London's West End at the Savoy Theatre October 12, 2023. Sunset Blvd.: The Album, featuring the full London company, will be released globally via The Other Songs October 25. Click to pre-order the recording.

The Broadway staging also has set and costume design by Soutra Gilmour, choreography by Fabian Aloise, music supervision and musical direction by Alan Williams, lighting design by Jack Knowles, sound design by Adam Fisher, video design and cinematography by Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, hair and makeup design by Cheryl Thomas, intimacy coordination by Ann James, U.S. casting by Jim Carnahan and Jason Thinger and U.K. casting by Stuart Burt. Johnny Milani is the production stage manager, and 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as the general manager.

Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard (with a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton) is based on the 1950 Billy Wilder movie of the same name, which featured Gloria Swanson as the reclusive Norma Desmond who falls in love with an unlucky writer—Joe Gillis—who happens upon her home by accident. William Holden played Gillis in the film, which was directed by the late Billy Wilder. Swanson, Holden, and Wilder all received Academy Award nominations for their work.

Photos: Look Back on Past Productions of Sunset Boulevard

Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone created the role of Norma Desmond for the musical's world-premiere production in London, earning an Olivier nomination for her performance. Glenn Close played the role in Los Angeles and later in New York, where she won a Tony Award for her work as the aging actor. Other musical Normas include Tony winner Betty Buckley (London and New York), Olivier winner Elaine Paige (London and New York), Tony winner Diahann Carroll (Canada), Petula Clark (London and U.S. tour), Debra Byrne (Australia), Helen Schneider (Germany), and Linda Balgord (U.S. tour). After bringing her Norma to London, Close starred in the 2017 Broadway revival of Sunset, while Tony winner Stephanie J. Block played Norma in a recent production at the Kennedy Center. Sarah Brightman currently stars in an Australian production.

Sunset Blvd. is produced by The Jamie Lloyd Company, ATG Productions, Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, and Gavin Kalin Productions by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd and based on the Paramount Pictures film directed by Wilder.