A Sunset BLVD/Betty Buckley/Olivier Awards Question.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 2:49am

I have taken classes with her before and I know that she was nominated for the Olivier Award for this performance. So my question is:
Didn't Patti LuPone originate the part in London? I'm not familiar with the Olivier Awards or how they work at all, but how exactly was she able to get nominated?
Also, did she do the part on Broadway before or after London?

[choitoy]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 3:29am

Betty did do it in London first (with John Barrowman!!!).

If I rember correctly, the show did change slightly between the LuPone production to the Close production. They closed down the show briefly in London to instate the changes made, and reopened the show with Buckley and Barrowman. Buckley then later changed from the "ghoulish" makeup that Close wore to a more softer and human makeup scheme late in her London run, and then transferred to Broadway.

It's been a while since I was really up on my Sunset Boulevard trivia though, so if any of you remember differently, please do correct me.

Also, I always assumed that the Olivier Awards were different than the Tony's in that replacements could get nominated. But that's jsut me, and I could be completely wrong... I live in Seattle for gosh's sakes!

[Janki]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 4:03am

I remember a couple of years ago Martine McCutcheon won an Olivier for My Fair Lady and the following year Joanna Riding won the same Award for the same part in the same production. So, yup, it's possible to win an Olivier even as a replacement

Updated On: 2/25/08 at 04:03 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 7:45am

Patti did open the show, and Buckley was nominated, but did not win.

Pity, cause she is still the best of the Normas.

[PUPPETMAN]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 12:26pm

Best of the Normas - Elaine Page