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SUNSET BLVD. Reviews

CoffeeBreak Profile Photo
CoffeeBreak
#1400SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/8/25 at 11:32pm

She is.  The revival is that good too.  Jamie Lloyd should have won for direction. He did not campaign much due to his schedule in London.  Arden did, significantly. 

Sunset, Nicole, Tom with Jamie Lloyd's direction are the gifts of the season.

chernjam Profile Photo
chernjam
#1401SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/8/25 at 11:35pm

binau said: "When sunset boulevard was announced in London I posted ‘whyyyy?’ on this forum. The idea of Nicole S doing this role seems absurd. And the show seemed lame. I was completely wrong on every level. One of the best productions and performances I have ever seen. And I’m so happy that theatre can continue to challenge my preconceptions and shock me.

I mean, Nicole beat AUDRA IN GYPSY. WOW. And to survive the MAGA accusations and Patti drama. This has to be one of the most impressive and unambiguous wins of all time. It can only mean that Nicole is THAT good.


"

I'm with you binau...

I have loved Sunset Blvd from the first time I listened to the entire World Premiere Recording back in 1994... and have seen each production (and tours) multiple times.  When I heard "stripped down" I was really frustrated and I didn't even know much about Nicole other than her singing Memory from Cats and Don't Cry for Me Argentina at an ALW special.  

But this entire production and her performance transformed something I knew note for note into something radically new and amazingly, breathtakingly beautiful.  I've seen it 5 times now and each time I leave the theatre I still have to pick my jaw off the floor.  Every moment has been so re-thought and more intentional that, tbh when I look back at the original productions I get bored.  

So happy for ALW, Nicole and the entire cast, creatives and crew.  30 years ago after Sunset begrudgingly won 7 tony's and people dismissed it as being because there was no competition, it has come back and with some of the fiercest competition (and negative PR campaigns I've ever seen) conquered...

Robbie2 Profile Photo
Robbie2
#1402SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/8/25 at 11:36pm

 heartCONGRATS NICOLE heart

SUNSET BLVD. Revival


"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new." Sunday in the Park with George

Lot666 Profile Photo
Lot666
#1403SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/9/25 at 2:28pm

I received a survey link today from Broadway Across America, asking me to rate my interest in seeing a list of shows. The "Revivals" page of the survey included Sunset Blvd (with the Jamie Lloyd "Blvd" abbreviation).


==> this board is a nest of vipers <==

"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
Updated On: 6/9/25 at 02:28 PM

chernjam Profile Photo
chernjam
#1404SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/9/25 at 2:35pm

Lot666 said: "I received a survey link today from Broadway Across America, asking me to rate my interest in seeing a list of shows. The "Revivals" page of the survey included Sunset Blvd (with the Jamie Lloyd "Blvd" abbreviation)."

Not shocked, especially with the show itself receiving awards on both sides of the Atlantic.  A year from now when the 25-26 season is announced I'm sure they could find another star that would be able to fill Norma's slip

bear88
#1405SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 4:00am

For the Sunset Blvd. fans seeing tonight’s first post-Tonys performance, have a great time.

WldKingdomHM Profile Photo
WldKingdomHM
#1406SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 6:59am

bear88 said: "For theSunset Blvd. fans seeing tonight’s first post-Tonysperformance, have a great time."

I’ll be there ! 

ColorTheHours048 Profile Photo
ColorTheHours048
#1407SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 8:06am

I’ll also be there tonight. I can’t wait to hear her blow the St. James’ roof off.

EDSOSLO858 Profile Photo
EDSOSLO858
#1408SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 10:03am

I won’t, but I’m curious to hear reports on our new Max. 


Oh look, a bibu!

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#1409SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 10:11am

Nicole will obviously have her Tony next to the gun, right?

WldKingdomHM Profile Photo
WldKingdomHM
#1410SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 10:23am

ColorTheHours048 said: "I’ll also be there tonight. I can’t wait to hear her blow the St. James’ roof off."

Wait until she appears on the screen the audience will go bonkers

Updated On: 6/10/25 at 10:23 AM

theatergoer3
#1411SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 10:32am

Jordan Catalano said: "Nicole will obviously have her Tony next to the gun, right?"

And I don’t know if they’d repeat the bit but the monkey could hold a sign up with 3 Tony Wins like nominations day.  

Excited to see videos and to hopefully go back in the next month. 

Updated On: 6/10/25 at 10:32 AM

binau Profile Photo
binau
#1412SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 2:01pm

SO jealous of everyone seeing Sunset tonight - feels like it would be equally special, if not more special than a first preview, opening night or closing night right now!!! 

Also, is Nicole doing all 8 performances this week? Is this her first time doing this? 


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000

WldKingdomHM Profile Photo
WldKingdomHM
#1413SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 8:35pm

Intermission now. Amazing. Nicole is stunning and they put Tony Winner on the video screen 

ColorTheHours048 Profile Photo
ColorTheHours048
#1414SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 8:37pm

Okay, quick intermission bathroom line thoughts:

Nicole is on fire. Ferocious. She sounds pristine, maybe the best I’ve heard her. Opening credits now say “Tony Award winner Nicole Scherzinger”.

Jordan Donica sounds excellent and is giving Frankenstein’s monster in a very spooky way. A really great performance so far.

This show is a stunner, in my opinion. Every member of the company is locked into a singular vision that’s brash, violent, and exciting. The audience tonight is extra respectful and seems especially tuned into when to overdo applause and when silence isn’t just appropriate, but necessary. Really happy to be here tonight.

Okay! Act two! That line moved faster than I thought. House staff is also on it tonight.

ColorTheHours048 Profile Photo
ColorTheHours048
#1415SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 10:16pm

That was heaven, honestly. Scary, intense, bizarre heaven. The energy in the audience was electric and very respectful. The applause was wild.

The monkey was indeed holding a sign that said “Tony winner, Best Revival of a Musical” and Nicole’s Tony was next to her gun. Also gotta give props to the marketing team that got a brand new poster into Shubert Alley already.

The cast was clearly blown away by the response and very excited at curtain call. Tom Francis gave a very nice speech at the end thanking the audience for giving so much love tonight and calling out the Tony wins. Wish he’d given a shout out to Jordan Donica’s fantastic debut as well, but what can you do.

WiCkEDrOcKS Profile Photo
WiCkEDrOcKS
#1416SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 10:39pm

An electric performance, in every sense of the word. 

Jordan Donica is a PHENOMENAL Max. 

Grace had her hair down, instead of in French braids, and it was a serve. She also sounded the best I’ve heard her since previews. Tom was on fire too, as always  

What is there to even say about Nicole’s performance that hasn’t already been said a thousand times? It’s one for the history books. 

Fabian Aloise’s choreography deserved a Tony nom.

For what it’s worth, I think this is the best production we’ve received in New York since the COVID reopening. I’ve become more and more convinced of that upon every revisit.  

Updated On: 6/11/25 at 10:39 PM

WldKingdomHM Profile Photo
WldKingdomHM
#1417SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 10:55pm

What an amazing show tonight. No words. Nicole was on fire. Beautiful job and an amazing five minute standing ovation after Never Say Goodbye. Well deserved Tony Award

I never knew Jordan was so tall. 

Updated On: 6/10/25 at 10:55 PM

chernjam Profile Photo
chernjam
#1418SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/10/25 at 10:56pm

Thanks for the early reports on tonight... Can't wait to see it again in 2 weeks, although I doubt it will be comparable to tonight :)

Wayman_Wong
#1419SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/11/25 at 12:54am

Last night's post-Tony curtain-call speech at ''Sunset''
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61JNoibuOLk

 

Updated On: 6/11/25 at 12:54 AM

FANtomFollies Profile Photo
FANtomFollies
#1420SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/11/25 at 10:46pm

I was supposed to go tonight's performance and Nicole called out - I'm devastated :(

MemorableUserName
#1421SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/11/25 at 10:59pm

Did you take the refund to rebook for a later date? No offense to Rashidra Scott and the other understudies, but having Nicole, Tom, and Grace all out (especially the first two) would make rescheduling seem like the best option. (A lot of absences today. Audra was the only Lead Actress in a musical nominee who went on.)

binau Profile Photo
binau
#1422SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/12/25 at 3:22am

There is a YouTube video that claims to be Nicole's Post-Tony 'As If We Never Said Goodbye'. If so Nicole's vocals are is such amazing shape at the moment (as they were for the Tonys, I am always a little afraid about this because it will become the record that then judges the performance, such as CZJ's 'Send in the Clowns' - but Nicole absolutely killed the Tony performance).

Which does shock me because Nicole's voice has probably had a lot of strain at the moment (she has missed two performances in the last week, alone and only missed 3-4 in total). I admit that OF COURSE while her 'homeeeee at last' notes are always pretty consistent I do think she ranges from about 97-100% from various clips and lives performances I have seen of hers and it seems to be 99-100% at the moment. 

I find it striking in the clip how amazingly perfectly refined the opening notes of the song are - she is just ever so skating outside the beat and opens with such vulnerability and expressive dynamics. This kind of control and dynamic range is something that I typically have only associated with someone like Bernadette Peters, but unlikely Bernadette Nicole also clearly has much more power and belt too. 

Nicole's voice is like a cross between Judy Garland and Whitney Houston. It is one in a million. 


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 6/12/25 at 03:22 AM

WldKingdomHM Profile Photo
WldKingdomHM
#1423SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/12/25 at 6:15am

Nicole deserves to take off. What she did on Tuesday night was unbelievable. Tom was also out last night 

 

chernjam Profile Photo
chernjam
#1424SUNSET BLVD. Revival
Posted: 6/12/25 at 7:31am

WldKingdomHM said: "Nicoledeserves to take off. What she did on Tuesday night was unbelievable. Tom was also out last night

"

I wonder if the Saturday absence was Tony awards related - since it sounded like there was a lot of people that were off that night (i.e. did they have to go and rehearse?)  As for last night, I thought I saw that Grace was also out last night.  If that's the case, here's hoping they were solidifying some of the rumors circulating about post-NY life for this revival of Sunset - now an Olivier AND Tony Award winning Best Musical Revival production. 


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