Sunset Blvd - From Movie to Musical

My memory of the stage musical--which I saw twice with Glenn Close in LA--is that it felt like the creators had taken the screenplay and simply produced it page by page, reducing the screen dialogue to make room for songs that (dramatically) might well have remained dialogue. By the time they literally showed the chase scene from the movie, I knew this was to be a "Why?" musical.

But the score is perhaps ALW's best; to say so, of course, is to damn with faint praise.

I'd be interested in seeing that Joseph documentary too.

castlestreet said: "I forgot about the Joseph special!!!

Ah - say what you want about Drabinsky - I miss the days when Toronto was truly a hub for musical theater!"

I'm so disappointed that I missed out on so many iconic productions in Toronto. I was born long after Saigon, Phantom, Les Mis, CATS, Tommy, etc all had landmark Toronto productions. Really the only "landmark" thing Toronto has at the moment now that Dear Evan Hansen left is Come From Away. If only I was old enough to see Les Mis with Ramin while it was here, but what can you do.

Joshua Kilimnik said: "If only I was old enough to see Les Mis with Ramin while it was here, but what can you do."

OMG How young ARE YOU??! Or more to the point how old AM I?! Ramin in Toronto feels like it was last year... Old as I am though at least I got to see Phantom at the Pantages. Twice. Some perks to a few grey hairs.

Joshua Kilimnik said: "Saigon, Phantom, Les Mis,CATS, Tommy,etc all had landmark Toronto productions. Really the only "landmark" thing Toronto has at the moment now that Dear Evan Hansen left is Come From Away.

And you’re right to acknowledge this as a golden-age for Canadian Musical Theatre. Theatres pain-stakingly restored (in the case of Phantom), or purpose built (in the case of Miss Saigon); As well as important new musicals receiving their world premiere there prior to London or Broadway outings as was the case with Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. Strange coincidence that both Rebecca Caine AND Patti Cohenour have written about their debt to performing in the Canadian productions of Phantom in exorcising their (similar) unpleasant experiences from the original London and Broadway casts. And no coincidence at all that the Canadian Phantom remains the only English language production recorded other than the OLC. Landmark productions indeed. Such a shame those days have passed..

ukpuppetboy said: "Joshua Kilimnik said: "If only I was old enough to see Les Mis with Ramin while it was here, but what can you do."

OMG How young ARE YOU??! Or more to the point how old AM I?! Ramin in Toronto feels like it was last year... Old as I am though at least I got to see Phantom at the Pantages. Twice. Some perks to a few grey hairs."

I was only twelve when it (and he) was here! I actually ended up making a couple acquaintences that were in that production and myself graduated from Ramin's alma mater a couple months ago. That school did its own production of Les Mis (see profile pic) which Ramin graciously congratulated in a private message.

I envy you to have seen that production! I have a copy of the souvenir programme from that production that I found lying around in a store, and I've been ogling it ever since. I'm so interested in the history of the Toronto theatre scene and the productions/stars that have taken place here.

Updated On: 8/2/19 at 11:46 AM

BuddyStarr said: "This is interesting. I didn't know it was a documentary. I have a book that is essentially the same thing, except it was done when the show originally started in London. I'm guessing ALW searched out and destroyed most of the copies of that book but it's a treasured piece since seeing the very original cast with all the original keys."

That book is still available on amazon. Complete with that awsome photo of Patti dressed up as Charlie Chaplin in a section cut from “The Lady’s Paying” in London previews that was the ONLY decent moment in that song.. (IMHO)

https://www.amazon.com/Sunset-Boulevard-George-C-Perry/dp/0805029273/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?keywords=Making+Sunset+Boulevard+Musical&qid=1564770556&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmr3

GavestonPS said: "My memory of the stage musical--which I saw twice with Glenn Close in LA--is that it felt like the creators had taken the screenplay and simply produced it page by page, reducing the screen dialogue to make room for songs that (dramatically) might well have remained dialogue. By the time they literally showed the chase scene from the movie, I knew this was to be a "Why?" musical.

But the score is perhaps ALW's best; to say so, of course, is to damn with faint praise."

I agree with you about the score. I'm no ALW fan, by any means, but that one mostly works for me, as does JCS. As for the rest.... zzzzzzzz.