Sunset Stunt — Page 2

Bwaygurl2 said: "Conspiracy theory lunacy has left the fringes and has taken over every aspect of American life."

Exactly, perfectly put.

There will always be conspiracy theorists who think their fact-free suspicions are signs of intelligence when they are actually signs of the opposite--so thats not new. But what IS new is this idea that if you make up some half-baked, proof-free theory, its OK because you're "just asking some questions"--about Obama's birth certificate, about vaccines, about The Jews, about The Moon Landing, about a matinee of Sunset...

the root is the same: an allergy to, or disregard for, facts.

When Nicole did Sunset in London it was short and sweet with no controversy. Come to Broadway and she has had to battle slander in the NYTimes comparing her show with the reception of Tammy Faye and Cinderella, people trying to cancel her because she doesn’t subscribe to their ideological views, people who on this forum made it their strange relentless mission to complain about her and the production and performance at every turn, people suggesting her voice isn’t holding out because of subtle key changes, people dismissing her obvious talent, and now conspiracy theories about publicity stunts. I love New York theatre and there is no better place in the world but you have to see there is something a little insidious and toxic about the way some in the community have been treating her and the show.

When Nicole sings ‘as if we never said goodbye’ on Broadway it definitely has added subtext for me now of someone battling and succeeding to be there. It’s only going to make her Tony win even more satisfying now. The Audra Gypsy cast recording release has only cemented to me that it’s going to be Nicole’s year. I love Audra’s voice but it’s just too polarising. It’s Bernadette in Gypsy repeating history. Nicole’s performance feels more like Patti in Gypsy, Alice Ripley in next to normal, Audra in Porgy, Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens type vibes. A perfect glove and historic groundbreaking.

Updated On: 4/25/25 at 03:07 AM

I certainly don't think this was a stunt in the sense they cancelled a paid performance to pull it off. But in today's increasingly tech-driven shows, it also would not surprise me to learn that some "contingency-planned ad libs" are in place in case something goes awry.

As someone who does keynote speeches, I always have a plan B in place, one I've worked on with the audio/video technicians in advance, so that if we have projection or audio issues I can do a stress-free pivot in front of the audience.

Updated On: 4/25/25 at 05:38 AM

Callas2 said: "She sings "With One Look," the Act I showstopper — arguably the most emotionally charged and recognizable moment of the show. She does it through a bullhorn… which still allows her to sound flawless? Come on. Bullhorns distort — that’s their thing. If she nailed the tone, pitch, and drama of the number through one, it had to be rehearsed. You can’t tell me this wasn’t prepped, at least partially, especially since the whole moment fit so neatly into a social media frame : Tony season. Free press. Viral moment. “She saved the day.” It writes itself.

This was a publicity stunt, and it was indeed planned, stage and production management were in on it. That’s the only way she could’ve walked onstage in full costume, with (bullhorn, light design adjustments), and have the house staff know to allow filming.

Why is that so difficult to grasp? Theater publicity stunts have been done since the beginning of Broadway. Do. some research. And to clarify - I think Nicole is a fantastic performer and this is a very interesting production. I enjoyed it when I saw it. And my social media reviews were stellar. But a stunt is a stunt."

It was a stunt---to be clear, when this person says "stunt" they mean "fraudulent lie, pulled off by hundreds of people without anyone spilling the truth"--because....well, because it COULD be? No evidence it actually was, and of course no explanation for how this actually makes any sense financially. Just vibes and "asking questions."

its these little inconsequential stupidities that should give us pause about where society is headed. "Do some research!" is a nice touch though (as if this person is a historian), and I did laugh out loud at the idea that it makes no sense why shed be in costume or why theater staff would be able to, you know, film this like theyd film anything else. So, thanks for that.

CoffeeBreak said: "Definitely not a stunt. There was a legit technical issue. Conductor Alan Williams and members of Adam Fisher's sound design team have confirmed. When the show couldn't "go on" ... Nicole opted to sing for the audience before they left. There is no stunt or bigger story here. Cut, print, moving on."

The majority of us know that there is no way this was a stunt.

The others don't agree because it doesn't fit the narrative they are trying to create or have others perceive. Just so bizarre to me.

Thanks, that video pretty much confirms for sure it’s not a stunt as there is no way Nicole would elaborately lie like that and be the front of it. Also, it just seems authentic. Anyway, I think it was Jordan who said yes of course if it was a stunt they’d find a way to have magically restarted the show because then they would have not lost $150,000 and been able to capitalise. But clearly they are not having their cake and eating it…because it’s not a stunt.

Updated On: 4/26/25 at 03:01 PM