Sunset Boulevard Revival Broadway Thread

[Scarywarhol]

ignore, was wrong about a bit being new. 

[muscle23ftl]

Did anyone spot ALW in the audience? I remember I saw Stephen Sondheim at Follies, with a very young man as his escort.

[chernjam]

First conspiracy - are they planning on extending it already?

Michael Xavier says in the video as he enters his dressing room "this should be good for the next 6 months"

 

http://www.broadway.com/videos/157526/lets-have-lunch-backstage-at-sunset-boulevard-with-michael-xavier-episode-3-enter-the-palace/#play

[imeldasturn]

I was really hoping for you guys that they would have cut "Young" Norma Desmond. Or the Chandelier-like Joe's corpse. Oh well, what can we do, Lonny Price is an asinine director.

[10086sunset]

imeldasturn said: "I was really hoping for you guys that they would have cut "Young" Norma Desmond. Or the Chandelier-like Joe's corpse. Oh well, what can we do, Lonny Price is an asinine director."

 

That's right...I had almost successfully blocked out Joe's corpse...At first, it didn't bother me. Halfway through the second act, I looked up and saw this corpse hanging rom the celling...it looked pretty foolish.

I also could have done without the actors holding the car lights. It was fine once, when Joe first makes it to Norma's house. By the time it's used for the third time, I couldn't help thinking "Oh, the guys are back holding the lights."

On a positive, one thing I forgot to mention in my earlier post was that one of the additions that I really liked was at the end, after Joe picks up the phone and tells Betty to come over the house. There's a brief montage/flashback series from different moments of the show which Joe seems to be recalling while waiting for Betty...

@muscle23ftl, I did not see ALW there last night...

@chernjam, I thought the biggest difference was how much prominence the score is given. The stripped down production and forty piece orchestra really allows the score to be heard in a new fashion. The score essentially becomes another character.

 

[ArtMan]

Can anyone comment on the assumption that this was going to be staged like a concert?  I only saw Sunset Boulevard, once with Patti Lupone in London.  I don't remember too much about it.  I have one slot open for my May trip and am thinking about this.  Not sure whether to see this again or go for something new.  Thanks.

[ArtMan]

double post

[10086sunset]

@Artman, it's certainly more than just being staged like a concert. For one, the costumes are magnificent. The set is sparse and most of the action takes place on the front of the stage due to the forty piece orchestra taking up residence on the stage.  It's a simple, stripped down version of the show. In many ways, it strengthens the material and the performances. While the set in the original production was impressive, it was also a conversation piece. Here, the conversation can be focused on the music and acting. The show benefits for it. 

 

 

[10086sunset]

Sunset Boulevard has been extended to June 25th, 2017...

Tickets are now available on ticketmaster...

[haterobics]

Lots of seats on Sunday, thinking of checking it out as Super Bowl counterprogramming... but if there are no discounts or TKTS, not sure.

[RogerMoore]

Saw it last night and really enjoyed it. I've never seen a production before and didn't know the score at all. My advice is do not sit the side orchestra (esp left) as you'll miss a lot of the action, which takes place on the staircases/platforms and is blocked by enormous speakers. The first few rows in the side orch are also actually higher than the rows behind them - thanks to dining room chairs instead of theater seats - which is completely asinine. My seats were not 'obstructed view' and it was certainly the most I've missed in a show. Including the big scene at the end when Norma descends the staircase, which was completely blocked to me until she hit the stage. I felt like whipping my playbill at the house manager. 

[C4b2a3b]

RogerMoore said: "Saw it last night and really enjoyed it. I've never seen a production before and didn't know the score at all. My advice is do not sit the side orchestra (esp left) as you'll miss a lot of the action, which takes place on the staircases/platforms and is blocked by enormous speakers. The first few rows in the side orch are also actually higher than the rows behind them - thanks to dining room chairs instead of theater seats - which is completely asinine. My seats were not 'obstructed view' and it was certainly the most I've missed in a show. Including the big scene at the end when Norma descends the staircase, which was completely blocked to me until she hit the stage. I felt like whipping my playbill at the house manager. 

 

"

 

Thanks for this advice! How far off to the orchestra left side do you think is "obstructed"? I'm looking at the seat map now, and did you mean the single digit seats in the left orchestra? I bought row E orchestra left tickets in the center, but the seats are a couple of seats in. Wondering if I should call Ticketmaster to make a change. 

[OKBroadwayFan]

I was in Row K far left (in the elevated section) on the aisle and I could not see the scenes on the platforms.   I think if you are in the center sections of the orchestra you will be fine.    

[RogerMoore]

I was in row H seat 1 - there was 1 row of theater seats in front of me (empty, but then taken for Act 2) then the dining room chairs in front of that row. I do not recommend that section unless you're further back. I saw lots of neck-craning, but nobody is going to see through or around those speakers. I'm sure the center orchestra had a wonderful time. I'll go back once it hits TKTS

[petewk87]

 

[nealb1]

I have tickets for it at the end of April - Orch Row M, seats 2 & 4.  Based on what I'm reading, will I miss a lot of the action, RogerMoore?

[haterobics]

nealb1 said: "I have tickets for it at the end of April - Orch Row M, seats 2 & 4.  Based on what I'm reading, will I miss a lot of the action, RogerMoore?"

You're on the completely opposite side of the house, so seemingly no.

[RogerMoore]

I would guess that M 2-4 is okay - I was on the opposite side and M is a little further back (which seems like a good thing here). There are two staircases/platforms - the one Norma uses, exclusively, is stage right so if you're house right, you'll have a great view of that. There is action on the other platform - it functions as Joe's 'apartment above the garage' and the office at Paramount.

I should clarify - I assume there is a staircase/platform stage right that Norma uses, because I never saw the effing thing. 

[nealb1]

Thanks so much haterobics & RogerMoore.  I appreciate you letting me know.  

I called the box office shortly after I posted here, and the lady that I spoke to said that I'm far back enough that there won't be any obstructions at all.  

[Skimbleshanks2]

Are there SRO tickets for SUNSET?

[abbagirl]

Skimbleshanks2 said: "Are there SRO tickets for SUNSET?

Not sure about that, but there is $42 general rush, that's how I'm seeing it tonight (rear mezz)! :)

"

 

[ChrisTyler12882]

What merchandise was available? I'm seeing it on April 1st and cannot wait! I have only ever seen the national tour with Petula Clark.

[10086sunset]

ChrisTyler12882 said: "What merchandise was available? I'm seeing it on April 1st and cannot wait! I have only ever seen the national tour with Petula Clark."

Merch was somewhat limited. The poster simply has the logo with the image of Glenn that is also on the playbill. There's a logo mug, a few t shirts, one with that same playbill image and another with the street sign and different words from the title track... 

There is also a collection of Norma Desmond jewelry available...

[stlrod]

Thanks for the heads up on the side orch seats.  I just ordered M1 and 3 this morning and called ticketmaster and switched to mezz E10 and 12.  I was questioning the initial seats this morning as I noticed only one side of the orch had tickets available using the discount code.  I checked a couple dates after reading Roger Moore's messages and noticed tickets on the opposite side were not available using the discount code even though regular priced seats were.  They clearly know there is sightline problem and are just trying to fill the seats through the discount code. 

[little_sally]

abbagirl said: "Skimbleshanks2 said: "Are there SRO tickets for SUNSET?

Not sure about that, but there is $42 general rush, that's how I'm seeing it tonight (rear mezz)! :)

What time did you get to the box office for a ticket?
 

 

"

 

[VegasBigDeal]

My wife and I saw the show on Broadway back in '96 with Betty Buckley.  Then on tour in Hartford with Petula Clark.  We've always ranked it our top 5 favorite shows.  We've got tickets to see this production in May.  We're very excited.    Once Glenn Close has completed her run I'd like to see Linda Eder take on the role.