Mae West in Sunset Boulevard at Plays of Wilton

WORLD PREMIERE ALERT!

Plays of Wilton (POW!) and playwright/director Ronnie Larsen proudly present the world premiere of Mae West in Sunset Boulevard, running May 27 – June 28, 2026, at The Foundry Theater in Wilton Manors, Florida.

Imagine Mae West and Marlon Brando as Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis in Billy Wilder’s legendary Sunset Boulevard — a “what if” scenario that could have changed Hollywood history forever.

In 1949, Wilder famously offered the starring role in Sunset Boulevard to screen and sex icon Mae West. She declined. The film ultimately starred Gloria Swanson and William Holden, earning 11 Academy Award nominations and becoming one of Hollywood’s greatest classics.

But why did Mae West say no?

From acclaimed playwright Ronnie Larsen comes a stylish, funny, and haunting new work exploring the collision between the uncompromising Mae West at the twilight of her reign and a Hollywood eager to reinvent itself without her. Beneath the glamour lies the story behind one of cinema’s most fascinating missed opportunities.

Before West, other legendary actresses were considered:
Mary Pickford wanted too much creative control
Greta Garbo had no interest in returning to film
Pola Negri’s accent proved problematic
Clara Bow struggled with the transition to talkies
Norma Shearer disliked the script and preferred retirement

Enter Mae West.

Though intrigued by the “idea,” West reportedly refused to portray a faded, washed-up movie star, offended by the implication. Norma Desmond’s tragic vulnerability clashed with the glamorous, sexually confident persona West cultivated throughout her career. She never publicly accepted the notion that she was “finished.”

Billy Wilder later reportedly remarked:
“I can’t believe I offered this to Mae West.”

This compelling two-hander stars cabaret icon Jennifer McClain as Mae West — Larsen’s muse, written specifically with her in mind — alongside Carbonell Award-winning actor Seth Trucks as the unsuspecting studio emissary tasked with delivering the script to West.

McClain, beloved for her cabaret performances at The Foundry and for reopening the theater after COVID, makes her full-production debut with Plays of Wilton. Trucks returns following acclaimed performances in The Timekeepers, The Boys in the Band, and as director for Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays.

Playwright/director Ronnie Larsen says:
“Mae West was never going to surrender her image, her sexuality, or her power to Hollywood’s idea of what an aging actress should become. That tension fascinated me. This play explores not only a legendary missed opportunity, but also the price artists pay when the world tries to decide when they are no longer relevant.”

Associate Producer Joseph Guidetti adds:
“POW! has always been committed to telling bold stories that celebrate larger-than-life personalities and overlooked moments in cultural history. Mae West in Sunset Boulevard captures both the glamour and heartbreak of Hollywood while reminding audiences that reinvention — and resistance — are timeless themes.”

The Foundry Theater
2306 N. Dixie Highway
Wilton Manors, FL

Performances Wednesday–Sunday
Reserved Seating: $37.50
Premium Front Row: $53.50

Tickets:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ronnielarsenpresents/2205474

ABOUT POW!
Plays of Wilton is a nonprofit LGBTQ+ theater company dedicated to producing bold, original theatrical works celebrating diverse voices and stories. Under Ronnie Larsen’s leadership, POW! has become a major cultural force in South Florida through world premieres, new play development, and innovative community programming.