Minneapolis Musical Theatre's SUNSET BOULEVARD Opens 5/31

Sunset Boulevard, Minneapolis Musical Theatre's (MMT) production of the Broadway hit based on the 1950 Oscar-winning movie about faded glory and unfulfilled ambition, debuts May 31-June 23, 2013 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre (Street Level of City Center in downtown Minneapolis). Directed by Steven Meerdink, MMT's artistic director, this is the second production in the partnership between Hennepin Theatre Trust and Minneapolis Musical Theatre. The original Broadway musical, directed by Trevor Nunn with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, won seven 1995 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Single tickets are on sale now. For tickets or more information, visit www.HennepinTheatreTrust.org or call 1.800.982.2787.

Sunset Boulevard opens with Norma Desmond, the fading silent movie star abandoned by the "talkies," who longs for a return to big screen glory. Enter struggling Hollywood screenwriter Joe Gillis, and their ensuing passionate and warped affair leads to a volatile conclusion. The 1950 film, directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won three, including one for Best Music. In 1997, it ranked as #12 on the American Film Institute's Best American Films of the 20th Century. With this new production, MMT places the main focus on the spider web of relationships between the four main characters- Norma, Joe, Max Von Mayerling and Betty Schaefer. With projected images and video, they will use the film to enhance the telling of this unforgettable story.

This show will star local actress Sarah Gibson as Norma Desmond, known to Twin Cities audiences for her work in The Light in the Piazza at the Ordway and Johnny Baseball at Park Square Theatre. MMT veteran Tim Kuehl (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Jerry Springer the Opera) stars as Joe Gillis, Christian Unser as Max Von Mayerling, Aly Westberg as Betty Schaefer, Marlin Rothe as Cecil B. DeMille, Evan Wilberg as Artie Green, Tony Sofie as Sheldrake and Ryan Halliday as Manfred. The ensemble includes Holly Brimhall, Reba Clamp, Rebecca Gebhart, Jennifer Inderlee, Philip Matthews, Adan Varela and Amanda Weis. Musical direction is by Lori Maxwell, scenic design by Darren Hensel, lighting design by Grant Merges and video/image design is by Christian Unser.

This Trust and MMT partnership benefits both organizations by combining strengths in audience development, community outreach and downtown revitalization to present new or rarely seen musical works. MMT is pleased to be among the growing list of local theatre collaborators who have chosen to produce and present work at the New Century Theatre.

TICKET INFORMATION
Single tickets for Sunset Boulevard are on sale now and range from $24 to $29 depending on performance date. Tickets may be purchased in person (no service fees) at the New Century Theatre, online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org or through Ticketmaster by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. Prices include applicable facility fees. Additional charges may apply. Discounts are available for groups, seniors and students. Groups of 10 or more should call 612.455.9525 for information and reservations.

Performance dates are Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 23, 2013 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre.

Performance times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. There is an additional performance Monday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday, June 23 performance is at 2:30 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST, owner of the historic Orpheum, State, Pantages and New Century Theatres, is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to arts-inspired community cultural development. We achieve our mission by presenting a rich mix of live performances, creating inspiring arts education experiences and advancing a thriving Hennepin Avenue cultural district in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trust's activities include presenting Broadway touring productions and the related Broadway Confidential series, concerts, comedy, speakers and other variety entertainment plus educational initiatives including our SpotLight Musical Theatre and SpotLight Critical Reviewer programs for high schools, Teen Ushers, the Access Program and Family Day events.

MINNEAPOLIS MUSICAL THEATRE (MMT) is dedicated to providing the community with access to high quality, affordable works of musical theatre never before, or very rarely, seen by Twin Cities audiences. Founded in 1992, MMT has produced over 45 productions, including 24 area premieres. MMT has continued to grow and evolve, having started as a touring troupe before becoming the first-ever 'Company in Residence' at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater in 2000. In 2002, MMT moved downtown to Hennepin Stages (formerly Hey City Theater), and later to the Illusion Theater in the Hennepin Center for the Arts in 2008. A consistent theme in MMT's growth and development has been improving audience access to and enjoyment of the art of musical theater. For more information please visit aboutmmt.org.