I can’t believe the summer is almost over and we are now onto the third musical of Moonlights summer season. The 37th season at Moonlight has been a huge one with productions of “The Little Mermaid” and “Aida”. The season will continue in August with the lavish production of “Sunset Boulevard”. The show is rarely produced due to the size of the production and the large number of musicians required to play the lush orchestrations but with the talent at Moonlight has been able to make it happen.
“Sunset Boulevard” the Tony award winning musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber is based on the film noir classic by Billy Wilder. The show known for some of Webber’s most soaring melodies recently enjoyed a revival with Glenn Close on Broadway. Now everyone in Southern California can enjoy “Sunset Boulevard” come to life on stage.
Webber’s musical weaves a magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition. Silent movie star Norma Desmond longs for a return to the big screen, having been discarded by tinsel town with the advent of “talkies.” When she meets struggling Hollywood screenwriter Joe Gillis in dramatic circumstances, their subsequent passionate and volatile relationship leads to an unforeseen and tragic conclusion.
Valerie Perri who stars as the title character of Norma Desomn originally performed the part in Long Beach four years ago and she does an amazing job revisiting the character in the Moonlight Stage Production.
“Getting the role of Norma was such an incredible high for me personally. My mom was ill at the time and passed away right after the show closed, but she did have the opportunity to see me on opening night and it was fabulous. When I sang “I’ve Come Home at Last,” I was not only Norma, I was Valerie.”
The show is anchored by a very strong cast of actors that include Valerie Perri (Norma Desmond), John George Campbell (Cecill B. DeMille), Norman Large (Max von Mayerling), Shayne Mims (Artie Green), Katie Sapper (Betty Schaefer), Robert J. Townsend (Joe Gillis)
Ensemble: Scott Arnold, Caitlyn Calfas, Maximillian DeLoach, Johnny Fletcher, Lise Hafso, Luke Harvey Jacobs, Ted Leib, Missy Marion, Jessica Mason, Paul Morgavo, Jacob Narcy, Greg Nicholas, Kirklyn Robinson, Bethany Slomka, Debra Wagner, E.Y. Washington, Erica Marie, Evan White,
Additional Credits: Stanley D. Cohen (Stage Manager), Sarah Zimmermand (Assistant Stage Manager), Jean-Yves Tessier (Lighting Design), Jim Zadi (Sound Design), Peter Herman (Wig Design), Kathleen Mckenna (Make-Up Design) Gabe Nunez (Make-Up/Dresser).
Sunset Boulevard: Book and Lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Single tickets for Moonlight Stage production of Sister Act range from $10 – $55. There are discounts for Seniors and Students and military. For tickets contact The Moonlight Amphitheatre at 760-724-2110 or visit The Moonlight Stage Production Ticket Website.
SCHEDULE: Sunset Boulevard show times are August 16 – September 2 with gates opening at 6:30pm and showtimes at 8pm.
LOCATION: The Moonlight Amphitheatre is located at 1200 Vale Terrace Drive
Take the Civic Center Drive and exit off Highway 78, go north. Turn right on E Vista Way. Turn right on Vale Terrace. Continue on Vale Terrace about 1/2 mile and turn left into Brengle Terrace Park.
PARKING: There is free parking available at Brengle Terrace Park. Shuttle service is available for those who end up parking in the upper grass lot. The shuttle will begin running 2.5 hours before the show starts as well as after the show.
For more information and tickets call The Moonlight Amphitheatre at 760-724-2110 or visit The Moonlight Stage Production Ticket Website.
Photos by: Adriana Zuniga Photography