The Divas of Sunset Boulevard

Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, Sunset Boulevard, has debuted in London, Los Angeles, Toronto and of course, on Broadway with some of the performing arts most talented divas. Before Mr. Webber's musical production hit the stage, Sunset Boulevard was a film starring Gloria Swanson as silent film star Norma Desmond. Sunset Boulevard (the musical) had its world premiere on July 12, 1993 in London. Norma Desmond, the silent film star on whose life the musical is based, was created in this London production by Patti LuPone.

The American Premiere of the show occurred on December 9,1993 in Los Angeles with Glenn Close taking the lead role. Ms. Close then continued as Norma Desmond when Sunset Boulevard opened on Broadway on November 17, 1994. But it was Betty Buckley who soon took over the Desmond character in a revised production in London in 1994 and finally replacing Ms. Close in the Broadway production in 1995. A Toronto production became a reality on October 15, 1995 but this time it was Diahann Carroll who took to the stage as Ms. Desmond. In June of 1996 the US National tour began and Linda Belgord (formerly in Cats) created yet another Norma Desmond on the stage.

Patti LuPone, http://www.layzlay.com is well known not only in the theatre circuit but also from television, film and the recording industry. Her musical theatre performances include such shows as Terrence McNally's "Master Class"; "Pal Joey"; "Anything Goes"; "Oliver"; "Evita"; "The Robber Bridegroom"; "The Cradle will rock"; and London's "Les Mis". Ms. LuPone also had her Carnegie Hall concert debut in 1999. She might be best remembered by some for television series, "Life Goes On".

Glenn Close, http://www.kcweb.com/super/g_close.htm began her career at New York's Phoenix Theatre Co. in 1974. She has received Tony awards for Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" (1984) and Ariel Dorfman's "Death and the Maiden" (1992). She was also in the musical, "Barnum". Alhough her appearance in "Sunset Boulevard" helped her achieve diva status in musical theatre she is probably best known by her villanous performance as Alex opposite Michael Douglas in "Fatal Attraction". Her Hallmark Hall of Fame's "Sarah Plain and Tall" with Christopher Walken is also one of her crowning achievements.

Betty Buckley, http://www.bettybuckley.com achieved musical theatre star status playing Grizabella in another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, "Cats". Betty debuted on Broadway playing Martha Jefferson in "1776" which opened in 1969. Since then her stage career has included numerous big shows including, "Pippin"; "Song & Dance"; "The ThreePenny Opera"; "Gypsy"; and "Triumph of Love". Originally playing the gym teacher in the movie version of "Carrie" with Sissy Spacek, Betty also appeared in the Broadway musical "Carrie" as the mother, Margaret White. Betty has performed in some major concert performances including, "Sondheim: a celebration at Carnagie Hall" and "George & Ira Gershwin: a musical celebration" as well as her own "An evening with Betty Buckley" at Carnagie

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