MUST CLOSE December 8!
“TRANSFIXING…STRONG…YOU REALLY SHOULD COME WATCH HER FLY”
– Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Book & Lyrics by Don Black & Christopher Hampton
Based on the film by Billy Wilder
Direction by Michael Weber
Choreography by Shanna Vanderwerker
Music Direction by Aaron Benham
In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, faded, silent-screen goddess Norma Desmond lives in a fantasy world. When impoverished screenwriter Joe Gillis, on the run from debt collectors, stumbles into her reclusive domain he is persuaded to work on Norma’s “masterpiece,” a screenplay that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras. Seduced by Norma and her luxurious lifestyle, he finds himself trapped in her clutches until his love for another woman leads him to try and break free with shattering consequences.
This Tony Award-winning masterpiece of obsession, romance and the golden age of Hollywood stars one of the most celebrated leading ladies of Chicago theatre: Hollis Resnik, making her Porchlight Music Theatre Mainstage debut.
Ms. Resnik’s performance is sponsored by Virginia and Gary Gerst.
Special thanks to June Golin for production support.
Featuring Billy Rude as “Joe Gillis;” Michelle Lauto as “Betty Schaefer;” Larry Adams as “Max Von Meyerling;” Joe Giovannetti as “Artie Green” and David Girolmo as “Cecil B. DeMille.” The ensemble includes Anna Brockman, Marcellus Burt, Justin Cavazos, Laz Estrada, Brian Healy, Alex Jackson, Molly Kral, Mandy Modic, Michelle Owens, Shane Roberie, Danny Spagnuolo, Laura Sportiello and Ambria Sylvain.
The production team includes Kevin Barthel, wig design; Anthony Churchill, projection design; Maggie Fullilove-Nugent, lighting design, Robert Hornbostel, sound design; Jeff Kmiec, set design; Bill Morey, costume design; Michael Hendricks, stage manager, Jackie Robinson, Hai Alvarez-Millard and Charlene Walkanoff, assistant stage managers; Samantha Treible, wardrobe supervisor; Jamie Davis, audio engineer; Bek Lambrecht, technical director, Catherine Allen, production manager and Alex Rhyan, production and operations director.
Based on availability, a select, limited number of Mainstage tickets will be on sale for $25 day of select performances. Rush tickets are subject to availability and limited to two (2) per person. All handling fees still apply. When tickets are available, they may be purchased directly through our box office, either in person or via phone, when we open each day at noon.*
*On Saturdays, Sundays, and select Mondays; box office hours vary. Please view our complete box office hours here.
STUDENT TICKETS: Based on availability, a limited number of student tickets are on sale for our Mainstage shows for $20. Tickets are subject to availability and limited to one (1) per student. Students must present a valid student ID when picking up tickets from will call. All handling fees still apply.
When available, tickets may be purchased directly through our box office, either in person or via phone, when we open each day. Tickets at 12 and Student Ticket discounts cannot be combined with additional offers or applied to previously purchased tickets.
For more information about our ticketing options, please call our box office at (773) 777-9884.
NOTICE
POST-PERFORMANCE CONVERSATIONS
Meet the cast of Sunset Boulevard as they share their experiences from this production and answer audience questions. The Post-Performance Conversation is free and open to the public, and immediately follows that day’s performance.
Sunday, November 17 – Following the 2pm performance
Sunday, December 1 – Following the 2pm performance
OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES
Click here for more information
Saturday, November 2 – 3:30pm
Saturday, November 9 – 3:30pm
(ABOVE: Photo by Joe Mazza, Brave Lux, Inc.)
Michael Weber
Director
Previously at Porchlight: Cabaret, Sunset Boulevard, Gypsy, Merrily We Roll Along
Michael Weber is a nationally recognized, award-winning director, producer, actor and educator. He recently directed the Off-Broadway and European premieres of Call Me Elizabeth written by and starring Kayla Boye as Elizabeth Taylor. Under his artistic leadership, Porchlight Music Theatre was awarded Chicago’s Jeff Award for “Best Production” six times for A Class Act, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Sondheim on Sondheim, The Scottsboro Boys, Dreamgirls and Blues in the Night. Porchlight productions that he directed, include Cabaret, Gypsy, End of the Rainbow, Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Pal Joey, Assassins and Side Show, as well as Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Jeff Award Award for Best Production. He previously served as artistic director for the inaugural season of Chicago’s Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now Broadway in Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse) and at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana (1998-2004). Directing credits include Living the History-125 Years of The Auditorium Theatre starring Patti LuPone and John Mahoney, Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Beauty and the Beast at Marriott Theatre, Over the River and Through the Woods at Mercury Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Pheasant Run Theatre, and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena featuring stars of Cirque du Soleil with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has been nominated for nine awards and he wrote and directed 14 Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies (2006-2018). Weber’s regional acting credits include The Merry Widow (starring Renée Fleming) at Lyric Opera, Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (both starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia Festival, The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse, Disney’s My Son Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, It Had To Be You (starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka) at Little Theatre on the Square, Angel Street at First Folio Shakespeare, and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. He is author of the play, WAR of the WELLeS (about Orson Welles’ infamous radio broadcast) and he is a longtime pledge host for PBS station WTTW channel 11.