Australia: Sunset Boulevard full cast announced to join Sarah Brighton

A new production of Sunset Boulevard in Australia has announced casting to join Sarah Brighton, who stars as Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.

The cast will include acclaimed actor and performer Tim Draxl in the role of Joe Gillis, stage and screen veteran Robert Grubb as Max Von Mayerling, Ashleigh Rubenach as Betty Schaefer, Jarrod Draper as Artie Green, Paul Hanlon as Cecil B. DeMille, and Australian singing legend Silvie Paladino as Alternate Norma Desmond at some performances.

The cast will also feature Regan Barber, Amy Berrisford, Billy Bourchier, Campbell Braithwaite, Benjamin Colley, Grace Driscoll, Madison Green, Peter Ho, Leah Lim, Mary McCorry, Charlotte Page, Morgan Palmer, Caity Plummer, Taylor Scanlan, Tom Sharah, Lisa Sontag, Troy Sussman, Riley Sutton and Dean Vince.

This new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award winning musical will premiere in Melbourne Australia in May 2024 at the Princess Theatre, and then play Sydney Opera House in August 2024.

Direction for this reimagined revival is by Paul Warwick Griffin, with set and costume design by Morgan Large, choreography by Ashley Wallen, and musical supervision by Kristen Blodgette.

The show is based on the Billy Wilder movie, and first premiered at London’s Adelphi Theatre on 12 July 1993. Sunset Boulevard has Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Book and Lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton.

Sarah Brightman originated the role of Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera both in the West End and on Broadway. Since then, she has become the world’s best-selling soprano, topping the charts across the world with global sales of 30 million units, more than 180 gold and platinum awards in over 40 countries and over 1 billion streams worldwide. She was married to Lloyd Webber for seven years in the 1980’s.

Director Paul Warwick Griffin said in a statement: ‘‘We are thrilled to present this superb cast for this newly reimagined version of the masterpiece that is ‘Sunset Boulevard.’ The caliber of artists we have assembled is extraordinary and I am very excited to see them bring our vision for this production to life on stage. Having Sarah Brightman return to the stage in this iconic role is thrilling … We are incredibly fortunate to have assembled a company of world class talent who will bring to life ‘Sunset Boulevard”s complex characters and hauntingly beautiful score.”

This production was first announced in October 2023, and is produced by GWB Entertainment and Opera Australia.

A new production of Sunset Boulevard by Jamie Lloyd recently took London by storm starring Nicole Scherzinger. That production is off to Broadway later this year.

There are also rumours that Jamie Lloyd’s critically acclaimed production may come to Australia, as early as 2025. Aussie stars tipped to take on Norma Desmond in Lloyd’s sexy new production include Australia megastar Delta Goodrem.

Sunset Boulevard plays the Princess Theatre Melbourne from 21 May to 28 July 2024, and Sydney Opera House from 29 August to 1 November 2024.

Sign-up for news and booking alerts about these shows and more:

Main photo: Sunset Boulevard Australia - Casting