Nicole Scherzinger is currently starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre in London. But she’s dreaming even bigger.
In an interview with The New York Times at the weekend, the former Pussycat Dolls singer said that her dream was to write her own musical, loosely based on her life.
“After all these years, I finally have the courage not to worry about what others think, to know I have something to say,” she told the Times.
There are also rumours that Sunset Boulevard, directed by Jamie Lloyd, could be heading to Broadway, on the back of huge buzz for this new production, and Jamie Lloyd’s success earlier this year with his revival of A Doll’s House starring Jessica Chastain.
Sunset Boulevard is co-produced by ATG productions, the global theatre owner who now owns 7 Broadway theatres, with presumably an ATG venue ear-marked for the transfer.
Alongside The Jamie Lloyd Company, owned by ATG, the producers of the show are a list of heavy-weight impresarios, including Michael Harrison (Peter Pan, The Little Big Things, Hello Dolly!) for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, West End and Broadway producer Gavin Kalin Productions (Cabaret, Plaza Suite, Mrs Doubtfire The Musical),West End and Broadway producers Wessex Grove (An Enemy of the People, Vanya), Canadian producer David Mirvish and Qdos Entertainment’s Nick Thomas.
Nicole Scherzinger, the multifaceted star known for her chart-topping hits and judging role on The X Factor, is poised to take the theatre world by storm with her compelling performance as Norma Desmond in Jamie Lloyd’s stripped-down revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard.
In the candid interview with the New York Times, Scherzinger opens up about her journey from pop sensation to the West End stage and the emotional depth she brings to her portrayal of Norma.
Nicole Scherzinger says that Jamie Lloyd’s offer to play the part came as a surprise, and that, “I wasn’t sure if the idea was flattering or insulting. But Jamie said to me, don’t watch the movie; read the lines, listen to the music. And I fell madly in love with it.”
Jamie Lloyd, the innovative director of the production, recognised in Scherzinger a unique opportunity to reinterpret the character of Norma Desmond. He saw her as a woman in her prime, exceptionally talented yet marginalised, echoing the broader conversation about opportunities for women over 40 in the industry. Lloyd explained, “I felt there was a connection for Nicole, who had extraordinary international fame, but then didn’t have the opportunity to live up to her potential.”
Scherzinger’s own journey to stardom began in her childhood. Raised in a religious and sheltered environment, she developed her love for music and performance early on. She shared, “I’ve always had a hunger and a drive.” Her success with the Pussycat Dolls was immense, but it came at a cost. She confessed, “I wish I could go back and enjoy it, realise this isn’t going to be forever.” It was her involvement in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats in 2014 that sparked her passion for musical theatre, a moment she described as transformative, where every night, “I got to shed my old self and be reborn again.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, the legendary composer of hits including The Phantom of the Opera and Starlight Express, recognised Scherzinger’s exceptional talent. While they had briefly parted ways when she chose “The X Factor” over Broadway, he later expressed his delight when Jamie Lloyd suggested her for the role of Norma. Lloyd Webber said, “I believe she is one of the most gifted singer-actresses I have seen perform my work.” He commended her fearlessness both musically and dramatically, stating, “I am a total fan.”
Sunset Boulevard is now playing at the Savoy Theatre, and booking to 6 January 2024.
Book tickets to Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre in London
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