The Music and Stagecraft of ‘Sunset Blvd.’ | The Box Seat Babes Podcast

August 10, 2025 Brian Kitson Broadway, Classic Musicals, Drama, Musical, Stage Review, Sunset Boulevard 1 min read

The story of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Blvd. is a deep exploration into the psyche of Norma Desmond (Nicole Scherzinger) and Joe Gillis (Tom Francis), creating one of the most personal and off-putting musicals we’ve seen in recent years. While the story is incredible and the performances breathtaking, the true magic of the Tony Award-winning revival comes from Jamie Lloyd’s revisioning of the music and stagecraft of Sunset Blvd. From the costumes to the staging (or lack thereof), the lighting, and of course, the vocals, there’s so much to discuss about this musical outside of the performances and the people bringing the characters to life on stage!

In this episode of the Box Seat Babes podcast, hosts RJ Miller-Zelinko and Brian Kitson discuss all aspects of Sunset Blvd.’s theatricality and why this musical deserves the awards and acclaim it has won. What about the staging was so striking that it took their breath away? Which songs stole the show and propelled this musical into something extraordinary? How did these hosts feel about the integration of technology and cameras to help tell the story? There are plenty of aspects of Sunset Blvd. to marvel at, all of which are broken down in this podcast! Listen in as both give their final verdicts, and if they think this show could transfer to a touring production!

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