Full cast announced for Sunset Boulevard at the ENO

Full casting has now been announced for the upcoming ENO and the GradeLinnit Company's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard which will run in a semi-staged production at London's Coliseum from 1 April to 6 May 2016, with an official opening on 4 April 2016.

Joining the previously announced Glenn Close who will reprise her Tony-winning performance of 'Norma Desmond' as well as Michael Xavier as 'Joe Gillis', Siobhan Dillon as Betty Schaefer' and Fred Johanson as 'Max von Mayerling' will be a company that includes:

Julian Forsyth (Cecil B DeMille), Mark Goldthorp (Sheldrake), Fenton Gray (Manfred), Haydn Oakley (Artie Green), James Paterson (Jonesy), Carly Anderson, Michelle Bishop, Jacob Chapman, Nadeem Crowe, Cornelia Farnsworth, Ria Jones, Katie Kerr, Aaron Lee Lambert, Matthew McKenna, Jo Morris, Tanya Robb, Ashley Robinson, Vicki Lee Taylor, Gary Tushaw, Adam Vaughan and Stuart Winter.

The show will mark the second production in the partnership between English National Opera (ENO) and the GradeLinnit Company, following on from the success of 'Sweeney Todd' in 2015.

"In her mansion on Sunset Boulevard, faded, silent-screen goddess, Norma Desmond, lives in a fantasy world. Impoverished screen writer, Joe Gillis, on the run from debt collectors, stumbles into her reclusive world. Persuaded to work on Norma's 'masterpiece', a film script that she believes will put her back in front of the cameras, he is seduced by her and her luxurious life-style. Joe becomes entrapped in a claustrophobic world until his love for another woman leads him to try and break free with dramatic consequences."

The semi-staged production will be directed by Lonny Price, with orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, choreography by Stephen Mear, set designs by James Noone, costume designs by Tracy Christensen, Glenn Close's costumes designs by Anthony Powell, sound by Mick Potter and lighting by Mark Henderson. Musical Director is Michael Reed who also conducts the orchestra of the ENO who will perform on stage.

Featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, Sunset Boulevard is produced by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd and is based on the original Paramount film by Billy Wilder.