Joanna Ampil to Star as Norma Desmond in ‘Sunset Boulevard’ in Manila

Joanna Ampil to Star as Norma Desmond in ‘Sunset Boulevard’ in Manila

Joanna Ampil will play Norma Desmond in the Philippine premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, which will run from August to September 2027 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati.

The production will be directed by Nelsito Gomez and presented by CueCraft Entertainment by arrangement with LW Entertainment Ltd. It will feature an original staging created for the Philippine production, with additional Filipino and international cast and creative team members yet to be announced.

Ampil has performed extensively in the West End and internationally, with credits including Kim in Miss Saigon, Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, Éponine and Fantine in Les Misérables, Grizabella in Cats, and Christmas Eve in Avenue Q. Her Manila credits include Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County, Maria in West Side Story and The Sound of Music, Nellie in South Pacific, and Jenna in the international premiere of Waitress.

More recently, she played Bloody Mary in South Pacific at Chichester Festival Theatre and on its subsequent London and UK tour, Saki Arima in Your Lie in April and Carlotta Giudicelli in The Phantom of the Opera in London, and became the first woman to play the Engineer in a reimagined production of Miss Saigon in Sheffield.

Based on Billy Wilder’s 1950 film of the same name, Sunset Boulevard features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton.

Set in 1940s Hollywood, the musical follows struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis, whose chance encounter with forgotten silent-film star Norma Desmond draws him into her world of faded glamour and obsession. Still convinced that she can reclaim her former stardom, Norma sees Joe as an opportunity to make her long-awaited return to the screen.

The musical features songs including “With One Look,” “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” “The Perfect Year,” and “Sunset Boulevard.”

Sunset Boulevard first premiered in London’s West End in 1993, with Patti LuPone originating the role of Norma Desmond. The musical subsequently opened on Broadway in 1994, starring Glenn Close, and has since been staged in productions around the world.

The most recent West End revival, directed by Jamie Lloyd and starring Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond, opened in 2023 before transferring to Broadway in 2024. Scherzinger won both the Olivier and Tony Awards for her performance.

CueCraft Entertainment is the producing arm of CueCraft Studio. Members of the team have previously worked alongside GMG Productions on international touring productions including Hamilton, Miss Saigon, SIX, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, and Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular. In Philippine theater, the team has also worked with companies including Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, 9 Works Theatrical, The Sandbox Collective, Theatre Group Asia, and Barefoot Theatre Collaborative.

The Manila production will run from August 18 to September 12, 2027. Performances are scheduled Wednesdays to Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM. Opening night on August 18 and gala night on August 26 will begin at 7:30 PM.

Tickets are priced at ₱6,000 for Orchestra Center VIP, ₱5,500 for Orchestra Center, ₱5,000 for Orchestra Side Premium and Loge Premium, ₱4,500 for Orchestra Side, ₱3,500 for Balcony Front, ₱3,000 for Balcony Middle, and ₱2,500 for Balcony Back and are available through TicketWorld.