ACT of CT In Ridgefield Announces Cast For Upcoming 'Sunset Boulevard'

**News Release Submitted by ACT of Connecticut**

Aug. 29, 2023

ACT (A Contemporary Theatre) of Connecticut is excited to announce the cast for the first production of their 2023-2024 season – SUNSET BOULEVARD. The show will open the theatre’s extraordinary sixth season. Directed by ACT of CT’s Grammy nominated Artistic Director Daniel C. Levine, SUNSET BOULEVARD will star some incredible Broadway talent.

SUNSET BOULEVARD tells the magnificent tale of Norma Desmond, a silent-screen star living in her Sunset Boulevard mansion clinging to a fantasy that audiences still long for her, but in reality, hardly remember her. This seven time Tony Award winning masterpiece has been called Andrew Lloyd Webber’s finest scores and weaves a compelling tale of romance, obsession, and faded glory.

ACT of CT’s Artistic Director Daniel C. Levine says, “I have wanted to direct SUNSET BOULEVARD for quite some time, and I am extremely excited for this show to open ACT of CT’s 6th season. SUNSET BOULEVARD is a remarkably sophisticated musical with unforgettable and complex characters and a score that is totally thrilling. Our cast, led by the incomparable Pearl Sun, is second to none and I can’t wait for our audiences to experience this exquisite show. With a cast of 19 actors and an orchestra of 11 musicians, our SUNSET BOULEVARD is going to be a stunning and unforgettable production.”

ACT of CT’s SUNSET BOULEVARD will star Pearl Sun (Broadway’s Come From Away and Next to Normal) as Norma Desmond, Michael Burrell (An American in Paris, Beauty & The Beast) as Joe Gillis, and Helen J. Shen (Mamma Mia, The Lonely Few) as Betty Schaefer. The cast includes William Aaron Bishop (Anastasia), Pragun Bhardwaj (ACT of CT’s The Secret Garden), Claire Fossey (In The Heights), Jasmine Gobourne (ACT of CT’s Guys and Dolls), Gary Harger (Les Miserables), Amanda Hunter-Finch (The Sound Of Music), Conor McGiffin (Annie), Victoria Madden (Anastasia), Matthew Marvin (The Little Mermaid), Val Moranto (ACT of CT’s The Secret Garden), Mac Myles (Children of Eden), Daniel Pahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Emily Solo (Jersey Boys), Liz Schmitz (An American in Paris), Will Stone (Man of La Mancha), Andrew Winans (A Chorus Line).

SUNSET BOULEVARD has book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and is based on the 1950 film of the same title. The ACT of CT production of SUNSET BOULEVARD will be directed by Daniel C. Levine, with music supervision/direction by ACT of CT’s Grammy nominated Bryan Perri. The show’s choreographer will be Sara Brians, with scenic design by David Goldstein, costume and wig design by Kurt Alger, lighting design by Charlie Morrison, sound design by Marisa J. Barnes, makeup design by Angelina Avallone, props supervision by Brendan McCann, and casting by The Casting Collaborative.

SUNSET BOULEVARD is rated PG-13 and will run from Thursday, October 26, 2023 through Sunday, November 19, 2023, with a special opening night performance. Performances are: Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm, Sundays at 2pm; with an additional performance on Sunday, November 5 at 7pm.

To purchase tickets for all performances please visit actofct.org or call the box office at (475) 215-5497. Senior / Student and Group pricing is available. For more information about ACT of CT, season subscriptions, education programs, sponsor/donor opportunities, ACT of CT’s First ACT! program, and other theatre-related news and announcements, visit actofct.org