College of Fine Arts and Design

April 6, 2011

The University of Central Oklahoma's Broadway Tonight Series and music theatre division will present the Oklahoma premiere of "Sunset Boulevard" at 7:30 p.m., April 12 - 14 and 2 p.m., April 15 at UCO's Mitchell Hall Theater.

"Sunset Boulevard," a Tony-award winning musical based on the 1950's film with the same title, is a show filled with romance and tragedy.  With book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Sunset Boulevard" is a modern classic in music theater.   

The plot revolves around the character Norma Desmond, a faded movie star of the silent screen era who tries to make her comeback to the big screen.  When she meets Joe Gillis, a young screenwriter, Norma sees him as an opportunity to get her movie career back on track, but her plans pan out differently than expected.

Central's production of "Sunset Boulevard" will feature various guest actors, all Central graduates who work professionally in theatre arts.  Cyndi Steele-Harrod will play "Norma Desmond," Jim Henline will play "Max Von Mayerling," and Terry Attebery will play "Cecil B. DeMille."

"I am so thrilled that our students will have the opportunity to perform alongside professional artists," said Greg White, director of the show and UCO's Broadway Tonight Series.

"Cyndi, Jim and Terry are all so wonderfully talented and have really been an inspiration to our students.  They are good examples of Central graduates who have made it," he continued.

The performance will also feature music played by a 27-piece orchestra comprised of Central students, faculty and professional musicians.

"The music is so lush and invokes such emotion in our actors and hopefully the audience as well.  If there is one show that shouldn't be missed this season, it's ‘Sunset Boulevard,'" White said.

Tickets are $20 for orchestra seating, $15 for balcony seating and $15 for all seating for students with a UCO student I.D.  To purchase tickets, call the Mitchell Hall Theater box office at (405) 974-3375.

For a complete listing of UCO College of Fine Arts and Design's events and performances, visit www.uco.edu/cfad/events.