Joanna Ampil lands dream role in Philippine staging of ‘Sunset Boulevard’

MANILA, Philippines — For her return to the Manila musical theater scene, Joanna Ampil is taking on one of the most iconic and coveted roles in musical theater — Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard.”

The internationally acclaimed Filipina stage actress will headline the Philippine premiere of the award-winning musical, which is set for a limited run from August to September 2027 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

The casting, officially announced by producer CueCraft Entertainment yesterday, marks Joanna’s first musical production in Manila since “Waitress” in 2018. It also fulfills a longtime dream for the actress, whose career in entertainment has spanned more than three decades to date.

In an exclusive email interview with The Philippine STAR, Joanna spoke about her fascination with Norma Desmond, a former silent-film star who cannot accept that Hollywood has moved on without her.

More than the character’s larger-than-life personality and faded glamour, it is Norma’s vulnerability that Joanna hopes to bring out in her portrayal.

“Norma is one of those iconic roles that I’ve always wanted to play. Similar to Grizabella in ‘Cats,’ she’s not just faded glamour. Underneath that exterior, I want to show the human being, expressing her fragility and vulnerability.

“It’s important not to judge her; although her actions may seem outrageous to others, we must remember that this character was put on a pedestal at a young age, looked upon by millions, and simply cannot understand why and how the world moved on without her. She doesn’t know how to navigate life without an audience.

“So, I’d like the audiences to witness a story of ambition, power, and the refusal to surrender, and to balance that with her vulnerability, flaws and fragility.”

Based on Billy Wilder’s celebrated 1950 film, “Sunset Boulevard” follows Norma, a once-revered Hollywood star desperate to reclaim her place in the spotlight.

Her encounter with struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis, whom she sees as her ticket back to Hollywood, sets off a relationship driven by ambition, obsession and dangerous illusions.

Norma’s fear of becoming irrelevant or being forgotten is something Joanna understands.

“Having been a performer for a number of decades, I’ve seen and experienced the highs and lows, as well as the changing seasons, in one’s career and all the pressures that go along with it. This understanding gives me an insight into the world that Norma inhabits,” she told this writer. 

“Particularly in this industry, I have learned that there’s always that fear of being forgotten or of struggling to remain relevant, but reinvention and an openness to new ideas are personally more interesting. I think the real challenge is learning to separate who you are as a person from what you do for a living. The roles may come and go, but the artist continues to evolve.”

The actress also believes that Norma’s story stays relatable, even more than seven decades after the original film, given its depiction of how women in show business are often judged according to their age and appearance.

“Unfortunately, it is still relevant because of the pressures that women face today. Age and appearance still go hand in hand. Although it is changing, it is still very much a part of our culture,” she lamented.

“Ageing is not a tragedy; it’s when you’re made to feel that getting older diminishes your worth that it becomes a tragedy. Age hones the craft, enriches one’s knowledge, and comes with years of experience. It’s an asset, not a disadvantage.”

Of course, Joanna is no stranger to fleshing out complex female characters onstage. Her international theater credits include Kim in “Miss Saigon,” Éponine and Fantine in “Les Misérables,” Grizabella in “Cats,” Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and Carlotta in “The Phantom of the Opera.”

She also made theater history as the first woman to portray The Engineer in a reimagined production of “Miss Saigon” in Sheffield, England.

On the big screen, she earned Best Actress honors at the Metro Manila Film Festival and Gawad Urian for her portrayal of Candida in the musical film “Ang Larawan.”

But “Sunset Boulevard” holds a special place in her heart, having been, as mentioned earlier in this story, a longtime fan of both the film and the stage musical.

The upcoming production is also a homecoming of sorts for her — a welcome opportunity to reconnect with local theater audiences after years of performing on stages overseas.

“This is my first time back since ‘Waitress,’ which was staged in 2018. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a musical in Manila, and so much has happened since. I’d like to think I’ve grown as an artist and performer in the eight years I’ve been away, and there is nothing more appropriate than coming back home to do a show such as this. I’ve been a huge fan of the movie with Gloria Swanson and the musical after seeing it for the first time in the 1990s with Petula Clark and again with Glenn Close a few years later.

“Apart from what’s been mentioned, this is also a story of power, delusion and refusing to let go. I hope the audience will be captivated by her presence and the grandeur of the show (because it will look lavish and beautiful) but will also leave the theater feeling for her, knowing that all she wants is to be loved, valued,and remembered.

“I’d like them to enjoy the score, because ‘Sunset’ has one of the most beautiful scores of all time, and to leave the theater having feasted their eyes and ears on everything they’ve just witnessed. This marks my fourth Andrew Lloyd Webber show, and I couldn’t be happier to have this ticked off my bucket list.”

The Philippine production will be directed by Nelsito Gomez and will feature Filipino and international cast members and creatives, with an original staging created especially for local audiences.

Featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton, the musical has received numerous Tony and Laurence Olivier Awards throughout its history.

Among the actresses who have earned major theater honors for portraying Norma Desmond are Close, and the Filipino-American artist and former Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger.

Its celebrated score features With One Look, As If We Never Said Goodbye, The Perfect Year and the title number, Sunset Boulevard.

“Sunset Boulevard” is presented by CueCraft Entertainment by arrangement with LW Entertainment Ltd. It is scheduled to run from Aug. 18 to Sept. 12, 2027, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. Tickets are available through TicketWorld.