Honestly, walking into the St. James Theatre to see the Nicole Scherzinger Broadway show, you kinda expect the usual. You know the drill: big velvet curtains, a massive spiral staircase, maybe some 1950s glamour. But Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Sunset Boulevard is basically the opposite of that. It’s a fever dream. It’s minimalist. It is, quite literally, drenched in blood and black-and-white cinematography.
And Nicole? She isn't just "playing" a role. She’s giving a performance that feels like it’s been boiling inside her for twenty years.
What’s the vibe of the Nicole Scherzinger Broadway show?
If you’re looking for a traditional night at the theater, this might throw you for a loop. There are no sets. Like, none. No "mansion on Sunset." No ornate furniture. Just a massive LED screen, a lot of smoke, and some handheld cameras that follow the actors around like they're filming a gritty A24 indie flick.
The show tells the story of Norma Desmond, a silent film star who’s been tossed aside by Hollywood. She meets Joe Gillis (played by the incredible Tom Francis), a broke screenwriter, and she basically holds him hostage in her delusional world.
What makes the Nicole Scherzinger Broadway show so different is the technology. Director Jamie Lloyd uses live video projections. You’re watching the actors on stage, but you’re also watching giant, high-definition close-ups of their faces on a screen above them. It’s weirdly intimate. You see every tear, every twitch of Nicole's lip, and yeah, every drop of that fake blood at the end.
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Why Nicole Scherzinger is actually perfect for Norma
People were skeptical. I get it. "The lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls doing Andrew Lloyd Webber?" But here’s the thing: Nicole gets it. She knows what it’s like to be at the top of the pop world and then have the industry start looking for the next younger, shinier thing.
She brings this raw, almost animalistic energy to the stage. When she sings "With One Look" or "As If We Never Said Goodbye," she isn't just hitting the notes—though her voice is absolutely massive, sounding almost like Whitney Houston in her prime. She’s singing for her life.
There’s this meta-layer to the whole production. Norma is obsessed with her "close-up," and because of the cameras on stage, Nicole is literally getting a 40-foot-tall close-up every night. It’s meta, it’s camp, and it’s surprisingly heartbreaking.
The Act II Opening: You have to see it to believe it
Usually, during a Broadway intermission, you grab a $20 glass of wine and wait for the lights to dim. But the start of Act II in the Nicole Scherzinger Broadway show is legendary. Tom Francis (as Joe) starts singing the title song "Sunset Boulevard" while he’s literally backstage.
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The camera follows him through the wings, past the dressing rooms—you even see a Pussycat Dolls poster on the wall as a wink to the audience—and then he walks out the stage door onto 44th Street. He’s singing live on the streets of New York City while being projected back onto the screen inside the theater. People on the sidewalk are just staring at him. It’s chaotic. It’s brilliant. Then he walks back inside, through the lobby, and back onto the stage without missing a single beat.
Is it worth the hype (and the ticket price)?
Look, theater purists kinda hate this version. They miss the "maximalism" of the original 1990s production. They want the big gowns and the fancy sets.
But if you want something that feels like 2026—something that uses tech to actually say something about fame and how we’re all obsessed with our own "image"—this is it. It’s dark. It’s sexy. It’s monochromatic.
A few things to know before you go:
- The Venue: It’s at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th St).
- The Cast: Along with Nicole, you’ve got Tom Francis as Joe, David Thaxton as Max (the butler), and Grace Hodgett Young as Betty. They all moved over from the London production because they’re that good.
- Content Warning: There’s blood. Like, a lot of it. And strobe lights. It’s intense.
- The Score: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music is played by a massive 27-piece orchestra. It sounds lush and heavy, like a film noir soundtrack.
How to get tickets for the Nicole Scherzinger Broadway show
Tickets aren't exactly cheap, but there are ways to see it without selling a kidney.
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- Digital Lottery: You can try the Lucky Seat lottery. It’s $45 if you win, but it’s a gamble.
- Rush Tickets: The St. James box office does in-person rush for $45 when they open at 10 AM. You gotta get there early, though.
- The "Mandy" Factor: Nicole doesn't do every single show. Broadway vet Mandy Gonzalez guest stars as Norma at certain performances (usually certain matinees or specific weeknights). If you specifically want to see Nicole, double-check the cast schedule on the official site before you hit "buy."
Honestly, even if you aren't a "theater person," this show is an experience. It’s less like a play and more like a high-art music video happening in real-time. Nicole Scherzinger has finally found the role she was born to play, and Broadway is better for it.
If you're planning a trip to see it, try to snag a seat in the Mezzanine. Because of the huge video screens and the way Jamie Lloyd uses the stage floor, you actually get a better view of the "movie" aspect of the show from a little further back than you do in the front row of the orchestra. Plus, you’ll be able to see the pop of color that happens at the very end—I won’t spoil it, but it’s the only time the show breaks its black-and-white rule, and it’s a total jolt to the system.
Check the official Broadway social channels for "Nicole-on" dates to ensure you see the main star, and keep an eye on TodayTix for last-minute inventory drops.