Podcast Summary: The Broadway Show: Uncut Episode: Nicole Scherzinger is Ready for Her Close-up! Plus, 'The Hills of California'
Release Date: December 9, 2024

Introduction

Hosted by Tamsen Fadal, "The Broadway Show: Uncut" returns with an expansive episode featuring two significant interviews. The episode delves into Nicole Scherzinger's groundbreaking role in the reimagined musical "Sunset Boulevard" and explores the creative minds behind the new play, "The Hills of California," with playwright Jez Butterworth and actress Laura Donnelly.

Segment 1: Nicole Scherzinger's Broadway Debut in "Sunset Boulevard"

Host Transition: Tamsen Fadal sets the stage (00:05) by introducing the episode's focus on Nicole Scherzinger's role in "Sunset Boulevard," a stripped-down version of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

Interview with Nicole Scherzinger: Paul Wontorek initiates the conversation (00:35) by acknowledging Nicole's realization of her childhood dream to perform on Broadway.

• Nicole on Fulfilling a Dream (00:39-00:59):

  "Yes, this is my childhood dream. It's crazy. A lot of people don't realize that I grew up loving the theater and musical theater and I always dreamed of coming to Broadway." – Nicole Scherzinger

• Discussing Dream Roles and "Sunset Boulevard" (01:19-02:00): Paul references Nicole's Olivier Award, noting her initial surprise that it wasn't for her dream roles like "Miss Saigon." Nicole reflects on how embracing Norma Desmond feels destined:

  "I just feel like it was written for me." – Nicole Scherzinger (01:20)

• Behind-the-Scenes Rigors (02:00-03:22): Nicole humorously describes her commitment to the role, highlighting the physical demands and immersive experience:

  "You need to clean these gloves. If someone were to walk into my shower, it looks really scary." – Nicole Scherzinger (03:05)

Insights on the Production: Nicole praises director Jamie Lloyd's vision to strip down the production, allowing for a deeper emotional connection with the story:

"It's just our talents really that are up there. I mean, also the most unbelievable lighting." – Nicole Scherzinger (06:06)

Exploring Character Depth and Audience Connection: Nicole discusses the relevance of Norma Desmond's character beyond mere age and fame, touching on universal themes of loneliness and abandonment:

"It's about the human story and the human journey and the battle that so many of us go through." – Nicole Scherzinger (12:28)

Personal Reflections and Aspirations: Nicole shares heartfelt acknowledgments of her family's influence and her humble beginnings, linking them to her portrayal of Norma:

"My mother is my everything. She sacrificed everything for me her whole life." – Nicole Scherzinger (15:00)

Broadway Journey and Future Aspirations: Recalling her early theater experiences, Nicole emphasizes the long journey to Broadway stardom and her dreams of creating her own musical:

"My ultimate dream is to create my own musical. I've had that in my heart and my mind for the past 10 years." – Nicole Scherzinger (22:58)

Experiencing Standing Ovations: Nicole describes the profound connection with the audience during performances, highlighting the emotional exchange:

"It's a really magical and powerful exchange I think then between myself and the audience." – Nicole Scherzinger (24:30)

Notable Quotes:

• "Sometimes you think, is it ever going to come? ... all the patience and the pushback and the pain was for a reason." – Nicole Scherzinger (21:53)
• "We need to clean these gloves." – Nicole Scherzinger (03:05)
• "I fell madly in love with her [Norma Desmond]." – Nicole Scherzinger (08:55)

Segment 2: "The Hills of California" with Jez Butterworth and Laura Donnelly

Transition to Play Discussion: Tamsen Fadal introduces the second interview segment featuring Jez Butterworth and Laura Donnelly discussing their latest play, "The Hills of California" (26:06).

Inspiration Behind the Play: Jez acknowledges the personal influences from Laura’s family, blending them with his own experiences of pain and trauma:

"It's a stew of all sorts of pain, trauma, and loss from my side of the equation." – Jez Butterworth (26:49)

Accessing Deep Emotions in Acting: Laura Donnelly emphasizes the natural integration of accessing emotional depths as an actor:

"That's the best part of acting. ... It is the job." – Laura Donnelly (27:14)

Writing Process and Development: Jez elaborates on his writing process, highlighting the long gestation periods and collaborative read-throughs with actors:

"It's a waking dream." – Jez Butterworth (28:41)

Character Development and Themes: The play centers on grief, both personal and aspirational, exploring how unfulfilled dreams impact the characters:

"I'm fascinated by how people build up to the realization and then accept the failure." – Jez Butterworth (31:25)

Depiction of Female Characters: Laura discusses the nuanced portrayal of motherhood, focusing on universal parental desires rather than the trope of the "momager":

"She wants them to go out into the world and lead magical lives." – Laura Donnelly (30:10)

Integration of Musical Elements: Jez highlights the role of rock and roll in the play's setting, reinforcing the era's cultural impact:

"I am obsessed with rock and roll, and it felt right to set something just before and after its explosion." – Jez Butterworth (39:01)

Collaborative Dynamics: Laura and Jez reflect on their collaborative relationship, ensuring characters are not tailor-made but organically developed:

"It's not written for me, it's written for him. And then I have to go in." – Laura Donnelly (36:34)

Notable Quotes:

• "It's a way out for her children." – Laura Donnelly (30:08)
• "It's our authentic self by telling our story." – Nicole Scherzinger on her Broadway experience (22:00)
• "I think that when you pour out everything, you really are there to be a vessel." – Nicole Scherzinger (24:30)

Conclusion

Tamsen Fadal wraps up the episode by directing listeners to broadway.com for tickets and more information about the featured shows (41:22). The episode offers an in-depth look into Nicole Scherzinger's transformative Broadway role and the creative process behind "The Hills of California," providing valuable insights for theater enthusiasts and aspiring performers alike.

Key Takeaways:

• Nicole Scherzinger's role in "Sunset Boulevard" marks a significant milestone, blending her pop star background with classic Broadway theater.
• The stripped-down production emphasizes emotional depth and character connection, highlighting Nicole's versatile talents.
• "The Hills of California" delves into themes of grief and unfulfilled dreams, with strong influences from the personal lives of both playwright Jez Butterworth and actress Laura Donnelly.
• The collaborative and organic approach to character and script development underscores the authenticity and emotional resonance of the new play.

Recommended For: Listeners who are passionate about Broadway, fans of Nicole Scherzinger, aspiring actors, and anyone interested in the creative processes behind successful theatrical productions.