Tom Francis is Ready To Be on Broadway In SUNSET BLVD

By far one of the most buzzed about performances around town is Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Sunset Blvd. Starring Nicole Scherzinger, the production comes direct from a smash hit run at London’s Savoy Theatre. Tom Francis, new to the scene, stars as Joe Gillis and is eager to make his Broadway debut with this show. 

I recently caught up with Francis prior to his first preview to chat all things Broadway, crafting the show with his new cast, and his obsession with upstate New York. 

Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Theatrely: How’s New York been treating you?

Francis: I love this city. I definitely feel like it's different energy to London but it feels really exciting putting on a show in this city. There's a big buzz in the air, and I'm thrilled to be making my Broadway debut with this show.

When did you hear that the show would be coming to Broadway?

I can't really remember the exact time, but it was quite early on in the run. And it was a categorical yes, straight away. Of course, like everyone, I've always wanted to come to Broadway and I just really love this show, and really believe in it. So to be able to bring it over and redo it is brilliant.

Were you familiar with the musical prior to London?

I knew a few of the songs from the show from drama school, so I knew a few of the big hits. But I wasn't incredibly familiar with it. I just knew that I'd always wanted to work with Jamie and doing one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's shows is just excellent.

Rehearsals have been going well?

This cast is insane. It's a lovely energy in the room and on the stage. It's different from London, but not in a bad or good way, just different. It feels like a different show and that is what's really exciting. We aren't just recreating what we did over there, we are making it our own, and that's what makes it feel so special. We are all having such a blast.

It's just. I mean, it's just a different energy. It's a different show. It feels like it's a different show. And that's really fun. That's really exciting. Do you know what I mean? We're not trying to recreate it, but we are recreating it. But we're recreating with different bodies. I mean, being, understanding that everyone's different and playing to everyone's strengths, which I think this show, which is what I think makes the show so special. We're having a blast at rehearsals.

It’s a rare treat that we see the full principal cast transfer over from a London production. What is it like that you all are coming over together?

They're the most loving and kind and generous performers that I've worked with and they're fantastic. I know we are all equally as excited to come over here and integrate into the Broadway community because it's the most beautiful community. Everyone's so supportive of each other; everyone is so gassed to come over.

When you reflect back on your time in London, what memories come to mind?

I guess my favorite part of the show kind of has to be “Sunset Boulevard” because that's just so thrilling to do every single night. And I don't think I'll ever do that in the theater ever again. So that's really fun to do. One of my favorite memories was probably the first preview because no one knew what the show was. No one had any idea and I mean, we had like 7 or 8 standing ovations in the show in the first preview...and that's unheard of over there.

When you're coming over to recreate, bring over this production that is so critically lauded, do you feel that pressure as you start to put it on its feet?

I think it's hard not to feel the pressure, but we've got an incredible captain of the ship. Jamie is great. And if you feel that pressure ever, literally one phone call with him will sort you out. My whole ethos when I'm doing a show is just blinkers on kind of, you know; I just try and block out all the noise and do the show that Jamie wants me to do.

I know you've had about 7 or 8 months off since your final performance over in London. Did you spend a lot of time thinking about the piece since then, or is it something you just try to block out?

No. In my mind I was like, I needed to not work on that. The only amount of prep that I did for the show was just looking at the script and just being like, these are my lines. I've already kind of created it, so I just want it to come into the room and have not made decisions on my own; I wanted this to be a group thing that we found together with the American cast and creatives. I wanted to find new things with them. So I didn't really think about the show at all.

This musical is such an American story. And I know this is your first time performing for American audiences in this type of way, but are you anticipating with the show?

Well, I've been told that there's going to be lots and lots of applause, which is always fun when you are up there on the stage. And in terms of the show, you could always tell when there were a lot of Americans at the show. There's loads of little references in the show that we would talk about. And it's not that London audiences didn't get them. It's just a different culture. And so I think they just hit home in a different way. I'm excited to see how the story lands over here.

When you think about making your Broadway debut, what comes to mind?

I think I'm most excited for the community. It seems like such a supportive, open community over here. I already have met so many people and they are all just so wonderful. Also it's a beautiful theater and like just being able to look out into that theater every night is a bit of a bit of a joke, isn't it? I mean, it's lovely. Eight times a week, being able to stand and look into arguably one of the most beautiful theatres that I've been in.

Can we talk about Nicole for a moment. I love the relationship that you two have crafted on stage together, tell me about working with her?

She comes in and she's just an exceptional human being. Do you know what I mean? And in every sort of sense of the word. Like if you meet her, she just has this thing about her, which is completely and utterly unexplainable, and she has an innate ability to be able to come into a room and just set a bar that everyone needs to come and step up to in the loveliest way. So being a scene partner with her is just amazing because if you're feeling tired or you're feeling a little bit knackered, she doesn't seem to have a concept of that. So she just always will come in and just set the bar. She just makes you want to always step up, in the best way possible; she just doesn't stop. She's brilliant, I love her so much.

And now you have Mandy joining as the alternate. What has that process been like?

She's wonderful. I'm really enjoying the show that we're finding together. I came early, just so we could form and see what our show together would be, which is great because it feels like Mandy has her own show. It's been so fun finding out what that is. She is remarkable.

On your days off, what are you most looking forward to doing here in New York and around town?

I have really gotten into this place called Bathhouse, which is like a spa. I love that place. So I go there quite a lot. I'm excited to just explore around a bit. I went upstate to the Rhinebeck area over Labor Day Weekend and I kind of fell in love with the area so I wanna explore more up there. But mostly just hang out, get out and explore and get deep into the American culture.

What’s one Broadway show you can’t wait to catch?

Very excited for Gypsy across the road from us. 

Sunset Blvd. is now in previews on Broadway and officially opens October 20, 2024. For tickets and more information, visit here. 

Theatrely’s 2024 Fall Preview is sponsored by The Broadway Cruise 3, setting sail to Cozumel, Mexico this March. To learn more, visit here.