One last stroll down Sunset Boulevard: Tom Francis finishes his final lap in front of a Broadway crowd
Sadly, we’ve had to say goodbye!
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New York
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7 July 2025
Tom Francis completed his final Broadway victory lap last night, 6 July.
The Olivier Award-winner played his final performance in the revival of Sunset Boulevard.
Jamie Lloyd‘s production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber, Christopher Hampton, and Don Black’s musical received the 2025 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, and plays at the St James Theatre.
Having originated the role of Joe Gillis in this new production in the West End in 2023, Francis transferred stateside with the show the following year. There, he performed opposite his London co-stars: WhatsOnStage, Olivier, and Tony Award-winner Nicole Scherzinger as Norma Desmond, WhatsOnStage Award-winner Grace Hodgett Young as Betty Schaefer, and Olivier nominee David Thaxton as Max Von Mayerling.
As part of the show, Francis would open the second act by performing the title number outside with the video and audio beamed into the auditorium by a wonderful videography team – you can find out more about that here. In London, the show-stopping spectacle saw the actor walk the Strand, and in New York, down 44th Street.
Each night, the event has attracted a crowd, much like Lloyd’s West End staging of Evita, and Sunday’s performance was extra special, being the last one for Francis.
You can see videos taken by Broadway theatre fans below:
In addition, Scherzinger delivered a tearful farewell on behalf of the Sunset Boulevard family during the curtain call:
Pierre Marais, who understudied the role of Joe Gillis, will take over the role from Tuesday 8 July, through to the end of the production’s extended run on Sunday 20 July.
As well as playing Joe, Francis has also featured in Netflix’s You alongside ex-Cabaret star Madeline Brewer, and has adopted the alias of Soda Scout on TikTok. Some may say it has been more than a “Perfect Year” for the performer!
