Phantom Star Sierra Boggess Reveals Her Childhood Dream of Playing Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard

Valentine’s Day is a yearly celebration of love—so what better way to mark the holiday than by asking stage stars to reminisce about the first musical that sparked their love of theater? Read on on for a treasure trove of musical memories and inspirational stories from your favorite Broadway actors. Kicking off the series is one of our favorite young leading ladies, who even kept a newspaper clipping to prove her love!

SIERRA BOGGESS (Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera)

The musical that sparked my love of theater:
Sunset Boulevard!!! It was the first cast recording I ever owned (the Patti LuPone version).

My introduction to this musical was:
It was the very first musical I ever saw (live). The touring production came through Denver, and my parents took my sisters and me to see it. I couldn't believe it! I was 15 at the time, and I remember picking out this beautiful blonde girl in the chorus and thought "I want to be HER in the show!" I honestly did, I just wanted to BE in the show!

To this day, when I hear or see the show I…
…immediately begin to sing along! It's hard not to, I think it's SUCH gorgeous music, and the lyrics are brilliant. I have that show ingrained in my memory forever.

The most memorable production I’ve seen of the musical is:
The only production I've seen is the tour that came through Denver. It starred Linda Balgord, who I met when I was doing The Little Mermaid. I freaked out on her and told her how SHE was my Norma Desmond! You never forget your first musical and I remember every detail of that production. I had never seen a SET like that, or heard music like that.

The closest I came to performing in this musical was:
In my mind. :)

The last time I listened to the cast recording was:
It's been years since I've listened to it, but now I am going to put it on because this interview is making me sentimental for it! :)

The most romantic song from the show is:
Well, obviously, there's “Too Much in Love to Care.” I always loved the lyric: "If you were smart you would keep on walking out of my life as fast as you can,” because he KNOWS he can't be good for her, but they are already in too deep!! GAHHH!!

My dream cast of a Broadway revival would star:
I have to say this, I dream of one day, when I am old enough, giving my very best Norma Desmond! Oh yes, yes I do! And I hope my Betty Schaefer is one of the kids who have stage door-ed me and told me how they want to be on Broadway!

(Below, Boggess shares a prized newspaper clipping from the 1996 touring production of Sunset Boulevard —she still keeps it in her jewelry box!)