Show Synopsis:
Joe Gillis is struggling to write another Hollywood screenplay and runs from the car repossession agents looking for his payments. He pulls into the garage of an old mansion, which turns out to belong to the former silent film star Norma Desmond. Norma was out of a job when talking pictures became popular but wants to return in a role much too young for her in a self-written film. Joe offers to revise the script for room and board, which takes several months. He begins to fall in love with a Paramount script editor named Betty, despite her engagement to his best friend Artie, but Norma falls for Joe and gives him a complete makeover. She becomes very controlling and forces him to stay with her and sleep with her. Norma realizes that Joe is infatuated with Betty, but Joe realizes that Norma could do harm to Betty and tells Betty to stay with Archie. He tries to leave Norma?s house to return to his family home in Ohio and tells her she will never be a star again, and Norma shoots him. The police arrive to arrest Norma as she descends even further into insanity.	

Character:
Norma Desmond, a middle-aged and rich eccentric former silent film star; obsessed with fame and her fans but also longs for romance; Joe Gillis, a young and clever struggling screenwriter

Song Context:
Joe is realizing that Norma is starting to develop romantic feelings for him and he is uncomfortable with this. Norma leads him in a tango in celebration of the new year while Joe tries to figure out a way he can go to his friend?s New Year?s party instead.

Fun Facts:
1) This musical was based on the 1950 film of the same name, which is based on real-life experiences of silent film stars who lost work when Hollywood started concentrating on making talking films.
2) Patti LuPone and Betty Buckley both played Norma during different parts of the original West End run of the musical and were both nominated for Olivier Awards for their performances. Neither of them won the award.
3) The character of Norma is rumored to have been based on the real-life Norma Talmadge, a silent film star who struggled with the rise of talkies and became a wealthy recluse when no one was interested in working with her anymore.