Sunset Boulevard (1993) is just one of the many well-known musicals composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, although it was not nearly as successful at the box office as some of his earlier hits that achieved unparalleled ticket sales. The musical is based on a film of the same name, by Billy Wilder, that told the Hollywood story of an over-the-hill, former silent screen star and the young, unsuccessful writer that she ensnares for her own gains.

Joe Gillis is the name of this unfortunate writer who, while avoiding creditors, accidentally crashes his car into the driveway of a large estate on Sunset Boulevard. This is the house of Norma Desmond, the former movie star, who is now 50 years old, but still believes that she is due for a resurgence in popularity. At first, she keeps Joe at her home for the purposes of helping her with a script that she has written. Joe secretly knows that this script is terrible, but he needs money, so he goes along with the idea. Meanwhile, Norma is falling in love with the much younger man, and begins to shower him with lavish gifts that she can afford. Joe senses that Norma has other intentions than the script, and means to leave the house for good. This causes Norma to attempt suicide, which moves Joe to stay. Eventually, tensions boil over and Joe is about to leave Norma. She will not allow this, though, and kills him.

The musical's world premiere was held in London at the Adelphi Theatre on July 12, 1993, with Patti LuPone in the starring role of Norma Desmond. Joe Gillis was portrayed by Kevin Anderson. This British production was moderately successful for a Lloyd Webber show, lasting for three and a half years before its closure. Sunset Boulevard was first seen in America at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles on December 9, 1993, before its tenure on Broadway. In this American production, Glenn Close appeared as Norma while Alan Campbell played the part of Joe. Prior to its Broadway premiere, Sunset Boulevard achieved the highest amount of advance sales in the history of American theater, making over $37 million before it even opened in New York. It then premiered on Broadway at the Minskoff Theater on November 17, 1994, with Close remaining in the lead role.

Lloyd Webber, along with lyricist Tim Rice, scored his first hit musical with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1968), which surprised audiences with its fresh, biblical subject matter. Next, the pair once again teamed up to create Jesus Christ Superstar (1971), another highly successful show with a religious subject. Rice and Lloyd Webber's final show together was Evita (1976), the hit musical based on the life of the Argentinean Evita Peron. After this, Lloyd Webber, on his own, composed the music for the outrageously successful Cats (1981) and Phantom of the Opera (1987). Lloyd Webber stands as one of the most successful musical composers of all time.

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