Tom Francis might need been too younger to blast The Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha,” on the time of its launch, however he was properly conscious of who his Sundown Blvd. costar Nicole Scherzinger was.

“I knew them. I wasn’t the largest fan. I wouldn’t say I used to be a fan,” Francis, 25, completely advised Us Weekly after ending his efficiency on the opening night time of Broadway’s Sundown Blvd. earlier this month.

“[Scherzinger, 46,] at all times will get irritated at me as a result of I hadn’t watched considered one of her movies that acquired Grammy nominated. And she or he was like, ‘How have you ever not seen that?’ And I used to be like, ‘Sorry. I used to be rising up!’ Are you aware what I imply?” Francis joked.

In 2005, when The Pussycat Dolls had been of their prime after releasing their debut studio album PCD, Francis would have been 6 years previous.

Nonetheless, as he’s gotten a little bit older, Francis admitted to Us that “Buttons” is now his favourite track from the previous lady group.

Each Scherzinger and Francis gained Olivier Awards in April for his or her performances in The West Finish Theatre. Francis gushed to Us about what it was like working with the triple menace.

“She’s so beneficiant along with her time for me. And yeah, she simply holds me after I wanted to be held on stage, and in life as properly,” he stated. “She’s simply the loveliest girl.”

Director Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s stage adaptation of the 1950 movie Sundown Boulevard, follows the story of actress Norma Desmond (Scherzinger) who gained’t settle for that her profession isn’t as buzzy because it as soon as was, and in an effort to return to the highlight, she hires a screenwriter Joe Gillis, (Francis) to jot down a movie that may revive her standing.

Within the present’s second act, when Francis begins singing “Sundown Boulevard” earlier than he ventures out into the NYC streets for a reside efficiency of the quantity, there’s an image of The Pussycat Dolls in his dressing room. Lloyd, 43, made the choice to reference The Pussycat Dolls and stated Scherzinger cherished the concept as a result of she is “one of many funniest individuals [he’s] ever met.”

“She loves something that’s after we assume out of the field and shock audiences,” Lloyd stated.

“The manufacturing performs quite a bit with the concept of, ‘The place does Nicole Scherzinger finish, and Norma Desmond start?’ As a result of there are such a lot of similarities. And, in fact, Nicole actually connects to this function in a really explicit manner, a really deep manner,” Lloyd continued. “That is the sort of enjoyable available with blurring these traces…So, you’re sort of taking part in round with the concept. In a manner that it’s sort of enjoyable, however perhaps that’s as a result of we now have numerous enjoyable as an organization. So, everybody sort of brings that humorousness to the venture, other than anything.”

Lloyd additionally acknowledged the similarities between Scherzinger and her character, Desmond — that is the singer’s Broadway debut and, because of this, she is now receiving all the eye her expertise deserves.

“I didn’t know that Nicole was going to be the proper Norma, however I did know that she would have a connection to the fabric. So she is like Norma Desmond — somebody who has been extremely well-known, achieved nice fame, however then sort of was dismissed and discarded by an trade and by no means actually been given the chance to indicate the world what she might actually do,” Lloyd advised Us. “She’s an awesome, nice artist. An outstanding actor. An unimaginable world-class vocalist. And at last, she has a platform. I hope to indicate the world what she is able to attaining.”

Olivier nominee, David Thaxton — who performs Max Von Mayerling within the present — additionally gushed to Us about working with the Moana actress.

“I’ve a lot time for Nicole. She’s the toughest working actor I’ve ever labored with, Thaxton, 42, stated. “Her work ethic is staggering … she simply leaves herself on the stage.”

However relating to being a fan of Scherzinger’s work in The Pussycat Dolls, Thaxton jokingly replied, “God no. No, by no means.”

Since working along with her, Thaxton admits he’ll “not” return and hearken to his costar’s previous work within the lady group.

“Not my cup of tea in any respect. Nonetheless, she’s my cup of tea,” Thaxton stated. “I feel she’s epic. I’ve acquired a lot time for her. She’s a very inspiring individual.”

Sundown Blvd. is now taking part in on the St. James Theatre and the present’s solid album is out now.