Daily News from New York, New York • 2091

1 a ri CO 'o $1 4 million musical op ens "Via lilllBl GLENN CLOSE in a scene from "Sunset Blvd." Close re-creates the role of Norma Desmond, made famous by screen idol Gloria Swanson By PATRICIA OUAIRE, PHIL ROURA and JANE FURSE Daily News Staff Writers Get ready for your Close-up. New York. Last night Glenn Close and her cast drove onto Broadway on Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset leaving a trail of intrigue, hype and gossip in their wake. The $14 million musical about a movie opened to a splash of lights, cameras, action, celebs and the largest advance sale in Broadway history -r $37.5 The show is a paean to the classic 1950 film that brought silent-screen star Gloria HOW IT PLAYS Read Howard Kissel's review PAGE 9 Swanson back to life to portray aging movie queen Norma Desmond. Now Close is assaying the role.

The began gathering early at the Minskoff Theatre to goggle at the VIPs, who included Billy Wilder the man who wrote the screenplay for the movie and directed it Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford, Helena Bon-ham Carter, Donna Hanover Giuliani (the mayor didn't make it), Ray Liotta, Stephanie-Powers, Ralph Lauren and George Steinbrenner. Giuliani unveiled a street sign renaming W. 45th St and Broadway "Sunset Blvd." for the occasion. Afterward, Lloyd Webber threw one of the most lavish opening night parties ever taking over the 64th and 65th floors of the Rainbow Room for a sit-down lobster, lamb and champagne dinner for L200. The bash cost him an estimated quarter-million dollars plus.

"Sunset" is the first new show of the pallid Broadway season but the second straight spectacle of the year. "Show Boat," an equally opulent presentation, opened Oct 2. "Show Boat" has a $75 top price compared with $70 for "Sunset" but both shows are sold out for months. Even after last night's spar- -kling no one knows rp 1 'X A 7 THEATERGOERS stand outside Minskoff Theatre, waiting to see the opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Sunset Blvd." notices. Faye Dunaway got the ax from the Los Angeles production when her lackluster voice failed to attract audi- ences.

Stoin. fwowaifn rtrtTftan amirwa i whether or not the "Boulevard" will be paved with gold or turn into tobacco road. Certainly it seems to be stained with the blood of a lot of stars, and the ink of a lot of less-than-rave reviews. It has been plagued by a public collision of egos, money and careers that seem almost to parallel what the musical is about. Patti LuPone, who played the role of played-out screen siren Desmond in London, got sacked after the West End.

production received, dismal Then there is the question of whether Lloyd Webber can recoup his whopping investment in the costliest Broadway show in history. The show costs $550,000 a week and will have to run for a year to recoup the startup costs. That soaring overhead includes Close's week salary. 1. a SAY CHEESE! Donna Hanover Giuliani (r.) and Minskoff Theatre co-owner Jimmy Nedertander pose with "Sunset Blvd." street sign used to rename the intersection of Broadway and 45th St.

yesterday. f- 11 which sways, rumbles and shakes. Burns said that the two prototype stores will each cost "several million dollars," but declined to be more specific. "The industry is somewhat fragmented and there are no, national players yet iuter viewtThTsl a situation similar to That video rental business is one that Blockbuster seized with a vengeance, eventually building more than 3,900 stores that propelled its sales above $3 billion. a handful of small re- gional companies have developed aduJt.euLertainmeiitcenters.

and big -players- such as 'Wfelt DisYiey OoV 'z 9 Coming to a Blockbuster near you: the latest in adult entertainment No, it's not the newest Hollywood film on video. It's a high-tech playground for grownups. Blockbuster Entertainment which revolutionized the way America rents videotapes, plans to roll out two. prolotypes-of -its-Block- Party-centers dot adulU Albuqaetque, N.M.7 and-fntiranapoiisr: V- The Block Party centers will be aimed at consumers aged 18 to 45 as ah alternative to a night at the movie theater or the corner bar, according to Bill Burns, president of Blockbuster's entertainment center unit The playgrounds will feature attractions such as. "Virtua Alley," a -virtual reality experieTiecof illusion I ami farrtasrid htSej- will be tSG Motion a simulator ride to Sega the inekKtryin the tptd the market.

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