Rachel Zegler Greets Fans atRomeo + JulietStage Door Dressed as Nicole Scherzinger inSunset Blvd.

Mar. 15, 2025

Rachel Zegler and Nicole Scherzinger.Photo:Valerie Terranova; Andy Henderson

Valerie Terranova; Andy Henderson

Rachel Zeglerhad a Halloween costume theater fans would die for.

In the ultimate nod, Zegler, 23, mimicked the costumeNicole Scherzingerwears while playing Norma Desmond in Jamie Llyod’s revival ofSunset Blvd.—though her costume wasn’t Scherzinger as Desmond; it was Scherzinger signing autographs while in Desmond drag after the first preview performance ofSunset Blvd. on Broadway back in September.

Rachel Zegler as Nicole Scherzinger at the stage door for ‘Romeo + Juliet’ on Broadway.Valerie Terranova

Valerie Terranova

PEOPLE covered Scherzinger’s moment at the time. Barefoot and drenched in fake blood as she is at the end of the show, the Grammy-nominated songstress made history with her move, marking the first time she’d appeared as Desmond at the stage door, even after her time in the role in London’s West End.

The pics soon went viral, with theatergoers eating it up. And now, Zegler has gotten in on the fun.

“What do u mean ur nicole scherzinger as norma desmond at the stagedoor after the first preview of sunset boulevard on broadway,” she captioned a gallery of pictures from the evening.

In the pictures, it’s clear how happy the reference made Zegler’s fans, many cheering as she posed in her own black slip dress with blood smeared down her body. “THIS IS TOO GOODDD OMGGG,” one commented, while another said, “Once a theater kid, always a theater kid.”

Nicole Scherzinger at Heidi Klum’s 23rd Annual Halloween Party at Hard Rock Hotel New York on Oct. 31, 2024 in New York City.TheStewartofNY/WireImage

TheStewartofNY/WireImage

Coincidentally, Scherzinger, 46, was out of the town on Thursday night, too, also in her blood Desmond ensemble. She made an appearance on the red carpet at Heidi Klum’s 23rd Annual Halloween Party, which took please at the Hard Rock Hotel New York.

Earlier this month, Scherzinger revealed how fans could recreated her hauntingSunset Blvd. look for Halloween, tellingPaul WontorekfromThe Broadway Show with Tamsen Fadalthat “you could probably do it in 15 bucks or something.”

“All you need is a black slip, you don’t even need shoes. Put some slides on just to be safe to get from one place to the next. You don’t need any jewelry. Norma doesn’t wear jewelry because she’s a sleep walker.”

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As for the spookiest part of the ensemble, the star revealed that the Broadway production uses corn syrup for fake blood for it’s really rich consistency.

“Just really dress that blood across the clavicle and the chesticles,” she said. “And a tip: put the blood in the palms of your hands, and then put it in your mouth and then just let your hands come all the way down your body. “And there you go. That’s your Norma.”

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Rachel Zegler during the opening night curtain call for “Romeo + Juliet” on Broadway at The Circle in the Square Theatre on Oct. 24, 2024 in New York City.

Both Zegler and Scherzinger made their Broadway debuts in their respective productions, each earning rave reviews (and a 6-minute standing ovation for Scherzinger on opening night).

They also both finish their shows covered in fake blood, Zegler’s across her torso after Juliet meets her tragic end.

Romeo + Juliet, also starringKit Connor, is playing a limited run at the Circle in the Square Theatre, whileSunset Blvd. is open at the St. James Theatre.

source: people.com