starlight express

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 1:33am

the touring production is in dallas right now. its pretty good!
webber has changed a few thing added new songs and re-wrote some of the old ones!

how did the set work on broadway and in london?? for the tour they do not go out into the audincene instead the races are in 3d. i screen comes down.

i was wondering why it did not do well when it was on broadway??
and is there a cast recording with jane k. and adrea mccardel?? thanks =)

[jo]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 8:39am

In London, the tracks were laid out at eye level around the first section in the stalls ( orchestra) as well as around the theatre (and linked to the stage) on the Dress Circle ( front mezzanine) level at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. I saw the revised show - very amusing and some of the songs were pretty good.

jo

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 8:42am

You would have to pay me SOO much to do that show. Racing on those skates is dangerous! :) :) :)


BTW, Joe Machota played Rusty in the Las Vegas production. :)
choo choo.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 8:50am

What is this show about?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 8:53am

Basically..... trains. That's about it. :)

[Amneris]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 9:17am

this was my first bway show!! I was 4 1/2 almost 5 wooo! I dont remember much accept people rollerskating who looked like robots. I still have my playbill though and I had no idea that so many people that are well known on bway now were in the show then.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 9:21am

I'm going to try and catch this show when it comes to Charlotte.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 2:10pm

If I had money I would catch that show when it comes to Cleveland! I would rather see Modern Millie when it comes.

[Bwaybabie]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 2:12pm

I thought Starlight Express had died. Why the need to fix the train?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 2:17pm

no, i don't think there is a broadway recording with jane and andrea.

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 6:20pm

someone that saw the show in london told me that the tracks that go behind the audience in the stall or somthing like that got cut because someone in the audience got hurt.is this true? she made it sound like the person that got hurt was sueing the show?? could somone please tell me if this is true or what the story is thanks:)

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 8/16/03 at 11:46pm

I want to see Starlight Express! I know a couple good songs from this show! =-)

[Paulie]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 2:01am

The evening I saw STARLIGHT EXPRESS in London was a good time. I remember leaving the Apollo Victoria (early 2001) thinking I kind of liked the show. Looking back, and listening to the music later, my opinions have completely shifted. It truly is an awful show with even worse music by ALW. Amusing to watch, but not at all great theatre.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 4:03am

Isn't it a musical based on "The Little Engine that Could"?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 5:47am

No. the Little Engine That Couldn't.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 8:21am

Didn't this show die already. Please let it die.

This piece of clanking metal should be sold for scrape.


Yours for a Broadway that doesn't C-L-A-N-G!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 3:32pm

Again, it is a show that wil introduce audiences to the theater. It has all the elements of a fmaily friendly show. And the 3d element sounds cool. I saw it in London and loved it. And I saw it in New York and Loved it. And I saw it during the first tour. And liked it. It is nothing more then a fun show. Just that.. fun fluffy silliness and some good voices and a couple fo fun songs.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 10:21pm

So, imagine that tour, the one you just liked rather than loved, and imagine the race taken out and replaced with a movie. What, I ask you, is the point of considering it a night at the theater, LIVE theater, if you end up watching a movie????

People with kids: spend your money on taking your kids to children's theater in your area. Lots of different shows! THAT will introduce them to and help them develop a love of live theater. OR, you could blow a lot of money on Starlight Non-Eq.spress.

Take your kids to see Spy Kids 3 if they MUST have a 3-D experience. As a matter of fact, take them to Rugrats Go Wild because it comes with a scratch and sniff card. That way you can have a movie experience that's SUPPOSED to stink.

Updated On: 8/17/03 at 10:21 PM

[Paulie]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 11:51pm

In my negative comments about STARLIGHT EXPRESS, I never meant to discourage people (i.e. kids, families, average theatregoers) from seeing the show. Like Jon says, the show is great entertainment and I recall initially liking the show.

The problem is that the show takes itself too seriously. There is plenty of up-tempo, flashy, fun stuff... but the ballads such as the highlight number "Starlight Express" are just silly.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 11:54pm

Paulie, you hit the nail on the head.

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 8/17/03 at 11:57pm

there are only 3 short 3d parts which are the races and they are like 3min long, its not that bad. the rest of the show is live. the crowds seem to like it that all that matters right?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/18/03 at 12:08am

It is amazing what you can do now -a- days with stuff like that (video and 3-d)... In the tour of Miss Saigon that just came to Baltimore (okay maybe 6 months ago)-- they used a video screen/3-d image sort of thing for the helicopter and I thought it was very well done. And I do believe that the SE that toured had video.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/18/03 at 9:15am

That seems to make sense to me. Not everybody can afford to land an actual helicopter on stage. But that's just a small part in the plot. Starlight is "about" that train race. It made its reputation on "it's not very good but the track and the people skating around the theater is very impressive." Honestly, most people who liked that show seemed to say that. So, why take that element out? If you're going to go to the trouble to make a movie, just make a movie.

My other point was take your kids to a movie, or take them to children's theater. They'll either become enthralled or not.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/18/03 at 11:24am

I worked for a theater and did many many children's shows. And I felt that 80 percent of the kids who were there enjoyed it. Long live children's theater....

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 8/18/03 at 11:44am

I don't think there's anything in 'Starlight' to appeal to children. It's loud and unclear and the musical styles are not the sort of music that appeals to kids.

I know they thought they were making a show for children but they really did a poor job. Even 'Cats' has a simple fun that kids might enjoy and big, well-drawn characters. 'Starlight' just has a bunch of people on roller skates looking like something out of an 80's STYX video.