Starlight Express
Encyclopedia
Starlight Express is a rock musical
Rock musical
A rock musical is a musical theatre work with rock music. The genre of rock musical may overlap somewhat with album musicals, concept albums and song cycles, as they sometimes tell a story through the rock music, and some album musicals and concept albums become rock musicals...

 by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...

 (music), Richard Stilgoe
Richard Stilgoe
Richard Henry Simpson Stilgoe OBE is a British songwriter, lyricist and musician. He is noted for clever wordplay as much as for his music....

 (lyrics) and Arlene Phillips
Arlene Phillips
Arlene Phillips OBE is an English choreographer, theatre director, talent scout, TV presenter, TV judge and former dancer, who has worked in many fields of entertainment...

 (choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...

), with later revisions by Don Black (lyrics) and David Yazbek
David Yazbek
David Yazbek is an American writer, musician, composer, and lyricist. He wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals The Full Monty , Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown ....

 (music and lyrics for the 2nd US tour). The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates. It is one of the longest running musicals in West End history with 7,461 performances, but the Broadway production only ran for 761 performances. It is the most popular musical show in Germany.
A new production will tour the UK in 2012, produced by Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer.He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club, an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool....

 Productions.

History

During the 1970s, Lloyd Webber planned a musical adaptation of Rev W. Awdry's Railway Series
The Railway Series
The Railway Series is a set of story books about a railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor. There are 42 books in the series, the first being published in 1945. Twenty-six were written by the Rev. W. Awdry, up to 1972. A further 16 were written by his son, Christopher Awdry; 14...

 books. After this fell through, with Awdry unwilling to give Lloyd Webber the creative control he wanted, Lloyd Webber re-conceived the idea as "a Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...

 story" in which Rusty stands for Cinderella, and Greaseball and Electra, the stepsisters, and the Starlight Express as the fairy godmother.

The music is mostly in the realm of disco and pop with a few pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...

 songs such as the Country and Western styled "U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
"U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D." is a popular song from the musical Starlight Express, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It is performed by Dinah the Dining Car, after being dumped by her macho boyfriend, Greaseball. It is a parody of the Tammy Wynette song,...

", love duet "Only You"
Only You (Pearl and Rusty)
"Only You" is the love duet from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by the protagonist, Rusty, a young steam locomotive and his true love, the observation car, Pearl.- Overview :...

 and the title song, "Starlight Express"
Starlight Express (song)
Starlight Express is the 'showstopper' number from the musical with the same name. In the show, it is performed by Rusty, the show's protagonist...

. In some ways this musical could be seen as more of a return to the style of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly...

, although the latter was more varied in its use of musical styles and influences.

Starlight has seen many stars in its cast, notably Jane Krakowski
Jane Krakowski
Jane Krakowski is an American actress and singer. She is most well known for her performance of Elaine Vassal on Ally McBeal, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and for her current role as Jenna Maroney on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, for which she has been nominated for three Emmy...

, Jeffrey Daniel
Jeffrey Daniel
Jeffrey Daniel is an American dancer, singer-songwriter and choreographer, most notable for being a member of the R&B vocal group Shalamar. In Nigeria he is best known as an Idol series judge...

 (of the R&B/disco group Shalamar
Shalamar
Shalamar was an American music group, primarily of the 1970s and 1980s, that was originally a disco-driven vehicle created by Soul Train booking agent Dick Griffey and show creator Don Cornelius. They went on to be an influential dance trio, masterminded by Soul Train producer Don Cornelius...

), Andrea McArdle
Andrea McArdle
Andrea McArdle is an American singer and actress best known for playing Annie in the Broadway musical Annie, as well as for her alto range and strong vocal belt.-Career:She was born in Philadelphia...

, Ray Shell
Ray Shell
Ray Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express...

, Stephanie Lawrence
Stephanie Lawrence
Stephanie Lawrence was a British musical theatre actress.-Background:Stephanie Lawrence was born in Hayling Island, Hampshire, the daughter of a singer and classically trained dancer.She was from an early age close friends with another Famous Islander Peter Chilvers who in 1958 invented the...

, Frances Ruffelle
Frances Ruffelle
Frances Ruffelle is an English musical theatre actress and recording artist. Her mother is Sylvia Young, the founder of the famous theatre school at which Frances trained, and her daughter is recording artist Eliza Doolittle. Her younger sister is actress Alison Ruffelle...

, John Partridge
John Partridge (performer)
John Partridge is an English actor, singer, dancer, panelist and television presenter, who is probably best known for the role of Christian Clarke in the long-running BBC television soap opera EastEnders, having joined the cast in January 2008...

, Rachel Wooding, Greg Ellis
Greg Ellis (actor)
Greg Ellis is an English actor known for his TV, movie, and video game voice over work. He has appeared in films such as the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the 2009 Star Trek film , Titanic, Beowulf, To End All Wars, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith...

, Martyn Andrews
Martyn Andrews
Martyn Andrews is a British television presenter, broadcast journalist, trained actor and singer.Born in Liverpool and having trained at Southport College, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and the No Sweat Journalism College both in London, Martyn has hosted a variety of lifestyle TV shows on...

, Reva Rice
Reva Rice
Reva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....

, Oliver Thornton
Oliver Thornton
Oliver Thornton is an stage actor and singer who is best known for his contributions to musical theatre in London's West End. He currently stars in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre.- Early life :...

, Jo Gibb
Jo Gibb
Jo Gibb is a Scottish theatre actress best known for her role of Rumpleteazer in the Cats video and as Pearl the Observation Car in Starlight Express...

, James Gillan
James Gillan (actor)
James Gillan is a Scottish stage actor born in Glasgow, and trained at The Arts Educational Schools in London....

 and Greg Mowry. The show is a spectacle, featuring live stunts by professional skaters and a large racetrack built around the audience.

Synopsis

The plot features around a group of toy railway trains, portrayed by actors on roller-skates, who come to life inside the mind of a small boy. The characters race to become the 'fastest engine in the world', and in the end, the underdog, Rusty
Rusty the Steam Engine
Rusty is a fictional character from the musical Starlight Express. He is the protagonist of the musical. Rusty is a steam engine, relegated to the sidings, who dreams of winning the Championship Engine of the World races. He is roundly mocked for this ambition, as steam is old fashioned, and...

, triumphs, winning the race and the heart of a beautiful observation car, Pearl
Pearl the Observation Car
Pearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...

.

Act One

The musical opens with the disembodied voice of Control (whom we never see), who is playing with his toy trains, ordering all trains to racing mode. As Control falls asleep, still murmuring his instructions, the Overture gently picks up. The music crescendos with the cast emerging in the half-dark to skate around the track, almost comes to a climax but is rudely interrupted by the opening crashes of "Rolling Stock". Greaseball
Greaseball the Diesel
Greaseball is a character in the rock musical Starlight Express. He is the alpha male of the train yard. He's self confident, suave and a heartbreaker. All the ladies loves him but Dinah is his main squeeze. He and his gang put Rusty down, breaking his spirits. He trips Rusty during one of the...

 and his Gang of diesel thugs pour onto the stage to sing their own praises, namely that they are rolling stock and very fast. Greaseball dares anyone to challenge him in a race – "this is my back view, and it's all you'll see".

Rusty
Rusty the Steam Engine
Rusty is a fictional character from the musical Starlight Express. He is the protagonist of the musical. Rusty is a steam engine, relegated to the sidings, who dreams of winning the Championship Engine of the World races. He is roundly mocked for this ambition, as steam is old fashioned, and...

, the steam train relegated to the sidings, enters, singing that nobody can do it like a steam train. Greaseball and his Gang intimidate him then leave, leaving him to sing his defiant "Call me Rusty" as he brings on the Coaches, dreaming of racing in the championship races and winning. The lyrics play on the ambiguity of "Rusty" being both an adjective and his name, with the theme of "call me Rusty if you like/call me rusty if you dare".

The Coaches question Rusty's ability to race – he isn't fast enough, he isn't strong enough. Rusty exits, leaving the Coaches to introduce themselves with the song "A Lotta Locomotion". Ashley
Ashley the Smoking Car
Ashley is the smoking car from Starlight Express, a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber which follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life. She's sweet and loving but has a bad habit when it comes to smoking...

 is a smoking car, who has tried to "kick the habit" but can't, Buffy
Buffy the Buffet Car
Buffy is the smart, sweet and sassy buffet car from Starlight Express. Buffy, being the most mature of the cars in most productions, usually gives the best advice she can when it's needed...

 the buffet car offers snacks that are "hot, and cheap, and quick", Dinah
Dinah the Dining Car
Dinah is the sweet, Southern and lovable dining car from Starlight Express. She is hopelessly in love with Greaseball and her best friend is Pearl the observation car. She races with Greaseball during the 1st Heat but when she complains about his cheating afterwards, he uncouples her and races...

 is a dining car who'll cook for you, and provide a willing ear for your problems. Pearl
Pearl the Observation Car
Pearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...

 is the "Brand new girl", who has agreed in the past to race with Rusty as his partner, but is now having reservations about his ability.

The posturing Greaseball returns, with the 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers (Joule and Volta in quickchange costumes) in tow. Together with the coaches, they all sing "Pumping Iron", another tribute to diesel's, and Greaseball's, greatness.

Rusty brings on the freight train, which consists of the three boxcar Rockies, Flat Top
Flat-Top the Brick Truck
Flat-Top is the brick truck from the musical Starlight Express. Often played as a punk, Flat-Top tries his hardest to be seen as the rebel without a cause. Still, underneath it all, he's actually a sweet and caring kind of guy. He idolizes Greaseball but doesn't see how mean Greaseball is until he...

, Dustin
Dustin the Big Hopper
Dustin is the Big Hopper in the musical Starlight Express. He is a gentle, kind-hearted soul who is very shy and very sensitive, especially about his weight. His closest friend is Flat-Top but he is also close to Rusty and the rest of the freight yard residents - the Rockies and Poppa. When Poppa...

 and C.B.
CB the Red Caboose
CB is a character from the musical Starlight Express. He's a crowd favourite but was removed from the New London and On Ice productions. He seems to have a split personality. Since he is the Caboose, he is willing to help the other trains with their work. Later on, he gets tired of helping them...

. After bickering with the Coaches, they introduce themselves with the song "Freight".

At the end of the number the national representatives
The National Engines
The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

 of France (Bobo), Italy (Espresso), Germany (Weltschaft), Russia (Turnov), Japan (Hashamoto) and Great Britain (The City of Milton Keynes) arrive, and line up to take their partners for the first heat, but before they can do anything there is a surprise late entry. The lights going out herald the arrival of Electra, the Electric Train, introduced by his five components- Krupp (an armaments truck), Wrench (a repair truck), Purse (a money truck), Volta (a freezer truck), and Joule (a dynamite truck). Electra is as much of a show-off as Greaseball. He sings his own praises in the song "AC/DC", superficially claiming that he can run on either Alternating Current or Direct Current, but also referring to the fact that he will take either male or female partners.

Now all the engines pair up with their racing partners, ready for the first heat. Electra sends a messenger to woo Pearl by proxy, inviting her to race with him. In her indecision over whom to race with, Pearl leaves Rusty unconnected, then sings him the energetic "He'll Whistle at Me" about the engine of her dreams, who is a steam train who whistles at her. She then goes off to race with Electra.

"Heat One" sees Greaseball and Dinah cheat, bully and force their way ahead of Hashamoto and Espresso, racing with C.B. and Buffy respectively.

Dinah isn't happy about cheating, and says as much to Greaseball. He knocks her to the floor and leaves her there, despite her pleas and apologies. C.B. congratulates the pair on a good race, then, seeing that Dinah is alone, sings her the much acclaimed ballad "There's Me".

Poppa
Poppa
Poppa is a character from the rock musical, Starlight Express. He's a steam engine like protagonist Rusty and is the oldest train of all. Control introduces him as "Ramblin' Poppa McCoy". He preaches of the Starlight Express, a god-like figure that will help those who call on him...

 enters to much fanfare from the Rockies to sing the blues. "Poppa's Blues" gives us a little tutorial on singing the blues, then Rusty appears, looking downtrodden. Poppa asks him what's wrong, and discovers that unless he can race with Pearl, Rusty is reluctant to race at all. To persuade him that he can still race and win, that there is still hope, Poppa introduces him to another carriage he can race with – Belle
Belle the Sleeping Car
Belle, the Sleeping Car is a character from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Starlight Express. She is an old sleeping car, who once raced with Poppa, and, like her former partner, has fallen on hard times in her age. She races with Rusty in heat 2, however they are beaten by Electra and Pearl...

, the sleeping car.

Belle, apparently asleep in a coal bunker, wakes and sings "Belle, the Sleeping Car", the story of her life. She formerly raced with Poppa. Rusty asks her to race with him, and she accepts.

In "Heat Two", Rusty loses to Electra (racing with Pearl) and Weltschaft
The National Engines
The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

 with Joule. Utterly disheartened, Rusty returns to the junkyard where Poppa entreats him to trust in the Starlight Express. Rusty, however, does not believe in the Starlight Express. To prove his existence, Poppa announces that he is going to race. There's just one problem – all the places for Heat Three are taken. Suddenly, and apparently through divine intervention, Control announces a vacancy – the British train has been scrapped. Taking this as a sign from the Starlight Express, Poppa pairs up with Dustin(the only freight truck who will go with him – Rocky I was partnered to the [City of Milton Keynes, and Flat Top refused) and races.

"Heat Three" is barely won by Poppa, with Bobo coming a close second and Turnov taking up the rear. Although he has won, the race nearly kills Poppa – there is no way he can race again in the final. He begs Rusty to take his place.
Unsure what to do, and not believing in its existence anyway, Rusty asks the Starlight Express for help with the song "Starlight Express".

Act Two

The act opens with "The Rap", in which the whole cast argue over the validity of Rusty's claim to Poppa's place. After all, he has already raced once and been disqualified – but on the other hand, Poppa has the right to name his successor. It is eventually decided that Rusty will race, rather than runner-up Bobo
The National Engines
The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

, partnered with C.B.
Greaseball, having dumped Dinah, now invites Pearl to switch sides and race with him instead of Electra. Declaring that it's "only fun", Pearl accepts.

Dinah sings about her newly-single state in the country and western style "U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
"U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D." is a popular song from the musical Starlight Express, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It is performed by Dinah the Dining Car, after being dumped by her macho boyfriend, Greaseball. It is a parody of the Tammy Wynette song,...

". She mourns that she will be the subject of ridicule from the other trains, but all the same, vows that she will never forgive Greaseball, or take him back.

Belle, Buffy and Ashley persuade her to cheer up and try to get her man back in "Rolling Stock: Reprise" by being more active, aggressive and manipulative. Shortly thereafter, Electra invites Dinah to race with him which, in the name of getting Greaseball jealous, she accepts.

C.B. meets with Electra, and reveals his psychotic and destructive nature with the song "C.B.", in which he admits to causing all the major train crashes in recent history. He agrees to fix the race so that Electra wins.

The "Uphill Final" is a dead heat between Electra and Greaseball, with Rusty held back by C.B, who caused him to miss a vital connection and thus the rest of the race. When Pearl discovers this and declares that she's going to the race marshall to tell them, Greaseball turns nasty on her and tells her that if she does that, she'll be disqualified herself. Lamenting that this wasn't how she wanted things to go, she stays quiet. C.B. taunts Rusty that he's no real engine, and never stood a chance in the first place.

Rusty doesn't get long to feel sorry for himself though, as the Rockies descend to tell him that that's just how things are – no matter how talented you are, if you aren't lucky, you'll never win. "Right Place, Right Time" is arguably a complaint about racism – the Rockies and both Steam trains are black, and are therefore at an automatic disadvantage.

Finally hitting rock bottom, Rusty once more begs the Starlight Express to help him, and this time, in the "Starlight Sequence", gets an answer. The Starlight Express appears and says that it will help him win, and that Rusty is, himself, the Starlight Express. Suddenly he has a lot of faith. As the music (the thwarted climax from the overture) dies away, Rusty hears coughing in the background. It is Dustin, the aggregate hopper. Rusty asks Dustin to race with him in the final race, and Dustin readily agrees.

Dinah is fed up with racing. She expects a train to whistle at her, and Electra doesn't, so she disconnects him ("He Whistled at Me" (reprise)). Unperturbed, Electra asks C.B. to race with him instead.

The "Downhill Final" sees Greaseball and Pearl, Electra and C.B. and Rusty and Dustin pitted against each other. Electra and Greaseball are not concentrating on the race, instead they are scrapping amongst themselves. Under cover of the row, Rusty takes the lead, only to lose it again when Greaseball realises that Pearl is holding him back and uncouples her, and Rusty stops to rescue her. But now Greaseball has no partner. The rules of the race state that each engine has to race with a coach. His only option is to try to take C.B. from Electra. The engines fight over him, allowing Rusty to take the lead and this time he keeps it and is the overall champion. Greaseball, Electra and C.B., meanwhile, veer into a tunnel and crash.

Pride beyond wounded, Electra staggers back onto stage, having somehow separated himself from Greaseball and C.B.- minus his wig – and rages about the unfairness of his losing. After singing the musical tirade, "No Comeback", he disappears from the musical, never to be seen again.

Greaseball and C.B. – what's left of them – trundle onto the stage to announce that they have had "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many". The entire cast (minus Rusty, Pearl, Poppa and Dustin) have a good laugh at them. Poppa then demands that Greaseball take them to where he left Pearl, as Rusty is bound to be there, and he hasn't claimed his title yet.

Pearl is alone, and sings the power ballad "Only He". Finally she realises that it was always Rusty that she should have been with, and worries that it may be too late to repair all the damage she has unwittingly caused; Rusty appears and forgives her instantly, and together they sing "Only You".

Then the rest of the cast descend upon them. Buffy and Ashley reflect on how lovely it is when they see romance on the railroad. Greaseball apologises to Dinah, and, forgetting her anger, she follows Rusty's lead, and instantly takes him back.

Poppa then tells Greaseball that he can be converted to steam, saying that he would then be under his own control – at which point Control orders the trains to obey him, and do what they're told. They tell him to shut it.

Poppa and Belle then lead the company in a rousing rendition of "Light at the End of the Tunnel", a gospel-inspired number singing the praises of steam power. The show then finished with the cast skating round the theatre, greeting the audience, to an orchestral reprise of "Light At The End of the Tunnel".

Characters

The Voice-over Characters
  • Control
    Control (Starlight Express)
    Control is a character from the rock musical Starlight Express. Although it is never stated one way or the other, it is often assumed that Control is a boy. He narrates the show, and commentates on the races. Some sources claim that he is a child of nine years, although there is nothing to confirm...

    , the young child in whose dream the story takes place.
  • Mom, Control's mother.
  • The Starlight Express – The midnight train, a representation of God.


The Engines
  • Rusty
    Rusty the Steam Engine
    Rusty is a fictional character from the musical Starlight Express. He is the protagonist of the musical. Rusty is a steam engine, relegated to the sidings, who dreams of winning the Championship Engine of the World races. He is roundly mocked for this ambition, as steam is old fashioned, and...

    , the steam engine who longs to enter the race and win.
  • Poppa
    Poppa
    Poppa is a character from the rock musical, Starlight Express. He's a steam engine like protagonist Rusty and is the oldest train of all. Control introduces him as "Ramblin' Poppa McCoy". He preaches of the Starlight Express, a god-like figure that will help those who call on him...

    , a retired champion Steamer.
  • Greaseball
    Greaseball the Diesel
    Greaseball is a character in the rock musical Starlight Express. He is the alpha male of the train yard. He's self confident, suave and a heartbreaker. All the ladies loves him but Dinah is his main squeeze. He and his gang put Rusty down, breaking his spirits. He trips Rusty during one of the...

    , the macho diesel locomotive and reigning champion.
  • Electra
    Electra the Electric Train
    Electra the Electric Engine is a fictional character from the rock musical Starlight Express.Electra is the newest train to enter the yard and, therefore, Control's newest toy. He comes with his own line of components that are loyal to him. He's rich, self-centered and sexy. His eyes are set on...

    , the new challenger, described by Control as "the Engine of the Future".


The Coaches
  • Pearl the Observation Car
    Pearl the Observation Car
    Pearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...

    , the newest 1st class observation coach who instantly catches Rusty's attention and eventually falls in love with him.
  • Dinah the Dining Car
    Dinah the Dining Car
    Dinah is the sweet, Southern and lovable dining car from Starlight Express. She is hopelessly in love with Greaseball and her best friend is Pearl the observation car. She races with Greaseball during the 1st Heat but when she complains about his cheating afterwards, he uncouples her and races...

    , sweet, southern
    Southern United States
    The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...

     and lovable Dining car. Best friend to Pearl.
  • Ashley the Smoking Car
    Ashley the Smoking Car
    Ashley is the smoking car from Starlight Express, a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber which follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life. She's sweet and loving but has a bad habit when it comes to smoking...

    , laid back and always in search of a cigarette.
  • Buffy the Buffet Car
    Buffy the Buffet Car
    Buffy is the smart, sweet and sassy buffet car from Starlight Express. Buffy, being the most mature of the cars in most productions, usually gives the best advice she can when it's needed...

    , smart and sassy, hot and cheap and quick.
  • Belle the Sleeping Car
    Belle the Sleeping Car
    Belle, the Sleeping Car is a character from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Starlight Express. She is an old sleeping car, who once raced with Poppa, and, like her former partner, has fallen on hard times in her age. She races with Rusty in heat 2, however they are beaten by Electra and Pearl...

    , an ancient but luxurious Pullman
    Pullman (car or coach)
    In the United States, Pullman was used to refer to railroad sleeping cars which were built and operated on most U.S. railroads by the Pullman Company from 1867 to December 31, 1968....

     carriage comparable to the Orient Express
    Orient Express
    The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...

    . The character was eliminated from all productions after Broadway.
  • 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers, chorus roles played by the performers of Joule and Volta when Pumping Iron came before their entrance in AC/DC, only appeared in London between 1984–1992, and only during "Pumping Iron".


The Freight Trucks
  • Rocky 1, 2, 3, and 4 – the box cars who carry goods and supplies freight. Rocky 4 only featured in the late 1980s, on Broadway, in Germany and on the Japan/Australia tour. In the US/UK tours and new Bochum production, they have been replaced by the "Hip Hoppers"
  • Flat-Top the Brick Truck
    Flat-Top the Brick Truck
    Flat-Top is the brick truck from the musical Starlight Express. Often played as a punk, Flat-Top tries his hardest to be seen as the rebel without a cause. Still, underneath it all, he's actually a sweet and caring kind of guy. He idolizes Greaseball but doesn't see how mean Greaseball is until he...

    , a friend of Rusty who longs to be part of Greaseball's gang.
  • Dustin the Big Hopper
    Dustin the Big Hopper
    Dustin is the Big Hopper in the musical Starlight Express. He is a gentle, kind-hearted soul who is very shy and very sensitive, especially about his weight. His closest friend is Flat-Top but he is also close to Rusty and the rest of the freight yard residents - the Rockies and Poppa. When Poppa...

     – The Big Hopper. Carries aggregate freight. Sweet, shy and sensitive about his weight.
  • CB the Red Caboose
    CB the Red Caboose
    CB is a character from the musical Starlight Express. He's a crowd favourite but was removed from the New London and On Ice productions. He seems to have a split personality. Since he is the Caboose, he is willing to help the other trains with their work. Later on, he gets tired of helping them...

    /Caboose, the caboose (brake truck). He is a two-faced psychopath who causes disaster wherever he goes. He is a major character in the original plot and remains vital to the German production. However, he was cut from the London production from 1992 onwards and is only a minor character in later revised English language versions.


Electra's Components
  • Krupp, Electra's armaments truck.
  • Wrench, Electra's repair truck.
  • Purse, Electra's money truck.
  • Volta, Electra's freezer truck.
  • Joule, Electra's dynamite truck.


Engines
  • Bobo the French Engine
    The National Engines
    The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

     TGV
    TGV
    The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....

  • Espresso the Rome
    The National Engines
    The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

     – Milan Express
  • Weltschaft/Ruhrgold
    The National Engines
    The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

     the Intercity Express
  • Turnov
    The National Engines
    The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

     the Russian Trans-Siberian Express
  • Hashamoto/Nintendo
    The National Engines
    The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

     the Shinkansen
    Shinkansen
    The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...

     Bullet Train
  • City of Milton Keynes/Prince of Wales
    The National Engines
    The National Engines are the featured racers in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express They are the champions of their respective countries, come together to compete for the title of the Fastest Engine in the World.- The Train Set :...

     the British Advanced Passenger Train
    Advanced Passenger Train
    The Advanced Passenger Train was an experimental tilting High Speed Train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s....

    /Royal train
    Royal Train
    A royal train is a set of carriages dedicated for the use of the monarch or other members of that particular royal family. Most monarchies with a railway system employ a set of royal carriages.-Australia:...



Ensemble
  • Race Marshals – they wield the green and red flags at the beginnings and ends of the races, tow crashed engines off the track and decide on the outcome of the aborted Uphill Final. Their costumes are Gang with fluorescent chequered tabards thrown on top.
  • Traxes – trick skating race marshals. Introduced for the 2nd US tour in 2003, also featured in the UK Tour and German productions. Traxes wear Rollerblades rather than quad skates and exist purely to perform stunts, they do not sing nor take part in most of the numbers.
  • Greaseball's gang – a chorus of black-clad diesel engines who do Greaseball's bidding.
  • Tank, Gook and Lube – Members of Greaseball's gang, who take the spoken lines in Taunting Rusty. Though they still exist, they are no longer named characters.

Original London production, 1984

Act I
  • Overture
  • Rolling Stock – Greaseball and the Gang
  • Taunting Rusty – Rusty, Greaseball, Gang
  • Call Me Rusty – Rusty, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy and Ashley
  • Rusty, You Can't Be Serious – Rusty, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy and Ashley
  • A Lotta Locomotion – Dinah, Ashley, Buffy and Pearl
  • Pumping Iron – Greaseball, Pearl, Ashley, Dinah, Buffy, 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers
  • Freight – Pearl, Ashley, Dinah, Buffy, Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III, C.B, Dustin, Flat-Top
  • Entry of the National Trains – National Engines and Marshals
  • AC/DC – Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta and Company
  • Hitching and Switching – The Company
  • Pearl, You've Been Honoured – Purse, Pearl, Rusty
  • He Whistled at Me – Pearl
  • Race: Heat One – Greaseball and Dinah, Espresso and Buffy, Hashamoto and C.B.
  • That was Unfair – Dinah, Greaseball, C.B.
  • There's Me – C.B.
  • Poppa's Blues – Poppa, Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rusty
  • Belle the Sleeping Car – Belle
  • Starlight Express Introduction
    Starlight Express (song)
    Starlight Express is the 'showstopper' number from the musical with the same name. In the show, it is performed by Rusty, the show's protagonist...

     – Poppa, Rusty, Belle
  • Race: Heat Two – Electra and Pearl, Weltschaft and Joule, Rusty and Belle
  • Boy, Boy, Boy – Poppa, Rusty, Belle, Trucks
  • Race: Heat Three – Poppa and Dustin, Turnov and Wrench, Bobo and Ashley
  • Laughing Stock – The Company
  • Starlight Express
    Starlight Express (song)
    Starlight Express is the 'showstopper' number from the musical with the same name. In the show, it is performed by Rusty, the show's protagonist...

     – Rusty


Act II
  • The Rap – The Company
  • Pearl Twirl – Greaseball, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy, Ashley
  • U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
    U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
    "U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D." is a popular song from the musical Starlight Express, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It is performed by Dinah the Dining Car, after being dumped by her macho boyfriend, Greaseball. It is a parody of the Tammy Wynette song,...

     – Dinah
  • Rolling Stock (Reprise) – Dinah, Belle, Ashley and Buffy
  • C.B. – C.B, Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta
  • Race: Uphill Final – Electra and Dinah, Rusty and C.B., Greaseball and Pearl
  • I Was Robbed – C.B., Rusty, Greaseball, Electra, Pearl, Trucks
  • Right Place, Right Time – Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III
  • I Am The Starlight
    Starlight Sequence
    The Starlight Sequence is a showstopper from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Rusty, a young, naive Steam Locomotive and the Starlight Express, a magical Steam Locomotive that comes at midnight to help Steam Locomotioves in need...

     – Rusty, Starlight Express, Dustin
  • He Whistled at Me (Reprise) – Dinah, Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Volta, Joule, C.B.
  • Race: Downhill Final – Rusty and Dustin, Electra and C.B, Greaseball and Pearl
  • No Comeback – Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta
  • One Rock & Roll Too Many – Greaseball, C.B.
  • Only He (Has The Power to Move Me)
    Only You (Pearl and Rusty)
    "Only You" is the love duet from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by the protagonist, Rusty, a young steam locomotive and his true love, the observation car, Pearl.- Overview :...

     – Pearl, (Rusty)
  • Only You
    Only You (Pearl and Rusty)
    "Only You" is the love duet from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by the protagonist, Rusty, a young steam locomotive and his true love, the observation car, Pearl.- Overview :...

     – Pearl, Rusty
  • Light at the End of the Tunnel
    Light at the End of the Tunnel (musical number)
    Light at the End of the Tunnel is the gospel-style finale number from the musical Starlight Express. The Company perform the number as a glorification to Steam...

     – The Company
  • Light at the End of the Tunnel
    Light at the End of the Tunnel (musical number)
    Light at the End of the Tunnel is the gospel-style finale number from the musical Starlight Express. The Company perform the number as a glorification to Steam...

     (Reprise)


Revisions in later productions

In later productions, the following songs have generally been deleted:
  • Call Me Rusty
  • There's Me
  • Belle the Sleeping Car
  • Race: Heat Three
  • Rolling Stock(Reprise)
  • Wide Smile/C.B.
  • No Comeback
  • Only He
  • Only You


In their place, the following new numbers are generally included:
  • Engine of Love – Rusty, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy, Ashley (Act I)
  • Crazy – Rusty, Pearl, Ashley, Dinah and Buffy (Act I)
  • Make Up My Heart
    Make Up My Heart
    Make Up My Heart is the power ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Pearl.During the song, she is deciding between the two she has fallen in love with...

     – Pearl (Act I)
  • Next Time You Fall In Love – Pearl, Rusty (Act II; unless "Only You" is sung)


There are two versions of the title song: starting with either "When your good-nights have been said" or "When the night is darkest", having different melodies for the verses.

"A Lotta Locomotion" was replaced on the US/UK tours with "A Whole Lotta Locomotion", with lyrics by Yazbek. There have also been three different raps:
  • The Rap (Lyrics: Stilgoe) (1984–91)
  • Check It Out, Can You Believe This? (Lyrics: Stilgoe) (1992–2002)
  • It's Race Time! (Lyrics: Yazbek) (2004–?)

Skating

Starlight Express features a unique element to the performance in the use of roller skates. The cast are trained for 3–4 months in roller skating before they begin performances, so no prior experience is required. However the demands of the show also often lead to injuries. The level of skating performance is dependent on the production, as the permanent sets give far greater opportunity to skate than the theatre-based tours. The US and UK tours had comparatively little space for the performers to use, and the use of pre-recorded races removed the most demanding physical element of performance.

The show was choreographed by Arlene Phillips
Arlene Phillips
Arlene Phillips OBE is an English choreographer, theatre director, talent scout, TV presenter, TV judge and former dancer, who has worked in many fields of entertainment...

, who undertook a daunting task in creating dance routines on roller skates.

Each character has their own set of moves called "tick-overs" which they run through when otherwise idle. These moves express the characterisation, whether it be aggression, vanity or limbering up for action.

West End

The West End production, directed by Trevor Nunn
Trevor Nunn
Sir Trevor Robert Nunn, CBE is an English theatre, film and television director. Nunn has been the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He has directed musicals and dramas for the stage, as well as opera...

 and choreographed by Arlene Phillips
Arlene Phillips
Arlene Phillips OBE is an English choreographer, theatre director, talent scout, TV presenter, TV judge and former dancer, who has worked in many fields of entertainment...

 opened on 27 March 1984 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre
Apollo Victoria Theatre
The Apollo Victoria Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Wilton Road near Victoria station in the City of Westminster. Opened as a cinema and variety theatre, the Apollo Victoria became a venue for musical theatre, beginning with The Sound of Music in 1981, and including the long-running...

, where it ran for 7,406 performances, closing on 12 January 2002. Original cast members included Stephanie Lawrence
Stephanie Lawrence
Stephanie Lawrence was a British musical theatre actress.-Background:Stephanie Lawrence was born in Hayling Island, Hampshire, the daughter of a singer and classically trained dancer.She was from an early age close friends with another Famous Islander Peter Chilvers who in 1958 invented the...

, Frances Ruffelle
Frances Ruffelle
Frances Ruffelle is an English musical theatre actress and recording artist. Her mother is Sylvia Young, the founder of the famous theatre school at which Frances trained, and her daughter is recording artist Eliza Doolittle. Her younger sister is actress Alison Ruffelle...

, Jeff Shankley, Jeffrey Daniel
Jeffrey Daniel
Jeffrey Daniel is an American dancer, singer-songwriter and choreographer, most notable for being a member of the R&B vocal group Shalamar. In Nigeria he is best known as an Idol series judge...

 and Ray Shell
Ray Shell
Ray Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express...

. The theatre had been overhauled to include a race track that extended into and around the stalls and around the front of the dress circle.

Plot Revisions

In November 1992, the London production, christened The New Starlight Express, was re-launched with heavy revisions to the material, partly influenced by the subsequent productions described below. Five songs (Crazy, He'll Whistle at Me, Make Up My Heart, Next Time You Fall in Love, The Megamix) were added, 12 songs (the Overture, Engine of Love, Call me Rusty, Hitching and Switching, There's Me, Belle The Sleeping Car, Heat Three, Wide Smile, High Style, No Comeback, Only He, Only You) and two characters ("C.B." and "Belle") were cut.

Belle, having proved incompatible with the shorter 4-race system on Broadway, was cut along with C.B. Cutting C.B. required a near complete overhaul of the plot (though the lighting design didn't change – his spotlight still came up in "Freight" right up to the last performance of the show), as without a clear cut villain, Rusty, Electra and Greaseball had to cause their own problems or be the victims of circumstance to move the story along.

The "Overture" was scrapped, with the "Entry of National Trains" moved to the opening of the show from its former place following "Freight". The energetic, high speed "He Whistled at Me" had been replaced by the languid ballad "Make Up My Heart" some years before, but was first recorded on the 1992 cast recording. "Pumping Iron" was moved to immediately after "AC/DC", shifting the intention from merely boasting to a direct challenge from Greaseball to the newcomer and cutting off the end of the preceding song. This meant that the 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers were no longer seen, as the performers who had filled those roles were now on-stage as the female Components. Rather than winning a heat each, as in the 5-race structure, Greaseball and Electra come first and second in the first heat, securing places in the final for each of them. Rusty now didn't race at all until the final, only reluctantly taking Poppa's place after the title song. Poppa won the second heat with Bobo coming second.

"The Rap" was completely re-written, as the debate – whether or not Rusty should be allowed to race in Poppa's place when he'd already been disqualified – was completely redundant. It became an anthem to how great racing is, rather than an argument. Pearl still switched engines to Electra, leaving Dinah uncoupled. With Belle gone, Ashley and Buffy carried "Rolling Stock (Reprise)" by themselves, allowing them each more vocals. After the Uphill Final, when Dinah uncouples Electra, with no C.B. he partners Buffy instead for the Downhill Final. Rather than being crashed intentionally, Electra and Greaseball crash accidentally at the end of the race. Electra then took C.B.'s place in "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many", and also took one of Greaseball's spoken lines("You mean I could be converted to steam?" became "D'you think I could be converted to steam?") afterwards to be included in the scene. As a second finale, "The Megamix" was added. It consists of a few phrases from most of the songs in the show, including one that by the end was no longer there – "He'll Whistle at Me" was cut in 1996, but remained represented.

Starlight Express has had many advertising slogans:
  • The Race Is On...
  • Still Light Years Ahead
  • Power Play
  • Get a Life
  • Energise
  • The Fastest Show on Earth
  • Join the Rush Hour
  • Electrifying
  • Fast Forward
  • Go Off The Rails
  • Out of This World
  • Reach For The Stars
  • X-Treme Entertainment
  • The Final Countdown (January 2002)

Broadway

The Broadway production opened on 15 March 1987 at the Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 761 performances. This version featured extensive revisions to the plot and the addition and omission of several musical numbers. "C.B." at this point lost his name and was henceforth known only as "Red Caboose," and rather than racing simply for the accolade "Champion Engine of the World", the trains raced for a prize, the "Silver Dollar" (a trophy in the form of a giant American Silver Dollar coin.)

The race structure changed from three heats with one winner each in the final, to two heats with two winners each in the final. Rusty didn't race in the heats at all, making Belle (Memphis Belle, as she was re-named) redundant. This made the show considerably shorter and less complex, as there was now one race fewer and no debate over whether or not Rusty should be allowed to race in the final. It also lead to Belle being entirely cut from the show in later productions, as she served no useful purpose. The engines now raced for a prize, the Silver Dollar, rather than just for the sake of winning.

The "Entry of National Engines" was moved to the beginning of the show, in the place of the overture. The song "Engine of Love" was used when Rusty brought the Coaches in near the beginning of the show. Pearl then went off with him before "A Lotta Locomotion", so that it was sung only by Dinah, Buffy and Ashley. "He Whistled at Me" was replaced with the more sedate ballad "Make Up My Heart." "AC/DC" no longer came to a conclusion, but was interrupted by Greaseball with "Pumping Iron", now a direct challenge to the newcomer. Because Electra had already entered with his entourage, the second and third class Sleepers no longer existed. Joule, Volta and Wrench now joined "Pumping Iron" in their places. "There's Me" became a duet between Caboose and Dinah.

"The Rap" was completely re-written as the original, mainly concerning Rusty's predicament, was irrelevant. For the "Downhill Final", Rusty appeared in a new costume as the Starlight Express. None of the other characters recognised him. After the race, Caboose stole the Silver Dollar. The company accuse Rusty of having stolen it, and he consents to being searched if the opposition have to do likewise. This led to a lengthy slapstick chase ("The Chase"), at the conclusion of which was Caboose crashing into Greaseball and Electra. "No Comeback" was cut. The disguised Rusty idea was scrapped during the Broadway run and reverted back to Rusty entering the Final as himself, and "The Chase" being cut completely. Greaseball, Caboose, & Electra then sang "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many", rearranged with choreography that was more slapstick and less sexual innuendo laden. Pearl sang a brief reprise of "Make Up My Heart" ('It's thanks to you that things worked out all right. I knew it from the start. Now I know I've made up my heart.'), however it was cut early in the preview period. "Only He" was replaced with an expanded "Only You", and the show ended with "Light at the end of the Tunnel."

Australiasian tour

The tour ran from 15 November 1987 to 29 May 1988, a large-scale, "in-the-round
Theatre in the round
Theatre-in-the-round or arena theatre is any theatre space in which the audience surrounds the stage area...

" production that toured sports arenas.

Bochum, Germany

On 12 June 1988, a production opened at a specially built venue, the Starlighthalle in Bochum, Germany
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...

. As of November 2011, it is the only permanent production playing. It has been seen by more than 13 million people as of March 2010

The Starlighthalle was built especially for the production in an extraordinary time of less than one year. Both the special building and record breaking build time were documented in the Guinness Book of Records. The Starlighthalle was specially designed for the show, with large tracks on two levels in a U-like shape with the audience sitting in the middle and around these tracks. On stage the tracks even run over three levels which allows several race combinations. In 2003 a 'Y' shaped track was added to the smallest inner track, the Parkett, dividing it into 3 seating areas and allowing greater flexibility of staging and more tricks for the skaters. A good impression of the Starlighthalle can be seen on the official website http://www.starlight-express-musical.de/index.php?id=259 from a 360° panorama view and lots of high resolution pictures from the show, featuring the current cast.

In March 2008, Starlight Express ran a talent competition with German Television to find the next Rusty and Pearl. The show started on 31 March and was called 'Musical Showstar 2008'. The competition was won by Kevin Köhler and Anna-Maria Schmidt. Schmidt dropped out of training, but Köhler premiered as Rusty on 1 August 2008.

The show advertises as "Das rasanteste Musical im Universum!" ("The fastest musical in the universe!")

Plot Revisions

The Bochum production, while a descendant of Broadway, reverted quite a lot to London, including some of the later London changes. The Broadway race structure remained, but in the interests of nationalism, Weltschaft (soon re-named Ruhrgold) the German engine was swapped with Bobo the French engine, so that he was in the final race. Belle was entirely removed, having been proved incompatible with the four-race structure on Broadway. They began with 4 Rockies, but soon reverted back to 3. Rocky IV can now be seen in the foyer, along with Weltschaft, cast in bronze. The production remained mostly unaltered artistically until recent years.

Originally, the opening overture and skate round remained from London, but the running order bore more relation to Broadway. The Broadway song "Engine of Love", translated to "Liebesexpress", introduced Rusty and the Coaches rather than "Call Me Rusty". "Ne Lok mit Locomotion" ("A Lotta Locomotion") remains in the style of the Original London, with all four coaches singing. "Pumping Iron" comes after "AC/DC", as a direct challenge from the current champion to the newcomer. "Hilf Mir Verstehn
Make Up My Heart
Make Up My Heart is the power ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Pearl.During the song, she is deciding between the two she has fallen in love with...

" ("Make Up My Heart
Make Up My Heart
Make Up My Heart is the power ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Pearl.During the song, she is deciding between the two she has fallen in love with...

"), as Broadway, followed, with Pearl eventually opting for Electra.

In 2003, the late London song "Crazy" was put into the show between "Pumping Iron" and "Hilf Mir Verstehn", with "Liebesexpress" ("Engine of Love"), which fulfills much the same purpose, greatly shortened. At the same time "Allein im Licht der Sterne" ("Next time you fall in love") replaced "Du Allein" ("Only You"). The Late London style "Megamix" was added to the end of the show, though the excerpts from the show's songs are not in the same order.

October 2006 saw the assimilation of the second US tour Hip Hoppers, replacing the Rockies. In 2007 the Rap was altered again, adding the beginning of the UK Tour version, and pyrotechnical effects can be seen when Electra
Electra the Electric Train
Electra the Electric Engine is a fictional character from the rock musical Starlight Express.Electra is the newest train to enter the yard and, therefore, Control's newest toy. He comes with his own line of components that are loyal to him. He's rich, self-centered and sexy. His eyes are set on...

 enters and Greaseball
Greaseball the Diesel
Greaseball is a character in the rock musical Starlight Express. He is the alpha male of the train yard. He's self confident, suave and a heartbreaker. All the ladies loves him but Dinah is his main squeeze. He and his gang put Rusty down, breaking his spirits. He trips Rusty during one of the...

 skates at high speed.

In 2008, the "Overture" was replaced by "The Entry of the National Trains" (moved from prior to "AC/DC"). "Engine of Love" was cut completely, with the melody recycled for Pearl's ballad "He'll Whistle at Me", in a new German translation. To replace "Engine of Love", the shortened version of "Call Me Rusty" has been introduced. "There's Me" has been cut. The title song has been reworked to "When your goodnights have been said" version. "The Rap" is now the "It's Race Time" version. The final duet between Rusty and Pearl has been re-worked to the UK tour version of "Only He".

Japanese tour

Starlight Express returned to Japan from 24 March – 18 July 1990 in a revival of the 1987–1988 production.

US Tour

The first US Tour, a downscaled production directly descended from Broadway, ran in the U.S. and Canada from November 1989 – 12 April 1991. The set included a small loop of track into the audience, and the races were pre-recorded film mixed with live action.

Las Vegas

The Las Vegas production opened on 14 September 1993 in an abridged, 90-minute production without an intermission at the Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
The Las Vegas Hilton is a hotel, casino, and convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a joint venture between Colony Capital, which owns 60 percent, and New York City-based REIT Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, which owns the remaining 40 percent...

, where it ran until 30 November 1997. This production was the first legitimate musical theatre permanent production in Las Vegas, and concessions were made in the form of the shortened runtime and betting references in the race sequences. Also partway through the run, the Coaches' costumes were given an unmistakable "Vegas Showgirl" makeover. The Hotel changed ownership in 1997 at which point the new owners decided to end the run before its 5 year contract concluded.
The Las Vegas production also brought something to the show that no other production has ever included; the show was set on Christmas Eve. Control is playing with his trains in the opening, until his mother tells him that now that 'your stocking is hung up', he has to be asleep ready for the 'big day tomorrow, Christmas Day'.

Starlight On Ice

A completely re-designed production by Feld Entertainment performed Starlight Express on Ice, touring the United States from 6 September 1997 – 1 February 1998. This movement-heavy production featured figure- and stunt-skaters miming to a pre-recorded backing while performing complex routines. It failed to find its target audience and folded halfway through the scheduled tour.

Expreso Astral

From October 1997 until April 1998, a Spanish-language production directed and staged by Bobby Love (after Arlene Philips) played at the Teatro Polanco in Mexico City. Many of the character's names were Hispanicized, with Rusty becoming Ferro, Pearl becoming Perla, Poppa becoming El Jefe, etc. Bobo, Espresso and Weltshaft were cut and replaced with Carioca, a Brazilian train, and Pibe, an Argentinian train. A cast recording of this production was made but, owing to complications with the rights, it never was released.

2nd US tour

Following the closure of the London production, Starlight Express: The Third Dimension, a touring production opened in Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....

. It was a downscaled and shortened version of the show, with further revisions to the material by American composer David Yazbek. Owing to the restrictions of touring theatres, digital video company Inition were commissioned to produce high-definition race footage in 3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...

 to replace the live racing. The show ran from 1 April 2003 until 13 June 2004.

UK tour 2004 - 2008

The first UK Tour of Starlight Express opened on 4 November 2004 in Manchester, produced by David Ian Productions. Adapted from the second U.S. tour with some reversions to the "New" London production, including much of David Yazbek's contribution being removed after Andrew Lloyd Webber saw it performed on stage. In November 2007 the production toured Stockholm, Gothenburg, Oslo and Helsinki, using an expanded set designed for use in stadium venues. The last performance was on March 2008, in Plymouth.

The production advertised using the following slogans –
  • You'll Be Steaming If You Miss It
  • The Race Is On
  • Steaming back!

New Zealand Tour, 2009

Following the end of the UK & Scandinavian tours, the expanded stadium set and properties were shipped to New Zealand to form a new production. Dates in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland have been confirmed for July/August 2009.
  • Wellington : 1–7 July 2009 in the TSB Bank Arena
  • Christchurch: 11–19 July 2009 in the Westpac Arena
  • Auckland: 25 July – 22 August 2009 in the Vector Arena

This production is a sophisticated update of the production first performed in arenas in Scandinavia in late 2007, and features a cast combining previous Starlighters from the UK, US and German productions as well as young New Zealand (Kiwi) talent.

Promotional recordings and videos (not for sale) have been recorded. The title song Starlight Express is sung by Kiwi artist, Will Martin
Will Martin
Will Martin is a New Zealand-born classical crossover singer.Martin's first album, released in his native New Zealand, went platinum in 6 weeks. The album, called A New World, featured songs such as "Into the West", "If" and "Going Home".Will commented on his success with “I am an entertainer; I...

 (currently with a hit CD in the British classical charts), and the romantic duet Only He is sung by Martin, and Rebecca Wright who will play the role of Pearl in this production.

UK Tour 2012

A new production will tour the UK in 2012, produced by Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer.He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club, an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool....

 Productions. The production will start in Wimbledon, London, from May 2012, with dates in Liverpool, Aberdeen and Edinburgh confirmed so far. No production details are yet known, however there has been no mention of the 3D film footage which was a major selling point of the previous tour.

Race Structure

The rules and parameters of the races have varied from one production to another, including the number of heats and who races with whom.

London Original

The original London production had three heats, with the winner of each going on to the final.
  • Heat 1: Greaseball w/ Dinah (winner), Espresso w/ Buffy, Hashamoto w/ C.B.
  • Heat 2: Weltschaft w/ Joule, Electra w/ Pearl (winner), Rusty w/ Belle
  • Heat 3: Bobo w/ Ashley, Turnov w/ Wrench, Poppa w/ Dustin (winner)
  • Uphill Final: Greaseball w/ Pearl, Rusty w/ C.B., Electra w/ Dinah
  • Downhill Final: Greaseball w/ Pearl, Electra w/ C.B., Rusty w/ Dustin (winner)


Initially a rule was in effect that if an engine or coach had lost a heat they were disqualified from racing again. Though Rusty lost Heat 2 he was permitted to race again when Poppa secured a place in the Final and nominated Rusty to race in his stead. Belle however was still disqualified after loosing Heat 2 so Rusty raced with Dustin. Oddly, C.B. should also have been disqualified after loosing Heat 1 with Hashamoto yet he raced again twice.

Bochum

The Bochum production adopted the two heat/four engine structure from the Broadway version, with the first and second place winners going on to the Final.
  • Heat 1: Greaseball w/ Dinah (first), Hashamoto w/ Volta, Turnov w/ Caboose, Electra w/ Pearl (second)
  • Heat 2: Bobo w/ Buffy, Espresso w/ Ashley, Weltshaft w/ Joule (second), Poppa w/ Dustin (first)
  • Uphill Final: Greaseball w/ Pearl, Electra w/ Dinah, Weltschaft w/ Joule, Rusty w/ Caboose
  • Downhill Final: Greaseball w/ Pearl, Electra w/ Caboose, We;tschaft w/ Joule, Rusty w/ Dustin (winner)


The disqualification rule, while presumably still in effect, was never questioned in Rusty case as he no longer raced in Heat 2. Caboose again raced twice more despite loosing Heat 1.

London Revision

The revised London production followed in the footsteps of Broadway and Bochum, switching to the two heat/four engine race structure, with the first and second place winners going on to the Final.
  • Heat 1: Greaseball w/ Dinah (first), Espresso w/ Buffy, Nintendo w/ Krupp, Electra w/ Pearl (second)
  • Heat 2: Bobo w/ Ashley (second), Turnov w/ Wrench, Ruhrgold w/ Joule, Poppa w/ Dustin (first)
  • Uphill Final: Greaseball w/ Pearl, Electra w/ Dinah, Bobo w/ Ashely, Rusty w/ Buffy
  • Downhill Final: Greaseball w/ Pearl, Electra w/ Buffy, Bobo w/ Ashely, Rusty w/ Dustin (winner)


The disqualification rule seemed to be gone by this point; Buffy, despite loosing Heat 1 raced twice more.

US/UK Tour

The US/UK 3D filmed race sequences switched to a two heat/three engine structure, the winner of each going on to the Final.
  • Heat 1: Greaseball w/ Dinah (tie), Ruhrgold w/ Caboose, Electra w/ Pearl (tie)
  • Heat 2: Nintendo w/ Buffy, Turnov w/ Ashely, Poppa w/ Dustin (winner)
  • Uphill Final: Greaseball w/ Pearl, Electra w/ Dinah, Rusty w/ Caboose
  • Downhill Final: Greaseball w/ Pearl, Electra w/ Caboose, Rusty w/ Dustin (winner)


Again, the disqualification rule was gone; Caboose lost in Heat 1 but raced again twice.

London

  • Stephanie Lawrence
    Stephanie Lawrence
    Stephanie Lawrence was a British musical theatre actress.-Background:Stephanie Lawrence was born in Hayling Island, Hampshire, the daughter of a singer and classically trained dancer.She was from an early age close friends with another Famous Islander Peter Chilvers who in 1958 invented the...

     (Original Pearl)
  • Ray Shell
    Ray Shell
    Ray Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express...

     (Original Rusty)
  • Jeffrey Daniel
    Jeffrey Daniel
    Jeffrey Daniel is an American dancer, singer-songwriter and choreographer, most notable for being a member of the R&B vocal group Shalamar. In Nigeria he is best known as an Idol series judge...

     (Original Electra)
  • Frances Ruffelle
    Frances Ruffelle
    Frances Ruffelle is an English musical theatre actress and recording artist. Her mother is Sylvia Young, the founder of the famous theatre school at which Frances trained, and her daughter is recording artist Eliza Doolittle. Her younger sister is actress Alison Ruffelle...

     (Original Dinah)
  • Danny John Jules (Original Rocky 1)
  • PP Arnold (Original Belle)
  • Jo Gibb
    Jo Gibb
    Jo Gibb is a Scottish theatre actress best known for her role of Rumpleteazer in the Cats video and as Pearl the Observation Car in Starlight Express...

     (Final Pearl)
  • Helen Latham
    Helen Latham
    Helen Latham is a British actress. She is currently best known for playing Lucy Milligan in series 4 and 5 of the British TV Drama Footballers' Wives and in series 1 and 2 of its spin-off Footballers' Wives: Extra Time...

     (Final Dinah)
  • James Gillan
    James Gillan (actor)
    James Gillan is a Scottish stage actor born in Glasgow, and trained at The Arts Educational Schools in London....

     (Rusty)
  • Greg Ellis
    Greg Ellis (actor)
    Greg Ellis is an English actor known for his TV, movie, and video game voice over work. He has appeared in films such as the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the 2009 Star Trek film , Titanic, Beowulf, To End All Wars, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith...

     (Rusty, Dustin and Electra)
  • Reva Rice
    Reva Rice
    Reva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....

     (Pearl)
  • Casey-Lee Jolleys
    Casey-Lee Jolleys
    Casey-Lee Jolleys is a British actress, dancer and performer.Originally from Billinge in Wigan, Lancashire, Jolleys began performing at an early age and by the age of nine, had become a three-time World Champion in Ballet, Tap and Modern dance styles, making television appearances in the...

     (Joule)
  • John Partridge
    John Partridge (performer)
    John Partridge is an English actor, singer, dancer, panelist and television presenter, who is probably best known for the role of Christian Clarke in the long-running BBC television soap opera EastEnders, having joined the cast in January 2008...

     (Electra)
  • Richard Mylan
    Richard Mylan
    Richard Mylan is a British stage and television actor and former dancer.He was born in Swansea in 1973. There he attended the Birchgrove junior school, where he played rugby and in 1982 won the Swansea heat of the British 'Disco Kids Championships'...

     (Electra)
  • Natalie Powers
    Natalie Powers
    Natalie Powers is a British solo recording artist and lead vocalist of the pop group Scooch, which represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007.-Early career:...

     (Dinah)
  • Mark Hedges (Swing, Turnov, Dustin, Rusty)

Broadway

  • Greg Mowry (Original Rusty)
  • Reva Rice
    Reva Rice
    Reva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....

     (Original Pearl)
  • Jane Krakowski
    Jane Krakowski
    Jane Krakowski is an American actress and singer. She is most well known for her performance of Elaine Vassal on Ally McBeal, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and for her current role as Jenna Maroney on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, for which she has been nominated for three Emmy...

     (Original Dinah)
  • Andrea McArdle
    Andrea McArdle
    Andrea McArdle is an American singer and actress best known for playing Annie in the Broadway musical Annie, as well as for her alto range and strong vocal belt.-Career:She was born in Philadelphia...

     (Original Ashley)
  • Robert Torti
    Robert Torti
    Robert Felix Torti is an American actor.Torti was born in Van Nuys, California. He married DeLee Lively on June 24, 1999. Together, they have three children.-Filmography:*Quincy M.E....

     (Original Greaseball)
  • Ken Ard (Original Electra)
  • Steve Fowler
    Steve Fowler
    Steve Fowler is currently group editor of What Car? which includes the magazines What Car?, What Car? New Car Guide, What Car? Price Guide and the website ....

     (Original Poppa)
  • Sean McDermott
    Sean McDermott
    Sean McDermott is an American football defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He served as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2009–2010, a position he took over shortly before his predecessor, Jim Johnson, died of cancer...

     (Original Prince of Wales)
  • Allan Edwards Tibbitt (Closing Cast Pancake)

Bochum, Germany

  • Kevin Köhler – (who won the role of Rusty in a German TV talentshow, Musical Showstar)
  • Lovette George
    Lovette George
    Lovette George was an actress and singer in Broadway, off-Broadway and regional productions.Shows included Uptown... It's Hot! , Carousel , Marie Christine and The Musical of Musicals ...

     (Pearl)
  • Rachael Wooding
    Rachael Wooding
    Rachael Wooding is a Yorkshire born musical theatre performer, best known for her performances in We Will Rock You, playing Meat and understudying Jenna Lee-James as Scaramouche. She most recently played Amber in the original London cast of Hairspray the Musical. Wooding left Hairspray in October...

     (Dinah and Pearl)
  • Jade Esteban Estrada
    Jade Esteban Estrada
    Jade Esteban Estrada is a successful Latin pop singer, comedian, choreographer, actor, political commentator, and human rights activist...

     (Flat-Top)
  • Uwe Kroger
    Uwe Kröger
    Uwe Kröger is a famous musical star in the German-speaking countries of the world. Besides starring on stage, Kröger has taken part in numerous galas and concerts, as well as making a few television and film appearances...

     (Rusty)
  • Marlon Moore (Dustin)
  • Paul Whitaker
    Paul Whitaker
    Paul Robert Whitaker is a former English cricketer. Whitaker was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm Off-break....

     (Rusty)
  • Martyn Andrews
    Martyn Andrews
    Martyn Andrews is a British television presenter, broadcast journalist, trained actor and singer.Born in Liverpool and having trained at Southport College, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and the No Sweat Journalism College both in London, Martyn has hosted a variety of lifestyle TV shows on...

     (Electra)
  • Oliver Thornton
    Oliver Thornton
    Oliver Thornton is an stage actor and singer who is best known for his contributions to musical theatre in London's West End. He currently stars in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre.- Early life :...

     (Caboose)
  • Ricky Mujica (Espresso)
  • Michael King (Rocky 1)

Touring Versions

  • James Gillan
    James Gillan (actor)
    James Gillan is a Scottish stage actor born in Glasgow, and trained at The Arts Educational Schools in London....

     (Rusty)
  • Charlotte Avery
    Charlotte Avery
    Charlotte Avery is a British actress and voiceover artist. Charlotte has a son called Jacob with Australian actor Craig McLachlan and a daughter Louella and son Jonah with her present partner Simon Hinton, self-development Master and creator of Quantum Power Programming...

     (Mom and Buffy)
  • Georgina Hagen
    Georgina Hagen
    Georgina "Georgie" Kimberley Hagen is an English actress and singer, most famous for her appearance as Lauren in ITV's Britannia High...

     (Control)
  • Oliver Thornton
    Oliver Thornton
    Oliver Thornton is an stage actor and singer who is best known for his contributions to musical theatre in London's West End. He currently stars in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre.- Early life :...

     (Rusty)
  • Adam Ellis (Rusty)
  • Ricky Mujica – (US tour, Japan/Australia tour)
  • Bernie Blanks (favoured Rusty)
  • Tim Driesen
    Tim Driesen
    Tim Driesen is an actor, notable for roles in both musicals, plays and television serials. He has composed a full scale musical as well as a number of pop-songs. In 2007, he created the role of Adrian Banks in the Take That musical, Never Forget...

     (u/s Rusty)
  • Bobby Collins (Rusty (Australian Tour))

Directors

  • Trevor Nunn
    Trevor Nunn
    Sir Trevor Robert Nunn, CBE is an English theatre, film and television director. Nunn has been the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He has directed musicals and dramas for the stage, as well as opera...

     – (London, Broadway)
  • Arlene Phillips
    Arlene Phillips
    Arlene Phillips OBE is an English choreographer, theatre director, talent scout, TV presenter, TV judge and former dancer, who has worked in many fields of entertainment...

     – (Las Vegas, US and UK Tours)
  • Dion McHugh – (Bochum, Japan, Australia, associate director London)
  • Mykal Rand – (UK tour, New Zealand Tour)
  • Bobby Love (Mexico City)
  • Robin Cousins
    Robin Cousins
    Robert "Robin" Cousins is a British retired competitive figure skater. He is the 1980 Olympic Champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist and four-time British national champion. He later starred in ice shows and also produced his own...

     (Starlight on Ice)

Awards and nominations

1987 Tony Award nominations
  • Tony Award for Best Musical
    Tony Award for Best Musical
    This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical, first awarded in 1949. This award is presented to the producers of the musical.-1940s:* 1949: Kiss Me, Kate – Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Samuel and Bella Spewack...

     – Produced by Martin Starger, Lord Lew Grade
  • Tony Award for Best Original Score
    Tony Award for Best Original Score
    The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the composers and lyricists of the best original score written for a musical in that year. The score consists of music and lyrics...

     – Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
  • Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Robert Torti (As Greaseball)
  • Tony Award for Best Costume Design
    Tony Award for Best Costume Design
    These are the winners and nominees for the Tony Award for Best Costume Design. The award was first presented in 1947 and included both plays and musicals...

     – John Napier (WINNER)
  • Tony Award for Best Lighting Design
    Tony Award for Best Lighting Design
    This is a list of the winners of the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design in a play or musical, first presented in 1970. In 2005 the category was divided with each genre represented separately.-1970s:* 1970: Jo Mielziner – Child's Play...

     – David Hersey
  • Tony Award for Best Choreography
    Tony Award for Best Choreography
    -1940s:* 1947: Agnes de Mille – Brigadoon / Michael Kidd – Finian's Rainbow* 1948: Jerome Robbins – High Button Shoes* 1949: Gower Champion – Lend An Ear-1950s:* 1950: Helen Tamiris – Touch and Go* 1951: Michael Kidd – Guys and Dolls...

     – Arlene Phillips
  • Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical
    Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical
    This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. Prior to 1960, category for direction included plays and musicals.-1950s:Note: this category was for both dramatic and musical productions...

     – Trevor Nunn


1987 Drama Desk Award nominations
  • Drama Desk Award
    Drama Desk Award
    The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...

     for Outstanding Musical – Produced by Martin Starger, Lord Lew Grade
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music – Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design – John Napier (WINNER)
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design – John Napier (WINNER)

Cast Recordings/Albums

  • 1984 Original London Cast Recording
  • Excerpts from Starlight Express: The Original Cast
  • 1987 US Concept Album: Music and Songs From Starlight Express
  • 1987 Japan/Australia Tour Highlights Album
  • 1988 German Original Cast Recording
  • 1989 German Complete Live Recording
  • 1991 German Highlights Album

  • 1993 New London Cast Recording
  • 1997 Mexico City’s Expreso Astral (unreleased)
  • 1989 German Live Recording: 2003 Remastered Edition
  • 1984 Original Cast Recording: 2005 Remastered Edition
  • 1989 German Live Recording: 2007 Platinum Album
  • 1993 New London Cast Recording: 2007 Remastered Edition


Singles

  • Engine of Love/Steaming (1977)
  • I am the Starlight/Starlight Express (1984)
  • AC/DC/The CB Side (1984)
  • Only He (Has the Power to Move Me)/Engine Race (1984)
  • The Race is On (Harold Faltermeyer)/The Race is On (Radio Edit)/The Race is On (Instrumental)/The Race is On (Dub Version) (1987)
  • Er Allein/Ich Bin Wie Ich Bin – Angelika Milster (1988)
  • The Train/Girls’ Rolling Stock (1990)
  • Only You (1992)
  • Next Time You Fall in Love/Make Up My Heart/Mega Mix (1993)
  • Crazy/Starlight Express/Allein Im Licht der Sterne/Mega Mix/Starlight Express (Boy Band Version) (2003)


Various musical numbers from Starlight Express also appear on various Andrew Lloyd Webber and Musical theatre compilation recordings.

Television, Film and Other Media

Starlight Express has made countless appearances on TV over the past 25 years, notably:
  • Syesha Mercado
    Syesha Mercado
    Syesha Raquel Mercado is an American singer, songwriter, actress and model. Mercado was the third place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, Mercado was on The One: Making a Music Star and she won Florida Super Singer...

     of "American Idol
    American Idol
    American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...

     2008" performed the song "One Rock 'N' Roll Too Many" during the show for Andrew Lloyd Webber
    Andrew Lloyd Webber
    Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...

     week. The same version was also performed by the female Eurovision hopefuls on Andrew Lloyd Webber's talent show, Your Country Needs You in January 2009.
  • In the UK, Cilla Black
    Cilla Black
    Cilla Black OBE is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie...

    's TV show 'Moment Of Truth' (2000) included the London cast of Starlight Express in a family challenge.
  • Matthew Kelly
    Matthew Kelly
    Matthew Kelly is an English television presenter and Olivier-award winning actor. Having been trained as a theatre actor, he first came to public prominence as a television presenter of ITV light entertainment shows such as You Bet! and Stars in Their Eyes...

    , on his show 'You Bet!
    You Bet!
    You Bet! was a British game show based around the format of the German show Wetten, dass..? developed by Frank Elstner. You Bet! ran on ITV, mostly on Saturday nights but sometimes on Fridays, between 20 February 1988 and 12 April 1997, initially hosted by Bruce Forsyth from 1988 to 1990, then by...

    ', was challenged to dress up as Electra
    Electra the Electric Train
    Electra the Electric Engine is a fictional character from the rock musical Starlight Express.Electra is the newest train to enter the yard and, therefore, Control's newest toy. He comes with his own line of components that are loyal to him. He's rich, self-centered and sexy. His eyes are set on...

     and perform stunts with the cast.
  • Pop singer Kate Nash
    Kate Nash
    Kate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards....

     released a video including the cast skating round the piano as she played (2007).
  • In 2004, Norwegian State Railways celebrated their 150 year anniversary at Oslo Spektrum
    Oslo Spektrum
    Oslo Spektrum is an indoor multi-purpose arena in east central Oslo, Norway. It opened in December 1990. It is currently owned and operated by Norges Varemesse , who also own and operate the Norges Varemesse conference center in Lillestrøm which is Norway's largest conference center...

     Arena in Oslo
    Oslo
    Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

    , Norway
    Norway
    Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

    . As part of the show, the song Light at the End of the Tunnel
    Light at the End of the Tunnel
    The Light at the End of the Tunnel was a double compilation album by The Damned, released in 1987 as a retrospective collection. The same name was also given to a concurrently released video cassette and an approved band biography by Carol Clerk....

     was performed and at the end of the song a real NSB Class 73
    NSB Class 73
    NSB Class 73 is a class of 22 electric multiple units built by Adtranz for the Norwegian State Railways. The four-car trains were modifications of Class 71, which was again based on the Swedish X2. The A-series consists of 16 intercity trains; they were delivered in 1999 and 2000 and are used on...

     locomotive in fullsize entered the stage.
  • In Germany, the show 'Wunsche Werden Wahr', where kids have their wishes granted, involved Starlight Express three times. One girl dressed up as Pearl and Performed Hilf Mir Verstehn
    Make Up My Heart
    Make Up My Heart is the power ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Pearl.During the song, she is deciding between the two she has fallen in love with...

    . Another dressed as Dinah and went skating with Greaseball. And thirdly, a small girl dressed as Pearl and performed 'Crazy' with the cast.
  • Pebble Mill, a show with British gardener Alan Titchmarsh
    Alan Titchmarsh
    Alan Fred Titchmarsh, MBE DL is an English gardener, broadcaster and novelist. After working as a professional gardener and a garden journalist, he established himself as a media personality through appearances on gardening programmes...

    , involved five songs from the show – 'the Overture', 'Rolling Stock', 'Starlight Express
    Starlight Express (song)
    Starlight Express is the 'showstopper' number from the musical with the same name. In the show, it is performed by Rusty, the show's protagonist...

    ', 'U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
    U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
    "U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D." is a popular song from the musical Starlight Express, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It is performed by Dinah the Dining Car, after being dumped by her macho boyfriend, Greaseball. It is a parody of the Tammy Wynette song,...

    ', and 'Light At The End Of The Tunnel'. Control announced the entry of 'Mr. Alan Titchmarsh' who – guess what – came in on rollerskates.
  • Car company Ford released a number of commercials with the German cast in 2003. One included a family getting stopped at a train crossing. When the train arrives, it is headed by Rusty with the rest of the cast in tow.
  • In 1992, the cast also made a special appearance at the Royal Variety Performance
    Royal Variety Performance
    The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...

    , performing 'Starlight Express' and 'Light At The End Of The Tunnel'.
  • Reno 911 made a reference to the show.
  • In 1985, Italian singer/dancer Raffaella Carrà
    Raffaella Carrà
    Raffaella Carrà , in Italy often simply known as la Carrà and in some Latin American countries sometimes simply as Raffaella, is an Italian singer, dancer, television presenter, and actress...

     released a video of herself performiong a medley from Starlight Express. The Medley included; Rolling Stock, He Whistled at Me, I am the Starlight, Only He, Baby Iron, There's Me, Light at the End of the Tunnel. The video was based on the original London production, starring Raffaella Carrà as Pearl. The backing dancers and singer were all dressed as characters from the show, though none were on rollerskates except the actor playing Rusty. The set mimicked the London setting.
  • Starlight Express has appeared on children's magazine show, Blue Peter
    Blue Peter
    Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...

     twice over the last decade. In 2001, the London cast performed 'Pumping Iron' and 'The Megamix'. In the third year of the UK tour, presenter Andy Akinwolere
    Andy Akinwolere
    Andy Akinwolere is a British television presenter.-Early life:Akinwolere was born in Nigeria in 1982, and moved to the United Kingdom with his family when he was eight years old. They settled in Birmingham, where he was educated.-Education:Akinwolere attended St...

     was challenged to perform 'Crazy' as Rusty with the coaches. He wore rollerblades, rather than quadskates.
  • The theme song from the show was mocked on Season 8 Episode 12, titled "Extra-Large Medium", of the popular comedy cartoon show Family Guy
    Family Guy
    Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...

    as Peter
    Peter Griffin
    Peter Griffin is a fictional character and the protagonist of the animated comedy series Family Guy and the patriarch of the Griffin family. He is voiced by cartoonist Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998....

     repeated "Starlight Express" while skating in circles by himself. Then stopping in the middle of the stage and progressively getting more angry, yet continuing to repeat "Starlight Express" before finally throwing his helmet down and storming off stage.
  • The video game Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies features a celestial train known as the Starflight Express.

Railway enthusiast connections

  • Both Rev Awdry, the writer whose Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
    Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
    Thomas and Friends is a British children's television series, first broadcast on the ITV network in September 1984. Until 2003, it was named Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. This series was shot on 35mm film...

     books were an original inspiration for the musical, and Richard Stilgoe, the musical's lyricist, are known as significant railway enthusiasts, and there are a number of oblique references in the musical
  • The name "Starlight Express" was taken from a late 1950s-early 1960s British railway service which ran overnight between Glasgow and London. In the days of fixed and regulated fares it unusually offered special cheap prices, and was only run at weekends and holiday times. It only lasted for a few years. For a number of reasons, its special routing and its use of locomotives unusual on part of the route, normally two steam locomotives at a time when these were disappearing from main line service, it regularly featured in the news and photograph pages of contemporary railway enthusiast magazines, which Awdry, Stilgoe and others would have read in their younger years. – Others claim that the name "Starlight Express" was taken from Edward Elgar's piece of music by the same name.
  • The Really Useful Company, Andrew Lloyd Webber's production company, takes its name from various references in Awdry's books to Really Useful Engines and the like. Awdry always capitalised the catchphrases which were devised for his books.
  • Control is a railway organisation in Britain, based at the area head office and behind the scenes, which coordinates the various signalboxes up and down the country and gives out information. Control was an invention of the old Midland Railway, based in Derby, in around 1900, and the concept spread nationally.
  • Rusty is named after one of Awdry's locomotive characters, Rusty the Diesel
    Rusty the diesel
    Rusty the Diesel is a fictional Ruston & Hornsby diesel engine on the Skarloey Railway in The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry, and the spin-off TV series Thomas and Friends. He is responsible for hauling maintenance trains for gangers to repair the track. He also occasionally...

    , which is in turn a parody of a real brand of small diesel locomotives (of identical appearance to the one drawn in Awdry's books) manufactured by the Ruston Company, Lincoln, in the 1940s–1960s. They had a prominent "Ruston" manufacturers badge/nameplate across the front of the locomotive which would be noticed by children.
  • Greaseball is inspired by Union Pacific locomotive designs, and exhibits characteristics of 1950s-era Elvis Presley
    Elvis Presley
    Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....

    .
  • Pearl earned her name from Pullman
    Pullman (car or coach)
    In the United States, Pullman was used to refer to railroad sleeping cars which were built and operated on most U.S. railroads by the Pullman Company from 1867 to December 31, 1968....

    , who name their carrages after precious stones, flowers and plants. 'Pearl' is also the name of a car on the Orient Express
    Orient Express
    The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...

    .
  • Electra
    Electra
    In Greek mythology, Electra was an Argive princess and daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. She and her brother Orestes plotted revenge against their mother Clytemnestra and stepfather Aegisthus for the murder of their father Agamemnon...

    , in Greek mythology the daughter of king Agamemnon, has been the name for a number of electric railway locomotives over time.
  • AC/DC, as well as a reference to sexual preference, refers to the power supply to electric trains. AC is Alternating Current, normally high voltage and supplied by overhead wires, and common on main lines, while DC is Direct Current, a more traditional approach, often supplied by additional rails alongside the tracks and common on local lines and metro systems. Locomotives have to be constructed to use one or the other, but a few are specially made to be able to operate on both systems. Once known as AC/DC, with the rise of the alternative usage they tend to be known as Dual Voltage nowadays instead.
  • BoBo is a generic technical description of locomotives with a bogie at each end, each having two axles and separate motors. If it has three axles at each end it is known as a CoCo, etc.
  • Belle (e.g. Brighton Belle) is a long-standing name and individualistic spelling for trains which contain luxury coaches provided by the Pullman Company
    Pullman Company
    The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...

    , an independent organisation which provided its own carriages and attendants in their distinctive brown and cream livery from Victorian times until the 1960s. These carriages had individual names, the majority of which were girls' names, especially those with a classical reference, and as there was a fleet of several hundred at any one time almost all common names were used; several of them duplicate character names in Starlight.
  • Krupp, in addition to being a German armaments manufacturer, was one of the principal German locomotive manufacturers over many years.
  • Ruhrgold is a parody of the train service named Rheingold, which ran for many years from Hook of Holland in Netherlands to Basel in Switzerland, the bulk of the journey being alongside the River Rhine in Germany. Although not a Pullman train it had many of the exclusive features of such. – The "Rheingold" is the supposed gold treasure of the Nibelungen in the Rhine. For the musical, presumably the Ruhr was substituted for the Rhine because the German city of Bochum, where the show is played, lies in the Ruhr, an urban area which derives its name from the river of the same name.
  • British electric locomotive "Starlight Express" was given the name at the opening of the musical in a special ceremony at London Euston station. Fittingly of the BoBo type, number 86231, nearly 20 years old when it received the name, it ran from Euston to the north on main line trains for another 20 years before being replaced.
  • Song titles which play on the railway theme include; "He Whistled At Me", "U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
    U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
    "U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D." is a popular song from the musical Starlight Express, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It is performed by Dinah the Dining Car, after being dumped by her macho boyfriend, Greaseball. It is a parody of the Tammy Wynette song,...

    ", "Light at the End of the Tunnel
    Light at the End of the Tunnel (musical number)
    Light at the End of the Tunnel is the gospel-style finale number from the musical Starlight Express. The Company perform the number as a glorification to Steam...

    ", "Rolling Stock", "No Comeback" and "Hitching and Switching".

External links

  • Really Useful Group Starlight Express's page at the Really Useful Group
    Really Useful Group
    The Really Useful Group Ltd. is an international company set up in 1977 by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is involved in theatre, film, television, video and concert productions, merchandising, magazine publishing, records and music publishing...

    website.
  • Starlight Express Official site of Starlight Express in Bochum.
  • Starlight Express: New Zealand Tour The official website for the 2009 New Zealand tour.
  • Stacy's Musical Village A Starlight Express fansite, featuring complete librettos for the revised London and original Bochum productions.



The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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