Starmites
Encyclopedia
Starmites is a musical with music and lyrics by Barry Keating and a book by Stuart Ross
and Barry Keating, first presented at the Ark Theatre Company
. It received a Tony Award
nomination as Best Musical.
The story revolves around a shy teenager, Eleanor, who creates a fantasy world involving science fiction
characters in her comic book
collection. She escapes into her fantasy world where the "Starmites" are the guardian angels of Innerspace.
Starmites was staged by off-Broadway
by Musical Theater Works at the CSC Theater in 1987, with staging by Mark Herko and featuring Liz Larsen
, Gabriel Barre, and Sharon McNight. It opened on Broadway
at Criterion Center Stage Right on April 27, 1989 and closed on June 18, 1989 after 60 performances and 35 previews. Directed and staged by Larry Carpenter
with choreography by Michele Assaf, it featured Liz Larsen
(Eleanor and Bizarbara), Gabriel Barre (Trinkulus), Brian Lane Green
(Spacepunk), Sharon McNight (Diva), Janet Aldrich, Bennett Cale, and Victor Trent Cook. Currently, there are three versions of Starmites: Starmites Lite, a junior version of Starmites, Starmites professional, the kind used on Broadway, and Starmites High School. The world premier of Starmites High School took place at the White Plains Performing Arts Center in New York and was directed by Jeremy Quinn.
In Shriekwood forest, Eleanor sings a soothing earthly lullaby ("Little Hero"), but winged women kidnap the sleeping 'Mites ("Attack of the Banshees") and soon meet Diva, the Queen of the Banshees ("(Hard to Be) Diva"). She wants one of the Starmites to wed her daughter Bizarbara. She also guards The Cruelty. The leader of the 'Mites, Space Punk, and Eleanor are becoming attracted to each other ("Love Duet"), but Bizarbara also falls in love with Space Punk. He agrees to marry Diva's daughter to save his companions from torture ("Processional (Bizarbara's Wedding)") but changes his mind, unable to betray his love for Eleanor ("Milady").
Diva uses magic to disguise Bizarbara as Eleanor ("Beauty Within"), and at the wedding ceremony between Punk and "Eleanor," Trinkulus, the Starmite lizard mascot, plays The Cruelty, which casts a hypnotic spell ("The Cruelty Stomp"). Shak Graa seizes the Cruelty and prepares to sacrifice Bizarbara (who he believes to be Eleanor), which will enable him to become Master of Earth. Diva then joins forces with the real Eleanor and the Starmites to rescue Bizarbara ("Reach Right Down"). Bizarbara is willing to sacrifice herself to save the Earth. Eleanor, the wounded Space Punk and the Starmites battle and destroy Shak Graa ("The Immolation"). It turns out that Eleanor is Diva's real daughter, the legendary Milady. Bizarbara finds her birth mother on Earth, and harmony is restored. Shak Graa, however, has escaped to Earth, leaving one loose end ("Finale").
Act II
Stuart Ross
Stuart Ross is a Canadian fiction writer, poet, editor, and creative-writing instructor.Ross was born in Toronto's north end in 1959 and grew up in the Borough of North York. He began writing at a very young age and was first published at age 16 by Books by Kids . This book, The Thing in Exile,...
and Barry Keating, first presented at the Ark Theatre Company
ARK Theatre Company
The ARK Theatre Company is an actor-driven repertory theatre ensemble working in Los Angeles, California.-General:Ark Theatre Company is an ensemble of theatre professionals specializing in classical theatre, with an eye to contemporary plays that reflect the depth and interplay of language in...
. It received a Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nomination as Best Musical.
The story revolves around a shy teenager, Eleanor, who creates a fantasy world involving science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
characters in her comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
collection. She escapes into her fantasy world where the "Starmites" are the guardian angels of Innerspace.
Starmites was staged by off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
by Musical Theater Works at the CSC Theater in 1987, with staging by Mark Herko and featuring Liz Larsen
Liz Larsen
Liz Larsen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an American actress. She is best known for playing Jessica Reed on Law & Order....
, Gabriel Barre, and Sharon McNight. It opened on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at Criterion Center Stage Right on April 27, 1989 and closed on June 18, 1989 after 60 performances and 35 previews. Directed and staged by Larry Carpenter
Larry Carpenter
Larry Carpenter is an American theatre and television director, and producer. In the theatre, he has worked as an Artistic Director, Associate Artistic Director, a Managing Director and General Manager in both the New York and Regional Arenas. He also works as a theatre director and is known...
with choreography by Michele Assaf, it featured Liz Larsen
Liz Larsen
Liz Larsen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an American actress. She is best known for playing Jessica Reed on Law & Order....
(Eleanor and Bizarbara), Gabriel Barre (Trinkulus), Brian Lane Green
Brian Lane Green
Brian Lane Green is an American stage, film and television actor.Born in Columbus, Indiana, he is known for his recurring roles throughout the country as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Mr...
(Spacepunk), Sharon McNight (Diva), Janet Aldrich, Bennett Cale, and Victor Trent Cook. Currently, there are three versions of Starmites: Starmites Lite, a junior version of Starmites, Starmites professional, the kind used on Broadway, and Starmites High School. The world premier of Starmites High School took place at the White Plains Performing Arts Center in New York and was directed by Jeremy Quinn.
Synopsis
Eleanor, a shy teenager, collects science fiction comic books. To avoid growing pains, she imagines herself as a superheroine, such as in the comic books ("Superhero Girl"). In her fantasy, she becomes involved in the conflict between the evil Shak Graa and the Starmites, guardian angels of Innerspace. The 'Mites believe that Eleanor is pre-ordained to save the universe from destruction ("Starmites"). Eleanor and the Starmites seek "The Cruelty," a powerful musical instrument, which they must find before it falls into the hands of Shak Graa ("Afraid of the Dark").In Shriekwood forest, Eleanor sings a soothing earthly lullaby ("Little Hero"), but winged women kidnap the sleeping 'Mites ("Attack of the Banshees") and soon meet Diva, the Queen of the Banshees ("(Hard to Be) Diva"). She wants one of the Starmites to wed her daughter Bizarbara. She also guards The Cruelty. The leader of the 'Mites, Space Punk, and Eleanor are becoming attracted to each other ("Love Duet"), but Bizarbara also falls in love with Space Punk. He agrees to marry Diva's daughter to save his companions from torture ("Processional (Bizarbara's Wedding)") but changes his mind, unable to betray his love for Eleanor ("Milady").
Diva uses magic to disguise Bizarbara as Eleanor ("Beauty Within"), and at the wedding ceremony between Punk and "Eleanor," Trinkulus, the Starmite lizard mascot, plays The Cruelty, which casts a hypnotic spell ("The Cruelty Stomp"). Shak Graa seizes the Cruelty and prepares to sacrifice Bizarbara (who he believes to be Eleanor), which will enable him to become Master of Earth. Diva then joins forces with the real Eleanor and the Starmites to rescue Bizarbara ("Reach Right Down"). Bizarbara is willing to sacrifice herself to save the Earth. Eleanor, the wounded Space Punk and the Starmites battle and destroy Shak Graa ("The Immolation"). It turns out that Eleanor is Diva's real daughter, the legendary Milady. Bizarbara finds her birth mother on Earth, and harmony is restored. Shak Graa, however, has escaped to Earth, leaving one loose end ("Finale").
Songs
Act 1- Superhero Girl — Eleanor
- Starmites — Starmites and Space Punk
- Trink's Narration — Trinkulus and Starmites
- Afraid of the Dark — Space Punk, Starmites, Eleanor, and Trinkulus
- Lullaby (Little Hero) — Eleanor and Starmites
- Attack of Banshees — Banshees
- (Hard to Be) Diva — Diva and Banshees
- Love Duet — Space Punk and Eleanor
- The Connuptial Dance of Spousal Arousal — Banshees and Bizarbara
- Finaletto — Company
Act II
- Processional (Bizarbara's Wedding) — Bizarbara and Banshees
- Milady — Space Punk and Starmites
- Beauty Within — Diva and Bizarbara
- The Cruelty Stomp — Trinkulus and Company
- Reach Right Down — Starmites, Diva, and Banshees
- The Immolation — Eleanor, Shak Graa, Space Punk, and Starmites
- Starmites/Diva (Reprise) — Diva, Starmites, and Banshees
- Finale — Company
Recording
The Original Cast recording was released on April 27, 1999 on the Original Cast Record label (ASIN: B00000GBYT).Awards and nominations
Tony AwardTony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
- Best Musical (Produced by Hinks Shimberg, Mary Keil, Steven Warnick) (nominee)
- Best Actor in a Musical
- Gabriel Barre (nominee)
- Brian Lane Green (nominee)
- Best Actress in a Musical (Sharon McNight) (nominee)
- Best Choreography (Michele Assaf) (nominee)
- Best Direction of a Musical (Larry Carpenter) (nominee)
- Theatre World AwardTheatre World AwardThe Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
- Sharon McNight (winner)