Жұлдызды экспресс: Эндрю Ллойд Уэббер мюзиклының тарихы

1984 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Starlight Express is a 1984 musical, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It tells the story of a young but obsolete steam engine, Rusty, who races in a championship against modern engines in the hope of impressing a first class observation car, Pearl. Famously, the actors perform on roller skates. Running for 7,409 performances in London, Starlight Express is the ninth longest running West End show. It is the most successful musical in Germany, where it has been performed in a purpose built theatre since 1988, holding the Guinness World Record for most visitors to a musical in a single theatre.

Starlight Express has its roots in three abandoned projects: an animated TV series based on The Railway Series (the book series that introduced Thomas the Tank Engine), a novelty pop single, and an animated film based on Cinderella. In 1974, Lloyd Webber approached author Reverend W. Awdry about adapting Awdry's Thomas the Tank Engine stories as an animated TV series. Following the meeting, Lloyd Webber started composing, with actor and children's TV writer Peter Reeves contributing lyrics, alongside artist Brian Cosgrove animating for it. They pitched their material to Granada TV, who commissioned a pilot episode. The episode was completed in early 1976, but Granada ultimately decided not to produce a full series as they feared that Awdry's stories were not then popular enough outside the UK to justify investing the time and money needed to make the series (ironically, the Thomas & Friends series later premiered seven months after Starlight Express and became highly successful). After withdrawing from the project, Lloyd Webber heard a recording of an American soul singer, Earl Jordan, who could sing three notes at once in the style of a steam whistle. Lloyd Webber and Peter Reeves wrote a novelty pop song for Jordan called "Engine of Love," released in 1977. The song failed to chart, but "Engine of Love" went on to feature in some productions of Starlight Express and the melody was also later used for "He'll Whistle At Me". Around the same time as writing "Engine of Love", an American TV station invited Lloyd Webber to compose songs for an animated film of Cinderella. In this version of the story, the Prince would hold a competition to decide which Engine would pull the royal train across the United States of America. Cinderella would be a steam engine, and the ugly sisters would be a diesel engine and an electric engine. The project went into development hell, but Lloyd Webber remained interested in telling a story with trains. Starlight Express proper began in early 1981. Lloyd Webber asked lyricist Richard Stilgoe to help him revive the idea as a concert for schools, in the style of Lloyd Webber's breakthrough musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe presented two songs the following summer at the Sydmonton Festival, Lloyd Webber's private event for showcasing new work. The director Trevor Nunn watched the performance and offered to help develop the material from something "twee" to something with more "spectacle and theatre magic". Together, Lloyd Webber, Stilgoe and Nunn developed the story to include the idea of trains and coaches racing. The choreographer Arlene Phillips was brought on board along with the designer John Napier, who suggested staging the show on roller skates. In 1983, the first act of Starlight Express was workshopped by Nunn and Phillips with a cast that included the comedian Tracey Ullman. Based on the workshop's success, Starlight Express began full scale production, opening in the West End in March 1984.

Starlight Express has been revised many times since it was first produced. These revisions range from tweaks to lyrics to adding or removing entire songs, characters and subplots. The fundamental story, however, has stayed the same. This synopsis reflects the show as it was first produced, in the West End in 1984.

A young boy falls asleep while playing with his toy trains. In his dreams, the trains come to life. The reigning champion – a diesel engine from the U. S. A. called Greaseball – enters with his cavalcade train of several other diesel engines and three freight trucks. They boast of diesel's supremacy ("Rolling Stock"). Next, a steam engine called Rusty enters. Greaseball mocks Rusty, who replies that he will win the championship, despite steam being obsolete compared to diesel ("Call Me Rusty"). The dreaming boy, Control, intervenes and orders Rusty to collect a passenger train from the marshalling yard. He returns with four coaches that make up the passenger train: a dining car called Dinah, a smoking car called Ashley, a buffet car called Buffy, and an observation car called Pearl. Control sends Rusty away to fetch a freight train as the coaches introduce themselves to the audience ("A Lotta Locomotion"). Greaseball returns. He boasts again, this time to the coaches ("Pumping Iron"). Rusty returns with the six trucks that make up the freight train: three boxcars called Rocky 1, Rocky 2 and Rocky 3, a brick truck called Flat Top, an aggregate hopper called Dustin and a brake truck called C. B. They introduce themselves to the audience and argue with the coaches over whether it is preferable to carry people or cargo ("Freight"). Control declares entries for the championship open. Six trains arrive to challenge Greaseball: Bobo, the French Sud Est; Espresso, the Italian Settebello; Weltschaft, the German Class 103; Turnov, the Trans Siberian Express from Russia; Hashamoto, the Japanese Shinkansen Bullet Train; and the City of Milton Keynes, the Advanced Passenger Train from Great Britain. Entries are about to close when a surprise entry – an electric engine called Electra – arrives. Accompanied by his train of five components – an armaments truck called Krupp, a repair truck called Wrench, a money truck called Purse, a freezer truck called Volta and an animal truck called Joule – Electra declares that electricity is the future of the railways ("AC/DC"). Greaseball and Electra square up to each other as the entrants form a parade to celebrate the race ("Coda of Freight"). Control announces the rules of the championship: the trains will compete in pairs, with an engine pulling a coach. There will be three elimination heats, and the winner of each heat will move on to the finals to decide the fastest train. The engines start to pick their coaches. Rusty offers to race with Pearl, but she rejects him, explaining that she is waiting for her 'dream train' ("He Whistled at Me"). Electra's messenger, Purse, enters with an invitation from Electra. Even though Electra is not her dream train, she accepts, leaving Rusty alone. The first heat pits Greaseball and Dinah against Espresso, Buffy, Hashimoto, and C. B. C. B. sabotages Hashimoto by applying his brakes at critical moments in the race. Greaseball and Dinah win comfortably, claiming a place in the finals. After the race, Dinah objects to Greaseball's cheating. In response, he abandons her, and C. B. comforts Dinah ("There's Me"). Meanwhile, a lonely Rusty has retreated to the freight yard where the former champion – an old steam engine called Poppa – sings a blues song to the trucks ("Poppa's Blues"). Poppa tries to persuade Rusty to race without Pearl, urging him to believe in the Starlight Express. When Rusty refuses, Poppa introduces him to an old Pullman car called Memphis Belle ("Belle The Sleeping Car"). Rusty agrees to race with Belle. They compete in the second heat against Electra, Pearl, Weltschaft, and Joule. Electra and Pearl finish first, securing a place in the finals; Rusty and Belle finish last. Already despondent after losing Pearl as his race partner, Rusty loses his last shreds of confidence. Poppa decides to step up and prove that steam power is still relevant, despite everyone's misgivings, by racing himself in the third heat. Only Dustin is willing to run with him. Rusty points out that the race is already whole, but suddenly, Control announces that the British train has been scrapped, leaving space for a late entry. Poppa interprets this as a sign from the Starlight Express and enters the race. The third heat pits Poppa and Dustin against Bobo, Ashley, Turnov and Wrench. Poppa wins the race, securing a place in the finals against Greaseball and Electra, but the effort of outracing the others and pulling the hefty Dustin exhausts him. Now worn out, he begs Rusty to take his place. Rusty refuses at first, but then he notices Pearl with Electra and is jealous. When C. B. offers to race with him, Rusty announces that he will take Poppa's place. Greaseball and the other competitors mock him and then leave. Alone, Rusty prays to the supposedly mythical Starlight Express for help in the final ("Starlight Express").

The trains debate whether Rusty should be allowed to take Poppa's place in the finals since he's already competed and lost or whether the area should go to Bobo, who finished second in Poppa's heat ("The Rap"). They ultimately decide to let Rusty race. Control offers the engines the chance to change partners. Pearl abandons Electra and joins Greaseball, leaving Dinah feeling betrayed. Dinah expresses shame at being uncoupled, although she cannot speak the word itself ("U. N. C. O. U. P. L. E. D."). Ashley, Buffy and Belle try to persuade Dinah to fight for Greaseball's affection ("Rolling Stock (Reprise)"), but instead, she accepts an offer from Electra to replace Pearl in the finals. Elsewhere, C. B. hatches a plan. He tells Greaseball he will help him win the championship by sabotaging Rusty. He then tells Electra he will wipe out Greaseball, clearing the way for Electra to win. When Electra expresses his surprise at C. B. 's duplicity, C. B. explains that he has spent a career secretly causing train crashes for fun ("C. B."). The finals take place between Electra and Dinah, Greaseball and Pearl, and Rusty and C. B. C. B. sabotages Rusty, slowing him down so he misses a switch on the tracks and cannot finish the race. Electra and Greaseball finish in a dead heat. Control announces that there will be another race, with Electra and Greaseball going head to head to decide the winner. Rusty complains that he was cheated, but the marshals refuse to listen. Pearl confronts Greaseball, but he warns her to say nothing, as the marshals would also consider her complicit and punish her. Rusty retreats to the freight yard, where he bumps into the Rockies. They tell him he will never win without luck and should give up ("Right Place, Right Time"). The Rockies leave Rusty alone. He appeals again to the mythical Starlight Express for help, and this time, it hears. The Starlight Express, which is portrayed by the same actor as Poppa, appears in front of Rusty. The Starlight Express reminds Rusty that he already possesses the strength he needs if he believes in himself, inspiring him to enter the rerun of the final race. ("I Am The Starlight"). The Starlight Express disappears, and Rusty finds himself back in the freight yard with Dustin, who says he was asleep but felt the starlight's presence. Rusty asks Dustin to race with him in the final. He accepts, and they head off together. Moments before the race, Dinah, angry with how Electra treats her, disconnects from him. Electra quickly appeals to C. B. to take her place. The trains gather to watch what they expect will be a head to head final between Greaseball and Pearl and Electra and C. B Suddenly, Rusty arrives with Dustin, and the marshals allow him to enter the race. The race is fast and furious. This time, the downhill track turns Dustin's weight into an advantage for Rusty. Greaseball struggles with an unwilling Pearl holding him back, and Electra uses all his power to disrupt his opponents. Electra zaps electricity at Greaseball but misses and injures Pearl. Greaseball, showing no concern, disconnects Pearl at full speed. Rusty diverts from the race course just in time to save her but at the cost of falling into a distant third place. To avoid being disqualified for not having a coach, Greaseball starts to grapple with Electra over C. B. The fight degenerates into chaos and Greaseball, Electra and C. B. crash, allowing Rusty to win the race. But instead of celebrating, he leaves immediately to find Pearl. Control warns that Rusty will cancel his lap of honor if he does not return quickly. Meanwhile, humiliated and furious, Electra leaves the race track, swearing never to return ("No Comeback"). Greaseball and C. B. emerge in a tangled wreck. They lament the heavy toll racing has taken on them ("One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many"). Poppa demands that Greaseball and C. B. help find Rusty. Away from the other engines, Pearl fears that she caused Rusty to lose the race. She realises that of all the trains she's raced with, only Rusty acted selflessly towards her ("Only He"). Rusty arrives. He tells Pearl that he won the race and confesses his love for her ("Only You"). The other trains arrive. Greaseball finally apologises to Dinah for his behaviour, and they reconcile. Greaseball complains that he's finished as a racer, but Poppa offers to rebuild him as a steam engine. Control tries to assert some control, announcing that Rusty's lap of honour is cancelled. Tired of Control's behaviour, Poppa and the other engines tell Control to "shut it" and celebrate the second coming of steam power ("Light at the End of the Tunnel").

The Broadway production of Starlight Express began performances on Broadway on 24 February 1987 and opened on 15 March at the Gershwin Theatre. It ran for 761 regular performances and 22 previews, closing on 8 January 1989. Created by the original team of Trevor Nunn (direction), Arlene Phillips (choreography) and John Napier (design), this version of Starlight Express was extensively revised from the original West End production. The story was localised, with the trains racing across America for a "silver dollar" trophy. The plot was streamlined, with one fewer race than the West End production. Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe also made many changes to the music and lyrics, notably adding a ballad for Pearl, "Make Up My Heart", which has been included in every production since, and a reworked version of "Engine of Love", the novelty pop song Lloyd Webber wrote in 1977 for Earl Jordan. Additional adjustments were made to the characters' costumes, including giving Rusty a "Starlight Express" outfit after "I Am the Starlight", which was deemed too similar to the rolling stock uniforms. This was eventually removed due to a lack of quick change time and the costume not being different enough.

On 12 June 1988, Starlight Express opened at the purpose built theatre de in Bochum, Germany. As of 2023, the new reimagined production was still running and has been seen by more than 19 million people. The production took a hiatus due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, but now continues to run as normal. The creative team included the choreographer and designer from the West End and Broadway productions, Arlene Phillips and John Napier, alongside a new director, Dion McHugh. Starlight Express in Bochum largely followed the template set by the Broadway production. However, the creative team made further revisions, notably removing a character, Belle, who had been part of both the West End and Broadway productions. At the time of the Bochum production's opening, three markedly different Starlight Express versions ran concurrently. The display changed many times, notably in 2018, to mark the show's 30th anniversary. After extensive workshops in London, songs were cut, characters removed, female engines added, and most notably, Papa changed to Mama. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Arlene Philips felt the current zeitgeist was to make the show more "gender friendly". The Starlight Express Theater features tracks on three levels in a U shape, with the audience sitting in the middle and around these tracks. That the venue took less than one year to build is documented in the Guinness Book of Records. In March 2008, the production ran a talent competition called Musical Showstar 2008 on German television to find the next Rusty and Pearl. Kevin Köhler and Anna Maria Schmidt won the competition. Schmidt dropped out of training, but Köhler premiered as Rusty on 1 August 2008.

An abridged, 90 minute production without an intermission opened at the Las Vegas Hilton on 14 September 1993, with direction by Arlene Phillips and with Reva Rice reprising her role of Pearl. Several songs were cut, and many lyrics trimmed to make it fit into its 90 minute run time with great care taken to preserve the plot's integrity. This production was the first permanent legitimate musical theatre production in Las Vegas. However, concessions were made through a shortened run time and betting references in the race sequences. The Coaches' costumes were also given a "Vegas Showgirl" makeover during the run. This production used the filmed race sequences from the first U. S. tour (which played in the background during the live races on stage) and some of the set pieces. When the hotel changed ownership, the new owners ended the run before its 5 year contract concluded, with the show closing on 30 November 1997.

From October 1997 until April 1998, a Spanish language production entitled Expreso Astral was played at the Teatro Polanco in Mexico City. Mostly, it was a Spanish version of the Las Vegas production (using the same edited script) with costumes and sets inspired by several earlier shows. The presentation was directed by Bobby Love, with the Spanish translation by Marco Villafan. Many of the character's names were Hispanicized, with Rusty becoming Ferro, Pearl becoming Perla, Poppa becoming El Jefe, and the National Engines were localised with Carioca, a Brazilian train, and Pibe, an Argentine train. A cast recording of this production was made but was never released due to complications with the rights.

With a few changes, a downsized version of the Broadway production toured the U. S. and Canada from November 1989 until April 1991. Rather than scaling the show up to fill stadiums, the set was small enough to fit regular regional theatres. The show was the same as the Australian/Japanese touring production, with the "Silver Dollar" subplot removed and the character of Memphis Belle cut completely. With the "Silver Dollar" plot drawn, an abbreviated version of "The Rap" from London was used to open Act II. The races were primarily shown on film; however, a tiny race track extended to the audience. The costumes were based on the original Broadway production, and some were recycled directly from that earlier production. The second U. S. tour opened in Biloxi, Mississippi on 1 April 2003 and toured the U. S. until 13 June 2004. The show was originally performed featuring the songs "Wide Smile", "Girls' Rolling Stock", and "Only He", but for reasons Troika (the production company) never disclosed, it was later shortened by the removal of "Wide Smile" and "Girls' Rolling Stock" and "Only He" was replaced by "Next Time You Fall In Love". This production featured revisions to the material by David Yazbek, including a new song, "A Whole Lotta Locomotion", and rewriting "The Rap". Due to the restrictions of touring spaces, digital video company Inition was commissioned to produce high definition race footage in 3D film to replace the live races.

The first U. K. tour of Starlight Express (now entitled Starlight Express: The Third Dimension) opened on 4 November 2004 in Manchester. The production was produced by David Ian Productions and directed by Mykal Rand. Originally adapted from the second U. S. tour, most of David Yazbek's contributions were removed after Andrew Lloyd Webber visited a performance. In November 2007 the first U. K. tour production toured Stockholm, Gothenburg, Oslo and Helsinki, using an expanded set designed for use in stadium venues. Bill Kenwright Productions presented a second tour of the U. K., beginning at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 10 May 2012. This production included a new song, "I Do", written by the composer's son, Alastair Lloyd Webber in place of "Only You" or "Next Time You Fall in Love". Other changes included the character of Ashley The Smoking Car being replaced by Duvay The Sleeping Car due to the recent British smoking ban, the subsequent redundancy of smoking cars, and the generally negative public attitude toward smoking. The production reused the race sequences filmed for the first U. K. tour.

A large scale "in the round" production played in stadiums in Tokyo and Osaka from November 1987 to January 1988. Due to the scale of this production, the National Engines and Electra's Entourage were doubled up to fill the performance area. This production was based on the Broadway production, with only minor changes, such as removing Belle and the "Silver Dollar" subplot. The stage design was unique to this production, featuring landmarks such as Mount Rushmore and a platform that could elevate up from the floor to change the setting of the races. This tour went on to Australia through 1988. Due to popular demand, the in the round term returned to Japan from 24 March to 18 July 1990. 2013, the second U. K. tour travelled to Hong Kong, where it played at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 11 October to 4 November 2013. From there, it moved to Singapore, playing at the Marina Bay Sands from 13 November to 24 November 2013. This version of the show is licensed for amateur theatre groups as The Definitive Starlight Express.

The large scale tour that began in Japan in 1987 continued to Australia, where it visited Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, ending in May 1988. (Minor characters such as The Components and The Nationals were doubled during this tour and given alternate names to fill the more extensive arena sized set.)

In 2009, following an extended run in Europe, the props and costumes from the second U. K. tour were shipped to New Zealand to form a new production. This production played arenas in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland in July and August 2009 and featured some performers from various other international productions.

As the first non replica production of the show, it was completely redesigned by Feld Entertainment 's On Ice unit with the Really Useful Group. It toured the United States from 1997 until 1997. The production was directed by Robin Cousins and featured figure and stunt skaters miming pre recorded music. It failed to find an audience and closed halfway through its scheduled tour.

The South African premiere occurred at the Joburg Theatre from 2 July until 1 September 2013. The production was directed by Janice Honeyman with choreography by Karen Bruce, who was given carte blanche to reimagine the show.

The show is available to regional and school groups in the U. S. A. The regional premiere was in Tuacahn, Utah, in June 2013. It is licensed through The Musical Company.

+CharactersOriginal West End cast (1984)Original Broadway cast (1987)Original Australian Cast (1987)Original Bochum cast (1988)First US Tour cast (1989)Second Japanese condition (1990)Original Las Vegas cast (1993)Second US Tour cast (2003)Original UK Tour cast (2004)Original New Zealand cast (2009)UK Tour Cast (2012)Bochum 30th Anniversary cast (2018)London Revival cast (2024) RustyRay ShellGreg MowryBobby CollinsSteven Michael SkeelsSean McDermottBobby CollinsSteven Michael SkeelsFranklyn WarfieldJames GillanJamie GoldingKristofer HardingBlake Patrick AndersonJeevan Braich PearlStephanie LawrenceReva RiceNikki BelsherMaria Jane HydeReva RiceNikki BelsherReva RiceClarissa GraceJane HornRebecca WrightAmanda CouttsGeorgina HagenKayna Montecillo GreaseballJeff ShankleyRobert TortiTroy BurgessPaul KribbeRon DeVitoDanny MetcalfeRod WeberDrue WilliamsTom KanavanMatthew CuttsJamie CapewellBen CarruthersAl Knott ElectraJeffrey DanielKenneth ArdDavid Michael JohnsonEric ClausellMykal RandAnthony T. PerryDustin DubreuilMykal RandSjoerd van der MeerTom Pigram Dinah the Dining CarFrances RuffelleJane KrakowskiDebbie WakeNatalie HowardDawn Marie ChurchDebbie WakeDawn Marie ChurchKatie O'TooleTanya RobbTorum HengRuthie StephensRose OuelletteEve Humphrey Buffy the Buffet CarNancy WoodJamie Beth ChandlerCharlotte AveryCarol HoffmanNicole PicardCaron CardelleEdyie FlemingJoanna RichertAshley HaleCamilla HardyVeronika Hammer (as Carrie the Luggage Van)Renz Cardenas (as Tassita the Quiet Car) Ashley the Smoking CarChrissy WickhamAndrea McArdleErin LordanRoslyn HowellRachelle RakC. J. RangerMeera PopkinKait HolbrookTanya RobbSarah Landy Kelsey Cobban (as Duvay the Sleeping Car)Rochelle Sherona (as Belle the Bar Car)Ashlyn Weekes (as Belle the Bar Car) PoppaLon SattonSteve FowlerRichie PittsTrevor Michael GeorgesJimmy LockettRichie PittsJimmy LockettDennis LeGreeAnton StephensLothair EatonReva Rice (as Momma)Jade Marvin (as Momma)