15 Facts About Starlight Express

1.

Starlight Express is a 1984 British musical, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe.

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2.

Starlight Express is the ninth-longest-running West End show and 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.

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3.

Starlight Express has its roots in three abandoned projects: an animated TV series based on Thomas the Tank Engine, a novelty pop single, and an animated film based on Cinderella.

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4.

In 1983 the first act of Starlight Express was workshopped by Nunn and Phillips with a cast that included the comedian Tracey Ullman.

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5.

Starlight Express has been revised many times since it was first produced.

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6.

Starlight Express tells Greaseball he will help him win the championship by sabotaging Rusty.

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7.

Starlight Express then tells Electra he will wipe out Greaseball, clearing the way for Electra to win.

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8.

The Starlight Express appears in front of Rusty and just happens to be Poppa being streamlined.

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9.

Starlight Express reminds him that whatever strength he needs – a starlight – is within him already and modifies him with a streamlining of his own.

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10.

Starlight Express realises that of all the trains she's raced with, only Rusty ever acted selflessly towards her.

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11.

Starlight Express tells Pearl that he won the race and confesses his love for her.

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12.

Musical numbers in Starlight Express have changed many times since the first production opened in 1984.

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13.

Broadway production of Starlight Express began performances on Broadway on 24 February 1987, and opened on 15 March, at the Gershwin Theatre.

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14.

On 12 June 1988, Starlight Express opened at the purpose-built theatre Starlight Express Theater in Bochum, Germany.

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15.

Starlight Express wrote new material, which was workshopped for six performances at The Other Palace in London in September 2017 before being rolled out in Bochum.

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