An abridged production of Starlight Express played at The Hilton Theatre at the Las Vegas Hilton (now known as the Westgate Las Vegas) from 14 September 1993 to 30 November 1997. The production was contracted to run for 5 years, but ended early when the hotel changed owners.
Starlight Express was the first permanent production of a piece of legitimate musical theatre in Las Vegas's history.
Creative Team
- Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
- Scenic and Costume Designer John Napier
- Associate Scenic Designer Ray Huessy
- Sound Designer Graham Carmichael
- Lighting Design and Special Effects by Rick Belzer
- Automated Lighting Design by Aland Henderson
- Conventional Lighting Design by Douglas Cox
- Musical Director Jan Rosenberg
- Orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Conductor Wayne Green
- Laser Designs by Floyd Rollefstad
- Film Design by Kevin Biles Design
- Pyrotechnics developed by John Bordeaux
- Production Audio Supervisor Michael Cusick
- Technical Supervisor William M. Mensching
- Production Consultant Clayton Phillips
- Stunt Coordinator Todd Lester
- Model Trains Developed by Paul Wolfram and John Graves
- Wig and Hair Designs by Bernie Ardia
- Company Manager Tony McLean
- Production Stage Manager Seth C. Wenig
- Resident Artistic Supervisor Preston Simpson
- Skate Supervisor Michal Fraley
- Assistant Director/Choreographer James Walski
- Assistant Choreographer VOYD
- Directed and Choreographed by Arlene Phillips
- Presented by The Troika Organization and The Las Vegas Hilton in association with Starlight Vegas Company, inc.
- Produced by Nicholas Howey, Kenneth H. Gentry and Dallett Norris
Unique elements
Starlight Express in Las Vegas was unique in many ways.
The material largely followed the 'New' Starlight revisions unveiled in 1992, but resurrected CB/The Red Caboose, who had been removed from the London production. A few lines were also inserted at the start of the show, placing the story on Christmas Eve (Control's mother tells him that now that his 'stocking is hung up' and now it's time to sleep, ahead of the 'big day tomorrow, Christmas Day').
The material was also abridged. Several songs were trimmed or cut. The interval was also removed, bringing the running time down to 90 minutes.
Design
The production recycled some elements of the first US tour, including the race sequences filmed for that production, and a piece of the set – the starting gate/"bridge".
The production was also given a Las Vegas sheen, with the audience invited to 'place their bets' for each race, and the Coaches given a controversial "showgirl" makeover.
Musical Numbers
You can see the full list of songs here.
Gallery
Casts
Role | Cast | Role | Cast |
---|---|---|---|
Rusty | Steven Michael Skeels | Pearl | Reva Rice |
Poppa | Jimmy Lockett | Dinah | Dawn Marie Church |
Greaseball | Rod Weber | Ashley | Meera Popkin |
Electra | Anthony T. Perry | Buffy | Edyie Fleming |
Rocky 1 | Michael Carl King | Krupp | Nelson Yee |
Rocky 2 | David Enriquez | Wrench | Natasha Rannalls |
Rocky 3 | Jim Harrison | Purse | Marvin Engran |
Flat-top | Andrew A. Currie | Joule | Jennifer Bizik |
Dustin | Matthew D. Burns | Volta | Anne M. Tiger |
Caboose | T. Robert Pigott | Marshall/Gang | Todd Lester |
Bobo | Victor L. Butler | Swing | Scott Bolt |
Espresso | C.C. Brown | Swing | Eddie Marco |
Ruhrgold | Danny Metcalfe | Swing | Scott Carlyle |
Turnov | Jacob Brent | Swing | Amanda Clarke |
Nintendo | Bob Lee Dysinger | Swing | Matthew V. Daugherty |
Prince of Wales | Steven Kent Dry | Swing | Madeleine Ehlert |
Swing | Paul Finoccharo | Swing | Kevyn Haile |
Swing | Elizabeth Holum | Swing | Chris Lamontagne |
Swing | Susan Lamontagne | Swing | Larry Munsey |
Role | Cast | ||
---|---|---|---|
Rusty | Freddie T | Pearl | Reva Rice |
Poppa | Jimmy Lockett | Dinah | Dawn Marie Church |
Greaseball | Rod Weber | Ashley | Jennifer Bizik |
Electra | Anthony T. Perry | Buffy | Amanda Clarke |
Rocky 1 | Michael Carl King | Krupp | Nelson Yee |
Rocky 2 | Tony Cordell | Wrench | Nicole Discola |
Rocky 3 | Leo Alvarez | Purse | Terence Yancey |
Flat-top | Paul Finoccharo | Joule | Natasha Rannalls |
Dustin | Tom Gamblin | Volta | Kelly Love |
Caboose | Chris Castillo | ||
Bobo | Buddy Casimano | Swing | Gary Albers |
Espresso | Eric Jordan Young | Swing | Leigh Bucknam |
Ruhrgold | Freddy Moretine | Swing | Matthew D. Burns |
Turnov | Steven Kent Dry | Swing | Scott Carlyle |
Nintendo | Robert Dean | Swing | Matthew Daugherty |
Prince of Wales | Mark Moschello | Swing | Garland Days |
Flying Marshall 1 | Todd Lester | Swing | Bob Lee Dysinger |
Flying Marshall 2 | Brad Anderson | Swing | Marvin Engran |
Swing | Kevyn Haile | Swing | Allen Lev |
Swing | Bobby Love | Swing | Stefanie Morse |
Swing | Rachelle Rak | Swing | Christopher Strauss |
Swing | Anne M. Tiger | Swing | Gregory Vander Ploeg |
Role | Cast | ||
---|---|---|---|
Rusty | Greg Ellis [1] | Pearl | Reva Rice |
Poppa | [[ | Dinah | [[ |
Greaseball | [[ | Ashley | [[ |
Electra | [[ | Buffy | [[ |
Rocky 1 | [[ | Krupp | [[ |
Rocky 2 | [[ | Wrench | [[ |
Rocky 3 | [[ | Purse | [[ |
Flat-top | [[ | Joule | [[ |
Dustin | [[ | Volta | [[ |
Caboose | [[ | ||
Bobo | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Espresso | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Ruhrgold | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Turnov | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Nintendo | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Prince of Wales | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Flying Marshall 1 | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Flying Marshall 2 | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Swing | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Swing | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Swing | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Swing | [[ | Swing | [[ |
Role | Cast | ||
---|---|---|---|
Rusty | Ernest Marchain | Pearl | Dawn Marie Church |
Poppa | Lothair Eaton | Dinah | Jennifer Bizik |
Greaseball | Rod Weber | Ashley | Amanda Clarke |
Electra | Eric Clausell | Buffy | Brigitte Snowden |
Rocky 1 | Troy V McLaughlin | Krupp | Chris Galen |
Rocky 2 | Allen Lev | Wrench | Sheri Kush |
Rocky 3 | Angelo Rivera | Purse | Reginald H Jennings |
Flat-top | Todd Lester | Joule | Raquel Baldwin |
Dustin | Tony Tripoli | Volta | Paula Carlyle |
Caboose | Ken Romero | ||
Bobo | Leigh Bucknam | Swing | Gary Albers |
Espresso | Ron McKay | Swing | Beverley Braybon |
Ruhrgold | Scott Carlyle | Swing | Matthew D. Burns |
Turnov | Tony Cordell | Swing | Angel Creeks |
Nintendo | Juan Cantu | Swing | Steven Kent Dry |
Prince of Wales | Sheldon Craig | Swing | Andy Karl |
Swing | Mark C Kraushaar | Swing | Kelly Love |
Swing | Louanne Madorma | Swing | Freddy Moretine |
Swing | Mark Moschello | Swing | Alex C Oteyza |
Swing | RT Smith | Swing | Gregory Vander Ploeg |
Role | Cast | ||
---|---|---|---|
Rusty | Ernest Marchain | Pearl | Dawn Marie Church |
Poppa | Lothair Eaton | Dinah | Kelly Love |
Greaseball | Rod Weber | Ashley | Angel Creeks |
Electra | Reginald H Jennings | Buffy | Jill Marie Petersson |
Rocky 1 | Troy V McLaughlin | Krupp | Chris Galen |
Rocky 2 | Allen Lev | Wrench | Sheri Kush |
Rocky 3 | Angelo Rivera | Purse | RT Smith |
Flat-top | Todd Lester | Joule | Gary Albers |
Dustin | Mikael Petersson | Volta | Paula Carlyle |
Caboose | Ken Romero | ||
Bobo | Leigh Bucknam | Swing | Scott Bolt |
Espresso | Tony Cordell | Swing | Jennifer Bizik |
Ruhrgold | Scott Carlyle | Swing | Beverley Braybon |
Turnov | Ron McKay | Swing | Steven Cates |
Nintendo | Richard D Barber | Swing | Matthew Daugherty |
Prince of Wales | Tony Torres | Swing | Steven Kent Dry |
Swing | Andy Karl | Swing | Mark C Kraushaar |
Swing | Louanne Madorma | Swing | Freddy Moretine |
Swing | Mark Moschello | Swing | Alex C Oteyza |
Swing | James Russell | Swing | Nelson Yee |
- ↑ 1996 Press Release - fan archive