Starlight Express - Troubadour

[benj]

I thought they were starting auditions straight away - have the casting breakdowns been released? Any clues there about changes?

[lolaluffneggle]

Presale starts 7th November 10am for those who signed up

[alece10]

I've had 3 different e.mails from e different companies so I'll sign up with each.
Wish I still had my platform shoes as I could go dressed up for the 80s.

[viserys]

I could get my skates on.

[danb]

Who would you be?

[anthony40]

Oct 27, 2023 10:13:18 GMT viserys said:

I could get my skates on.

#freightisgreat

[BVM]

I am already looking forward the 2023 booking opening phenomenon of people finding the 8 seats at the highest price at the peak demand dates from the most expensive agency and screaming into the hell site formerly knows as Twitter about what a disgrace it all is! Great fun.

(Mean/median/mode being the stats that I think should be headlined in ticket pricing debates is the hill I will die on!!)

Seriously though, this is exciting! I am at work annoyingly so will probs have to wait to the evening to book.

The MOST exciting thing (hopefully) is that we will get to see what the seating plan looks like which may give us some early guessing as to what the tracks/set ambition (or not) is.... Very speculative, obvs!

[anthony40]

I'm wondering how they, or if they, have updated the 'look' of each train or carriage in terms of the make up, wigs and costumes.

[benj]

They have new costume and set designers, so I’m assuming it will look very different to what we remember.
I hope they use the full space and extend the set into the audience. I can’t wait to see what they do with it. I do wish they would replace that terrible new love song ‘I Do’ with ‘Only You’ - it fits the show so much better. Lloyd Webber does love to tinker with this show though - it’s been through so many updates - most not for the better.

[anthony40]

Sept 20, 2023 3:14:05 GMT rosscoe said:

I just hope they do the original score. Keep Ashley , Keep Belle, Keep Only You. The Australian production staged in sports arenas and a traveling tent was stunning.

I saw that production.  And the poster was of Electra, but had a very futuristic feel about it. 

[mkb]

Any news on who's directing?

[Being Alive]

Luke Sheppard no?

[anthony40]

I too just received an email for priority booking.

[viserys]

Oct 27, 2023 11:20:17 GMT anthony40 said:

I'm wondering how they, or if they, have updated the 'look' of each train or carriage in terms of the make up, wigs and costumes.

Sadly in Bochum all the changes were for the worse, especially for Pearl and Electra who lost all their colour. I do hope we'll get something completely new in London. 

[venoose]

I’m sure I read that Gabriella Slade is designing the costumes for this, which is promising. The costumes for Six the Musical are probably some of the most iconic designs in theatre from the last decade or so.

[mattnyc]

There’s no announced start date for this yet, is there?

[stevej678]

Oct 27, 2023 17:04:17 GMT mattnyc said:

There’s no announced start date for this yet, is there?

8 June.

[mattnyc]

Oh thank you!

[danb]

Starting on a Saturday…fab.

[christya]

Oct 27, 2023 16:40:56 GMT venoose said:

I’m sure I read that Gabriella Slade is designing the costumes for this, which is promising. The costumes for Six the Musical are probably some of the most iconic designs in theatre from the last decade or so.

Funny enough, I always thought the costumes from Six looked like they'd been dug out of storage from an old Starlight Express production. Which is absolutely a criticism of those costumes, but also means this could be promising for Starlight.

I just wish they'd ditch some of the more recent changes. Top of the list: Momma. No, thanks - there was nothing wrong with Poppa!

[benj]

So, as tickets go on sale in a week, who would you like to see in the lead roles for this? Who would your ideal Rusty, Pearl, Greaseball and Electra be? Do we think Reva Rice will come over from Bochum to play Moma?

[ceebee]

Oct 30, 2023 21:32:39 GMT benj said:

So, as tickets go on sale in a week, who would you like to see in the lead roles for this? Who would your ideal Rusty, Pearl, Greaseball and Electra be? Do we think Reva Rice will come over from Bochum to play Moma?

Mica Paris, if Momma. Would prefer Gregory Porter as Poppa.

[Being Alive]

I think we should be lowering our expectations on casting - Troubadour has a SOLT agreement for Oliviers, but it doesn't pay proper West End wages so...Gregory Porter it aint

[graham]

Oct 31, 2023 10:49:26 GMT Being Alive said:

I think we should be lowering our expectations on casting - Troubadour has a SOLT agreement for Oliviers, but it doesn't pay proper West End wages so...Gregory Porter it aint

Surely it's the producer that determines the pay scale (in our out of Equity), not the landlord?

[Being Alive]

Oct 31, 2023 11:42:31 GMT graham said:

Oct 31, 2023 10:49:26 GMT Being Alive said:

I think we should be lowering our expectations on casting - Troubadour has a SOLT agreement for Oliviers, but it doesn't pay proper West End wages so...Gregory Porter it aint

Surely it's the producer that determines the pay scale (in our out of Equity), not the landlord?

Yes but because it's not a West End venue (they just have an agreement for awards), they don't have to pay the standard West End equity rates, and so won't... (it's possible I worded what I meant incorrectly)