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Post by FairyGodmother on Sept 1, 2023 14:16:51 GMT
This is from a blogpost before Over The Rainbow started, I think he's just been like this for years.  " Andrew Lloyd Webber’s attempts to appear current and relevantFor at least a month before the show starts, and for the first month of live shows, Andrew Lloyd Webber will invariably claim that he wants a “new type of X”. A Maria that’s like a cross between Amy Winehouse and Billie Piper. A Joseph that’s a hybrid of Justin Timberlake and Deng Xiaoping. A Nancy that’s a mixture between Tori Amos, Stacey Slater and that rapping granny from The Wedding Singer. None of this will bear any relation to any of the decision he makes in the competition or what people vote for. Get ready for another month of “I want a cross between Ke$ha, Andie McDowell and Archbishop Desmond Tutu” followed by a winner who looks like Judy Garland but a bit fatter. " monkseal.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/twenty-reasons-to-watch-over-the-rainbow/ |
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Post by jennifer on Sept 1, 2023 16:07:02 GMT
As for ALW being desperate to be "down with the kids" this is massively overstated. He wrote one musical (School of Rock) which WAS a surprise hit with all generations after a string of less successful stuff. So it's hardly surprising that he'd try to do another show with cross age appeal. His involvement in the book is greater or lesser for all shows. Evita was totally driven by Tim Rice, Beautiful Game by Ben Elton. And people seem to forget that Cinderella was like this. The book (at least for London) was 100% Emerald Fennell's. I know his face was EVERYWHERE when it came to promoting the show (helped of course by Covid chaos) but his creative involvement was writing the music for Emerald's book. And with her credentials and her age why would be not, at his age, trust that she had written a decent story? If people didn't like the story (I did FWIW) then fair enough. But this needs to be taken to Emerald's door, not ALW's. That said, Starlight was always a show for all generations so I remain worried as to what they might do to appeal to youth today. Well, maybe worried is the wrong word. Inquisitive/curious/mildly concerned. Then again I think things can't stand still and I'd be a hypocrite to praise Lloyd's Evita and Sheffield Saigon so much and not be open to a new version of Starlight. And Heaven knows Starlight fans such as myself are used to change!
But ALW has always tried to be "down with the kids", right? Remember all the updates to the Rap in Starlight Express, which date even more quickly than the original one? And the boxcars becoming the Hip Hoppers?
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Post by BVM on Sept 1, 2023 17:18:43 GMT
As for ALW being desperate to be "down with the kids" this is massively overstated. He wrote one musical (School of Rock) which WAS a surprise hit with all generations after a string of less successful stuff. So it's hardly surprising that he'd try to do another show with cross age appeal. His involvement in the book is greater or lesser for all shows. Evita was totally driven by Tim Rice, Beautiful Game by Ben Elton. And people seem to forget that Cinderella was like this. The book (at least for London) was 100% Emerald Fennell's. I know his face was EVERYWHERE when it came to promoting the show (helped of course by Covid chaos) but his creative involvement was writing the music for Emerald's book. And with her credentials and her age why would be not, at his age, trust that she had written a decent story? If people didn't like the story (I did FWIW) then fair enough. But this needs to be taken to Emerald's door, not ALW's. That said, Starlight was always a show for all generations so I remain worried as to what they might do to appeal to youth today. Well, maybe worried is the wrong word. Inquisitive/curious/mildly concerned. Then again I think things can't stand still and I'd be a hypocrite to praise Lloyd's Evita and Sheffield Saigon so much and not be open to a new version of Starlight. And Heaven knows Starlight fans such as myself are used to change!
But ALW has always tried to be "down with the kids", right? Remember all the updates to the Rap in Starlight Express, which date even more quickly than the original one? And the boxcars becoming the Hip Hoppers?
I mean they’ve gone back to Rockies now FWIW 🤷🏻♂️ Sometimes he does. Starlight and Cinderella have maybe had attempts. But this year in UK, Aspects, Evita concert, LND concert, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita Curve (as far as we know) not much attempted to be down with the kids. The body of non down with kids work is much bigger. I don’t think he never wants to be down with the kids. But I stand by by my view that his desire to be down with the kids is massively overstated on this forum. I think it’s more a desire to be down with everyone. But could it rear its head for this?! I guess yes. #DownWithTheKids ✌🏻 Final thought is that there’s usually a reason. Cinderella followed School Of Rock. The 1992 Starlight revisions followed 1991 Palladium Joseph. Where the creative team had, very successfully, got down with the kids. Including me. I was 15 and very much blown away! |
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Post by danb on Sept 1, 2023 18:28:22 GMT
The reason is because he is desperate to still appear relevant, rather than accept our appreciation of his amazing body of work as written. Look at the success of Joseph?
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Post by ruthieh on Sept 19, 2023 7:39:51 GMT
No longer a rumour. ALW just confirmed on Radio 2
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Post by danb on Sept 19, 2023 8:01:56 GMT
This is very exciting! ❤️🚂⚡️
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Post by BVM on Sept 19, 2023 8:02:05 GMT
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Post by richey on Sept 19, 2023 8:10:19 GMT
Just had an e-mail from ALW Theatres to sign up for priority booking.
"Andrew Lloyd Webber’s STARLIGHT EXPRESS opens in London next summer in the specially-designed Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
Audiences will be immersed in a world of speed, song and spectacle as an incredible cast of 40 whizz around and above, performing some of musical theatre’s most beloved hits, including AC/DC, Make Up My Heart, Light at the End of the Tunnel and the iconic Starlight Express."
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Post by ceebee on Sept 19, 2023 8:11:31 GMT
Cast of 40 is insane. Will this actually sell well? This show will sell out. Curious newbies and nostalgia freaks will lap it up. |
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Post by ceebee on Sept 19, 2023 8:16:31 GMT
Set, video and sound uses same team responsible for Back To The Future. I have a good feeling about this already.
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Post by shownut on Sept 19, 2023 8:24:25 GMT
I love the logo and how it is patterned on the original but updated and more colourful.
I am thrilled this is happening.
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Post by helso1 on Sept 19, 2023 8:25:06 GMT
This is so exciting! One of my all time favorites back ❤️
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Post by evilmat360 on Sept 19, 2023 8:28:36 GMT
ALW mentions that some seats move, so could we see movement like the Gillian Lynne front stalls or something completely different with how adaptable the Troubadour is because of it's original TV studio design.
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Post by viserys on Sept 19, 2023 8:28:51 GMT
Cast of 40 is insane. Will this actually sell well? Cast of 40 makes me think that my hunch is right that they will employ special skaters for the races to minimize risk of injury for the actual performers, who might not be on skates at all or at least won't need to perform any risky high-speed manoevres. Just before the races, they can skate or walk off the stage and get replaced by the skaters in exactly the same costumes, faces hidden under the helmets. It will make for a much more exciting spectacle (some of the things the stunt skaters do in Bochum are CRAZY) and may make it easier to find good performers. Back in the 80s being in an ALW show held so much prestige and Starlight Express was such a success that it meant steady employment for a long time, that young performers may have been more willing to take the risk of injury compared to today. |
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Post by viserys on Sept 19, 2023 8:29:42 GMT
ALW mentions that some seats move, Could also simply be that they copy the front stalls seats from Bochum, which are basically turnable comfy office chairs. |
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Post by andypandy on Sept 19, 2023 8:32:16 GMT
I was in Starlight Express agessssss ago. It killed me haha…
I just hope they use something like the Bochum set in Germany.
Andrew always said he wanted this production in London. Battersea power centre was mentioned once!
My main issue is that the show has been changed and altered and new (bad) songs added over the years.
The best versions of the show was a mixture between the reimagined 90’s London version (with Crazy) and the original Germany production (with Caboose Wide Smile and Only You).
The recent re re re imagined Starlight 3.5 they workshopped at The Other Place and then put into Bochum Germany just before covid left me cold. Cutting Lotta Locomotion for I Got Me and adding For Always (Fur Immer) was madness.
I’d like them to go all retro and just use the original 80’s show!
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Post by justfran on Sept 19, 2023 8:38:16 GMT
I love the logo and how it is patterned on the original but updated and more colourful. I am thrilled this is happening. I agree, the logo and colours look great 😊 |
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Post by FJ on Sept 19, 2023 8:44:54 GMT
Starlight express is one of my all time favourite musicals, and Luke Sheppard directing has got me even more excited for this.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Sept 19, 2023 8:48:39 GMT
I was in Starlight Express agessssss ago. It killed me haha… I just hope they use something like the Bochum set in Germany. Andrew always said he wanted this production in London. Battersea power centre was mentioned once! My main issue is that the show has been changed and altered and new (bad) songs added over the years. The best versions of the show was a mixture between the reimagined 90’s London version (with Crazy) and the original Germany production (with Caboose Wide Smile and Only You). The recent re re re imagined Starlight 3.5 they workshopped at The Other Place and then put into Bochum Germany just before covid left me cold. Cutting Lotta Locomotion for I Got Me and adding For Always (Fur Immer) was madness. I’d like them to go all retro and just use the original 80’s show! Well that ain’t happening. This is a new production with a new director, designer and choreographer. |
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Post by andypandy on Sept 19, 2023 8:49:52 GMT
Cast of 40 is insane. Will this actually sell well? Believe me, they need 3 understudies for each role in Starlight as well as a huge cast of swings. They are used and relied on heavily. It’s one of the most physical shows out there and with holidays, injuries, rest days and so on - you need almost double the cast. Imagine running up hill in the dark while carrying a microwave, wearing weighted clothes, having a spotlight on you and having to sing infront of 2000 people - that’s what being in Starlight feels like! Ha.. |
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Post by andypandy on Sept 19, 2023 8:55:02 GMT
I was in Starlight Express agessssss ago. It killed me haha… I just hope they use something like the Bochum set in Germany. Andrew always said he wanted this production in London. Battersea power centre was mentioned once! My main issue is that the show has been changed and altered and new (bad) songs added over the years. The best versions of the show was a mixture between the reimagined 90’s London version (with Crazy) and the original Germany production (with Caboose Wide Smile and Only You). The recent re re re imagined Starlight 3.5 they workshopped at The Other Place and then put into Bochum Germany just before covid left me cold. Cutting Lotta Locomotion for I Got Me and adding For Always (Fur Immer) was madness. I’d like them to go all retro and just use the original 80’s show! Well that ain’t happening. This is a new production with a new director, designer and choreographer. I know this yes. I’ve been chatting to Ashley the choreographer this morning. As for the design - the horseshoe design of the Bochum Production will be used with the two split levels. That’s the whole point of using the Troubadour. The actual design itself will of course be different. As for the moving seats I bet they will just use what they have in Bochum front Parkett/Stalls. Chairs that move 360 degrees like a swirling office chair. But let’s see??! EXCITING! |
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Post by alece10 on Sept 19, 2023 9:14:20 GMT
I have very happy memories of Starlight back in the 80s. Saw it several times and once took my dad and we sat in the pit bit in the middle. He loved it.
He passed away a couple of years ago so I'm really looking forward to seeing this again in his memory.
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Post by asps2017 on Sept 19, 2023 11:18:52 GMT
Any idea when priority will go on sale?
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Post by Being Alive on Sept 19, 2023 11:25:02 GMT
Cast of 40 is insane. Will this actually sell well? This show will sell out. Curious newbies and nostalgia freaks will lap it up. It's a 1000+ seat house in Wembley - this isn't going to sell out. It'll sell well, but it isn't going to sell out. |
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