Wednesday, June 11, 2003
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Wednesday, June 11, 2003 |
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Get on the train! 'Starlight Express' rides into town this week By MICHAEL BOYLAN The Little Engine That Could competed against bigger, stronger and faster trains. He continually chanted, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" and eventually, he won the race. That story is the basis for Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, "Starlight Express," which will run at the Fox Theatre through June 22. "Starlight Express" opened in the West End of London in 1984 and ran for 7,409 performances. In 1992, the show was completely reworked and relit and the set was refurbished. Webber has also recently teamed up with David Yazbek, the composer and lyricist of "The Full Monty" to add several new, never heard before songs for this production. The show begins with a little boy playing with a model train set. After he falls asleep he begins to dream about the different parts of his trains taking on a life and personality of their own. A competition is declared and each train engine pulls one car in a series of races staged across North America. There are 24 cast members in the show, all on roller skates, but it takes a crew of close to 200 people to pull off a show the size of "Starlight Express." The set is centered around a half pipe and also features an amazing lighting design filled with lasers, pyrotechnics and 3-D film sequences. To prepare for such a demanding show the cast must spend four weeks in skate school before learning the music or choreography. "We are delighted to kick-off our summer season with Andrew Lloyd Webber's international sensation, Starlight Express," stated Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. "This action-packed musical is performed entirely on skates and it's just great entertainment for the whole family." Performances are scheduled for Tuesday-Saturday at 8 p.m., matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., and a Sunday evening performance on June 15 at 7 p.m. There will be an additional matinee on Thursday, June 19 at 2 p.m. and there will be no evening performance on June 22. Tickets are available at the Fox Theatre box office, or through Ticketmaster. Purchases through Ticketmaster can be made in three ways: at one of their Ticketmaster ticket centers, by calling 404-817-8700, or by ordering online at www.ticketmaster.com. For group ticket sales, call the Fox Theatre Group Sales Office at 404-881-2000. Ticket prices range from $20.00-$55.00.
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