Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber that tells the story of a competition between trains. It is unique in that the actors wear roller skates throughout the entire show. Starlight Express first opened in London in 1984 and ran for over 7,000 performances before closing in 2002. Despite its initial success, several later productions of Starlight Express were forced to close early due to low ticket sales and financial losses.
Opening in London
When Starlight Express first opened in London in 1984, it was an immediate hit. Critics praised the show’s spectacular visuals, costumes, and innovative use of roller skating. Audiences loved the catchy music, the energy of the skating, and the simple story pitting the downtrodden steam train Rusty against the sleek new electric train Electra. Starlight Express became one of the hottest tickets in London, running for over 7,000 performances at the Apollo Victoria Theatre over the course of nearly 18 years.
A key part of the show’s initial success was its use of cutting-edge technology to create special effects simulating high speed train races on stage. Audiences were wowed by effects like treadmills moving actors around the stage at 35 miles per hour. This technology, paired with the impressive skating choreography, helped make Starlight Express an exciting theatrical experience unlike any other musical at the time.
Expansion to the United States
Buoyed by the show’s popularity in London, Starlight Express expanded to the United States in 1987. The first U.S. production opened at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. This production used a completely redesigned set that took up the entire theatre and part of the lobby in order to stage spectacular races between trains. The Broadway show was also a hit, running for over 700 performances until 1989.
Following the Broadway production, Starlight Express opened in Las Vegas in 1993 at a custom-built theatre at the Primadonna Resort. Running for over six years until 1997, this production took advantage of its unique casino theatre venue to create lavish sets and effects. However, while the Vegas production was able to run for a decent length of time, it failed to attract the same level of popularity as the London and Broadway shows.
Decline and Closures
After its initial burst of success in the 1980s and early 1990s, subsequent productions of Starlight Express failed to take off. A scaled-down North American tour launched in 1989 was cancelled after just a few months due to low ticket sales. The show toured again in North America in 2003-2004 with a new production, but most cities saw half-empty audiences. The 2004 touring production was meant to gear up for a planned Broadway revival in 2005, but those plans were cancelled when the tour struggled.
Other international productions also had lackluster receptions. A Japanese tour in 1992 was cancelled mid-run due to low ticket sales. The first UK provincial tour launched in 1989 but also closed early. A second UK tour in 1992 ran for less than a year. The German production that opened in 1988 ran for a respectable 5 years, but closed in 1993. A South Africa tour in 1995 also closed after just a few months.
Why Did Starlight Express Decline?
There are several leading theories as to why later productions of Starlight Express failed to find an audience:
Too Niche Concept
While the idea of actors on roller skates was novel in 1984, some argue the central concept failed to have wide, lasting appeal. The rock musical style and campy anthropomorphism of trains worked in the fun excess of the 1980s, but didn’t age well. Later audiences found the idea of singing trains racing on skates too niche and gimmicky.
Dated Styling
The styling of Starlight Express, from the music to the visuals, was very focused on 1980s tastes. As that decade ended and new styles emerged, Starlight Express began to feel dated. For 1990s and 2000s audiences, the big hair, neon lighting, synthesizer-heavy tracks felt less exciting and more like a nostalgia piece.
Loss of Novelty Value
When it first opened, audiences had never seen anything like Starlight Express, from its staging to costumes to effects. But by the 1990s and 2000s, technology and stagecraft had advanced to the point where singing skating trains were no longer as cutting-edge. Other shows emerged with their own spectacle, making Starlight feel less special.
Negative Reviews
Many reviews of later productions were quite negative, hurting ticket sales. Critics panned the convoluted plot as senseless and felt the show failed to connect emotionally. The lavish effects couldn’t make up for what some called an “uninvolving” and “juvenile” show.
Limited Name Recognition
Unlike other blockbuster shows like Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables, Starlight Express did not have strong name recognition outside of London and Broadway theatre fans. That made it challenging to attract audiences to newer productions in less major markets like North America tours and South Africa.
Financial Flops
Due to poor ticket sales, later productions of Starlight Express consistently lost money, which forced them to close. The 2004 US tour reportedly lost $1 million before canceling. The South Africa production lost £250,000 in just 4 months. Even the Vegas production, which ran for 6 years, was estimated to lose between $500,000 and $1 million annually. With such consistent financial losses, producers had little choice but to halt future productions.
Broadway Revival Cancelled
The failure of the 2003-2004 touring production was the final nail in the coffin for Starlight Express. The tour had been conceived as a lead-in to a planned Broadway revival in 2005. But with the tour playing to many half-empty houses, it was clear audiences were not excited enough about Starlight Express for a major Broadway relaunch. Just months into the tour, the Broadway plans were cancelled. Shortly after, the tour was cut short as well. This marked the end of hopes for Starlight Express to roll again in a big way.
Smaller Productions
In recent years, Starlight Express has lived on with some smaller regional productions. After the main Las Vegas production closed in 1997, a downsized version ran successfully for 2 years at the Las Vegas Hilton. This indicated that Starlight could still work on a smaller scale in niche markets. But major tours and revivals were off the table. A one-month run was produced in Australia in 1999. Amateur rights were made available in 2012, allowing smaller productions by community theatres and schools. But there have been no attempts at any more major professional productions since the failed 2004 US tour.
Legacy
While Starlight Express never found lasting mainstream success, it retains a cult following among musical theatre fans. The original London production ran for a hugely impressive 18 years, becoming the 3rd longest-running show in West End history. Mega-hits like The Phantom of the Opera have since pushed it down to the #5 spot, but its London run remains legendary. Starlight Express is also iconic as one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most unique shows, demonstrating his willingness to break conventions and utilize cutting-edge spectacle long before a show like Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Many fans still treasure their memories of seeing the rollerskating musical live in its heyday, looking back fondly on the 80s-tastic experience.
Could Starlight Express Roll Again?
While major revivals seem unlikely, it’s possible Starlight Express could see another small revival if reimagined for modern audiences. The current rights holders work to keep a tighter rein on productions compared to Lloyd Webber’s heyday of replication. But a smaller, updated production that removes some of the more dated elements could perhaps find a market at regional theatres or as a novelty experience akin to puppet musical Avenue Q. With creative vision, Starlight Express may still have enough name recognition and affection to spark some interest and introduce the singing trains to new generations of audiences.
Conclusion
Starlight Express dazzled audiences with its roller skating trains in the 1980s, becoming an iconic show of its era. But subsequent productions struggled to retain that initial popularity and novelty value. Dated stylistic elements, niche concept, loss of novelty value, negative reviews, and lack of name recognition outside London and Broadway all contributed to poor ticket sales and costly financial losses. This led to early closures for tours and international productions, culminating in the high-profile cancellation of a planned Broadway revival. While small scale productions continue, Starlight Express has derailed as a major mainstream hit. Yet it remains a legendary highlight of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s career and a nostalgic cult favorite for devoted fans who still cherish the memory of seeing the rockin’ trains roll across the stage.
