4.6 Starlight Express & Sunset Boulevard!

The Gospel of Musical Theatre

Nathan and Peter welcome Ian Farthing, Vancouver-based actor & director and one of the original London ushers for the West End Production of Starlight Express (1984). We explore the theology & themes of Starlight Express – as well as Lloyd Webber’s more recent musical Sunset Boulevard (1993).

We talk about:

– Theatre as a vocation, and how vocations – religious or artistic – change over the course of a life.

– Where does “the power to move” come from – and how do we learn to run the race with integrity?

– Who knew (other than Peter!) that Donald Trump’s favorite film is Sunset Boulevard?

– We gossip a bit about our favorite Norma Desmonds, but don’t come to any real theological conclusions (but we love flannel on a man!)

You’ll hear:

– Excerpts from the original cast recording of Starlight Express (1984)

– Betty Buckley performing “With One Look” live at Carnegie Hall (2006)

– Patti LuPone singing “As If We Never Said Goodbye” and “The Lady’s Paying” from the Original London Cast Recording of Sunset Boulevard (1993)

– Rex Smith & Anita Louise Combe singing “Sunset Boulevard” & “Too Much In Love To Care” from the Canadian Cast Recording of Sunset Boulevard (1996)

Continue the conversation with Peter (@pgeinvan) and Nathan (@nathan_lerud) on Twitter, and follow the Gospel of Musical Theatre on Instagram or Twitter @gospelofmt.