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).

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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?

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

– Nothing: We gossip about our favorite Norma Desmonds, and come to no real theological conclusions (but we do know we love flannel on a man!)

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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)

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Check out some of our all-time favorites!

• Phantom of the Opera
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Jesus Christ Superstar!
• Schmigadoon! (Season 1 / Season 2)
• West Side Story!
• Yentl!
• Frozen!
• Barbie!

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Continue the conversation with us on Instagram (@gospelofmt).