Starmites

Infobox Musical
name = Starmites
subtitle =


caption =
music = Barry Keating
lyrics = Barry Keating
book = Stuart Ross
Barry Keating
basis =
productions = 1987 Off-Broadway
1989 Broadway
awards =

"Starmites" is a musical with music and lyrics by Barry Keating and a book by Stuart Ross and Barry Keating, first presented at the Ark Theatre Company. It received a Tony Award nomination as Best Musical.

The story revolves around a shy teenager, Eleanor, who creates a fantasy world involving science fiction characters in her comic book collection. She escapes into her fantasy world where the "Starmites" are the guardian angels of Innerspace.

"Starmites" was staged by off-Broadway by Musical Theater Works at the CSC Theater in 1987, with staging by Mark Herko and featuring Liz Larsen, Gabriel Barre, and Sharon McNight. It opened on Broadway at Criterion Center Stage Right on April 27 1989 and closed on June 18, 1989 after 60 performances and 35 previews. Directed and staged by Larry Carpenter with choreography by Michele Assaf, it featured Liz Larsen (Eleanor and Bizarbara), Gabriel Barre (Trinkulus), Brian Lane Green (Spacepunk), Sharon McNight (Diva), Janet Aldrich, Bennett Cale, and Victor Trent Cook.

ynopsis

Eleanor, a shy teenager, collects science fiction comic books. To avoid growing pains, she imagines herself as a superheroine, such as in the comic books ("Superhero girl"). In her fantasy, she becomes involved in the conflict between the evil Shak Graa and the Starmites, guardian angels of Innerspace. The 'Mites believe that Eleanor is pre-ordained to save the universe from destruction ("Starmites"). Eleanor and the Starmites seek "The Cruelty," a powerful musical instrument, which they must find before it falls into the hands of Shak Graa ("Afraid of the Dark").

In Shreikwood forest, Eleanor sings a soothing earthly lullaby ("Little Hero"), but winged women kidnap the sleeping 'Mites ("Attack of the Banshees") and soon meet Diva, the Queen of the Banshees ("Hard to Be a Diva"). She wants one of the Starmites to wed her daughter Bizarbara. She also guards The Cruelty. The leader of the 'Mites, Space Punk, and Eleanor are becoming attracted to each other ("Love Duet"), but Bizarbara also falls in love with Space Punk. He agrees to marry Diva's daughter to save his companions from torture ("Bizarbara's Wedding") but changes his mind, unable to betray his love for Eleanor ("Milady").

Diva uses magic to disguise Bizarbara as Eleanor ("Beauty Within"), and at the wedding ceremony between Punk and "Eleanor", Trinkulus, the Starmite lizard mascot, plays The Cruelty, which casts a hypnotic spell ("The Cruelty Stomp"). Shak Graa seizes the Cruelty and prepares to sacrifice Bizarbara (who he believes to be Eleanor), which will enable him to become Master of Earth. Diva then joins forces with the real Eleanor and the Starmites to rescue Bizarbara ("Reach Right Down"). Bizarbara is willing to sacrifice herself to save the Earth. Eleanor, the wounded Space Punk and the Starmites battle and destroy Shak Graa ("Immolation"). It turns out that Eleanor is Diva's real daughter, the legendary Milady. Bizarbara finds her birth mother on Earth, and harmony is restored. Shak Graa, however, has escaped to Earth, leaving one loose end ("It Wasn't a Dream").

ongs

;Act 1
*Superhero Girl — Eleanor
*Starmites — Starmites and Spacepunk
*Trink's Narration — Trinkulus and Starmites
*Afraid of the Dark — Spacepunk, Starmites, Eleanor and Trinkulus
*Little Hero — Eleanor
*Attack of Banshees — Banshees
*Hard to Be Diva — Diva and Banshees
*Love Duet — Spacepunk and Eleanor
*The Dance of Spousal Arousal — Banshees and Bizarbara
*Finaletto — Company ;Act II
*Bizarbara's Wedding — Bizarbara and Banshees
*Milady — Spacepunk and Starmites
*Beauty Within — Diva and Bizarbara
*The Cruelty Stomp — Trinkulus and Company
*Reach Right Down — Starmites, Diva and Banshees
*Immolation — Eleanor, Shak Graa and Spacepunk
*Starmites/Diva (Reprise) — Diva, Starmites and Banshees
*Finale — Company

Recording

The Original Cast recording was released on April 27, 1999 on the Original Cast Record label (ASIN: B00000GBYT). [http://www.amazon.com/Starmites-1998-Original-Cast-Members/dp/B00000GBYT amazon.com recording]

Awards and nominations

;Tony Award
*Best Musical (Produced by Hinks Shimberg, Mary Keil, Steven Warnick) (nominee)
*Best Actor in a Musical :Gabriel Barre (nominee) :Brian Lane Green (nominee)
*Best Actress in a Musical (Sharon McNight) (nominee)
*Best Choreography (Michele Assaf) (nominee)
*Best Direction of a Musical (Larry Carpenter) (nominee)
*Theatre World Award :Sharon McNight (winner)

References

* [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9B0DE5D91E3BF93AA15757C0A961948260 "New York Times" review, April 29, 1987]

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4543 Internet Broadway Database listing]
* [http://www.musicalheaven.com/s/starmites.html plot at musicalheaven]