STARLIGHT EXPRESS with Sophie-Rose Middleton episode artwork

EPISODE · May 31, 2026 · 1H 5M

STARLIGHT EXPRESS with Sophie-Rose Middleton

from A Musical Theatre Podcast · host Jeffrey Scott Parsons

There is one musical that holds the Guiness Book of World Records for "most visitors to a musical in a single theatre." Congratulations on not realizing it's STARLIGHT EXPRESS. (We didn't know it either!) This week, we're exploring the cultural and emotional impact of Andrew Lloyd Webber's roller skating musical that is still playing to packed houses around the world. Is it a little silly? Absolutely. Does it deserve its own episode? 1000%. Sophie-Rose Middleton (CATS, SIX) joins us to look back at her time as "Pearl" in the long-running German production and help us figure out what exactly the "Starlight Express" is. She also shares an important lesson for all young performers out there currently celebrating (or mourning) their BFA ambitions. Follow Sophie-Rose on TikTok at @sophierosemiddleton and Instagram @sophierose_middleton! If you enjoyed this episode, check out one of our first episodes of the podcast: CATS with James Vasquez and John Treacy Egan. Join us at ⁠⁠⁠PATREON!⁠⁠⁠ for bonus episodes, contests, and conversations all while supporting the show for only a few dollars each month! Share our posts and videos on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠. If you're feeling like giving back, check out our ⁠⁠⁠TeePublic Store⁠⁠⁠. The profits we receive are donated to ⁠⁠⁠Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS⁠⁠⁠. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is one musical that holds the Guiness Book of World Records for "most visitors to a musical in a single theatre." Congratulations on not realizing it's STARLIGHT EXPRESS. (We didn't know it either!) This week, we're exploring the cultural and emotional impact of Andrew Lloyd Webber's roller skating musical that is still playing to packed houses around the world. Is it a little silly? Absolutely. Does it deserve its own episode? 1000%. Sophie-Rose Middleton (CATS, SIX) joins us to look back at her time as "Pearl" in the long-running German production and help us figure out what exactly the "Starlight Express" is. She also shares an important lesson for all young performers out there currently celebrating (or mourning) their BFA ambitions. Follow Sophie-Rose on TikTok at @sophierosemiddleton and Instagram @sophierose_middleton! If you enjoyed this episode, check out one of our first episodes of the podcast: CATS with James Vasquez and John Treacy Egan. Join us at ⁠⁠⁠PATREON!⁠⁠⁠ for bonus episodes, contests, and conversations all while supporting the show for only a few dollars each month! Share our posts and videos on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠. If you're feeling like giving back, check out our ⁠⁠⁠TeePublic Store⁠⁠⁠. The profits we receive are donated to ⁠⁠⁠Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS⁠⁠⁠. More than anything, thank you for being part of this wonderful podcasting community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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STARLIGHT EXPRESS with Sophie-Rose Middleton

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This episode was published on May 31, 2026.

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There is one musical that holds the Guiness Book of World Records for "most visitors to a musical in a single theatre." Congratulations on not realizing it's STARLIGHT EXPRESS. (We didn't know it either!) This week, we're exploring the cultural and...

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