A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Starmites Lite

Short Musical, Comedy  /  15w, 11m

Barry Keating, Stuart Ross

Dreaming her way into a comic book adventure in Innerspace, Eleanor saves the galaxy in this 90-minute adaptation of the zingy rock musical.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    15w, 11m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Adventure, Theatre for Young Audiences, Science Fiction, Parody / Spoof
  • Suggested Use
    • Competition or audition material
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences, Children (Age 6 - 10), Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Six 1989 Tony Awards, including Best Musical

Details

Summary
This one-act version of Starmites has a playing time of approximately one hour and 25 minutes. The original creators have adjusted the story line and musical numbers so that theatre beginners can participate in this wonderful show too. The text has been streamlined and upgraded for maximum fun and clarity for today's audiences, young and old.

This show is designed with students in mind—contemporary songs, funny dialogue, and real heart and soul to the story. Also a great "backstory" that can compete with the complexity of Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings, Narnia, Star Wars and Star Trek all wrapped up in Boy-Band, Girl-Band musical language, simplified for kids.

The simplified harmonies will work for children with limited experience without tampering with the special charm of the Starmites score.

Dreaming her way into a comic book adventure in Innerspace, Eleanor saves the galaxy in this zingy rock musical. It is Eleanor, Spacepunk, the Starmites and the lizard man against the evil Banshees (weird women with dangerous hair-dos) led by Diva and Shak Graa. Diva's entrance song, "Hard to Be Diva," is a guaranteed show stopper. Every space age possibility for light-hearted thrills is thoroughly exploited to delight fun-loving comic book fans.
History
Starmites premiered on Broadway at the Criterion Center Stage Right on April 27, 1989. Directed by Larry Carpenter, the production starred Liz Larsen, Gabriel Barre, Brian Lane Green and Sharon McNight.

ELEANOR FAIRCHILD – A teenage girl who eventually becomes MILADY, Superhero of Innerspace.
ELEANOR'S MOTHER – An unassuming woman who loves her daughter and anxiously awaits the day when she will grow out of her comic book craze.
SPACEPUNK – The hero, captain of the Starmites and heartthrob of the Universe.

THE STARMITES – A teenage band of Space youths dedicated to fighting the deadly forces of the Universe. They include:
S'UP S'UP SENSABOI – The organized and methodical member of the group – he plays by the rules.
DIGGETY RAZZLEDAZZLE – The bumbling show-off of the group. Openly expresses his feelings.
ACK ACK HACKERAX – The group's tough guy. He is second in command.
(You may cast as many extra Starmites as you choose.)

SHAK GRAA – High Priest of Chaos, determined to destroy both Earth and Innerspace.
TRINKULUS – A reptilian minstrel, once slave to Shak Graa, now serving as a guide to the Starmites. (Can double with SHAK GRAA.)
DIVA – Imposing and powerful Queen of Innerspace. (Can double with MOTHER.)
BIZARBARA – Awkward and shy daughter of Diva, possessed with a heart of gold and a yearning to be "normal and average." (Can double with ELEANOR.)

THE BANSHEES – Amazonian bombshells, and henchwomen to Diva. They include:
SHOTZI – Diva's airhead sergeant at arms. (can double as ORAGALA)
HOLLABACK – Delights in dominating the STARMITES.
CANIBELLE – Delights in devouring the STARMITES.
MALIGNA – Delights in teasing the STARMITES.
(You may cast as many extra Banshees as you choose.)

There are several roles written for one person to double. These can easily be split between two performers. This adds to the number of exciting lead roles. There are two chorus ensembles, one with boys, one with girls. These can be expanded for absolutely as many performers as you like. There have been highly successful productions with just one or two chorus characters added; there have been equally acclaimed productions with 75 chorus characters added. Very flexible. Both Diva/Mother and Eleanor/Bizarbara are bravura roles. Trinkulus/Shak Graa: very good to show off a superlative young character performerr. Space Punk, dynamic, handsome juvenile. The three main Starmites roles are fabulous for young comedians.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century, The Future
  • Setting EARTH: A teenage girl's bedroom. INNERSPACE: A Sci-Fi Fantasy World.
  • Features Elaborate / High Volume Costumes, Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features No intermission, Puppetry, Stage Combat, Special Effects
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

“An utterly charming musical... a living cartoon about growing up that should appeal to children of all ages.” – The Sunday New York Times

“Starmites is a great show for middle school level kids. Shows appropriate for this age are difficult to come by. Starmites gave us the flexibility to have over 200 kids either in or involved in the show. We turned the whole school into Starmites. The kids loved the music, and were able to perform it. The whole production was extremely successful.” – Pat Volkmer, Saxton Middle School, Patchogue, NY

Starmites was very adaptable to our needs. There were so many fun things I could do creatively. We designed the set so it had ramps, and I had a great chase scene with the Banshees on roller skates and the Starmites on skateboards! I still have people coming up to me months after the show's run, telling me how much they loved Starmites.” – Jerry O'Connor, Roncalli School

Starmites is an utterly charming musical... You do not need to be a science fiction buff to enjoy Starmites. The only prerequisite is that you be, or once were, young... Starmites is about how people discover self-confidence and build self-esteem. It is also about individuals discovering the center of their beings so they can grasp what is important and what is superficial. In short, Starmites is a living cartoon about growing up that should appeal to children of all ages.” – The Sunday New York Times

First there was Star Trek. Then there was Star Wars. Now...there is Starmites, which is certainly the mite-iest of the three intergalactic epics, a vest-pocket musical nebulae of cheerful nuttiness.” – The New York Times

“An unassuming futuristic rock musical, with sweet lessons about the awkwardness of growing up... It contains enough spoofs of the sci-fi genre to keep adults amused, and enough high-spirited music and action for all... The production...brims with charm and wit.” – New York Newsday

“Need an escape? Try Starmites... No two ways about it, Starmites is out of this world. The heroine Eleanor is a modern-day Dorothy who dreams of being a super-hero and wakes up to find herself not over the rainbow but up above the stars in a phantasmagorical galaxy.” – The Boston Globe

Starmites is a galactic good time!... [It] has a sassy personality all its own – in Barry Keating’s rackety rock score: in Keating and Stuart Ross’s goonily graphic book.” – The Boston Herald

“ZIP! ZAP! ZALOOM! BIFF! AARGH! Move over, Tinker Bell, Alice, Dorothy and Annie – Eleanor, the Superhero Girl, has arrived.” – What’s Up Magazine: On The Boards

Starmites was great. The cast loved it. The audience loved it... Starmites lends itself to the simple or the elaborate and wild. We let our imaginations go as far as they would take us.” – Abbe Gail Gross, State U. of NY at Old Westbury

Music

Song Samples

Superhero Girl
Starmites
Afraid of the Dark
Little Hero
Attack of the Banshees
Diva (It's Hard to be a Diva)
By Your Side (Love Duet)
Bizarbara's Wedding
Milady
Beauty Within
The Cruelty Stomp
Reach Right Down
Immolation
It Wasn't a Dream (Finale)
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway, Pop/Rock
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo, Piano Only
  • Chorus Size Medium

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

    PLEASE BE ADVISED: There are multiple versions of this title. Before you proceed, please double-check to ensure that you are applying for the version you want. We will not be able to refund rental or shipping fees if you pay for the wrong version. If you’re not sure which version best suits your needs, you may purchase a perusal for each available version.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
1 Piano-Conductor
25 Vocal Books

Synthesizer
Guitar
Bass
Drums

Sound Effects CD
Instrumental/Accompaniment CD (Please be advised that the performance tracks differ slightly from the scores in some instances)
1 Piano-Conductor
25 Vocal Books

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Barry Keating

Barry Keating wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book for the Broadway musical Starmites. The show was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and is published in several versions by Samuel French. His gospel/rap/rock Jungle Book (written with David Sc ...
View full profile
Author

Stuart Ross

Community

Now Playing

Community Experiences