Starlight Express Alumni Podcast

In this episode I get together with Lothair Eaton via the interweb! It this episode Lothair shares some of his most funniest memories along with some great life lessons he picked up on his adventure with Starlight Express.

Bio

Lothair Eaton was born in Chicago, into a musical family. His father, Cleveland J. Eaton is a famous Jazz musician, playing Contra Bass with the incredible Ramsey Lewis Trio, as well as the World famous Count Basie Orchestra. Lothair began singing at the age of 5 in his children's choir at church, and has not stopped since.

In his High School years he trained summers and graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy. Then went on to study and graduate from the prestigious Theatre program at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Lothair has been very fortunate to perform on stages all over the world. Most recently he was seen playing his favorite role, Poppa the Old Steam Train in the UK Tour of Andrew Llyod Webber's STARLIGHT EXPRESS. Lothair has had the great fortune of playing this role off and on over the last 20 years, and is very close to having performed this role 3,000 times! And Still loves it! He has been seen in the German show '92-'95, 2001-2007, Las Vegas '96-'98, and New Zealand in 2009.

Last not least: Lothair was thrilled to once again play his most favourite role of 'Poppa' in the 2012/13 Starlight Express UK Tour.

Lothair was also seen in the '95 UK Tour of 5 GUYS NAMED MOE. Throughout Germany and the UK Lothair has performed in many Musical Galas and events, as well as his own Cabaret shows to rave reviews!

In New York, Lothair was seen in the original cast of NUNSENSE A-MEN as Sister Mary Hubert to wonderful reviews! Also in the York Theatre production of LOST IN THE STARS. And the Papermill Playhouse production of SHOW BOAT, which was also taped and shown on P.B.S. Great Performances. Enjoying time in Vegas, he went back to play the Master Of Laughter. Not surprising if you know Lothair's Laugh! In EFX at the MGM Grand Hotel starring Tommy Tune!

TV credits include an episode of COP ROCK, and FORD commercials in Germany.

Other favorite roles include The Voice Of The Plant in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, C. C. White in DREAMGIRLS and the Bigger is better character in WHEN PIGS FLY

Reva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas.

Other credits include Velma in Chicago, Smokey Joe's Cafe and the television show The Watcher. She played Roz in the world premiere musical production of JAM: Just Another Man, a musical about the life of Clint Holmes, at the Judy Bayley Theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She most recently was the standby for The Lady of the Lake in the Las Vegas cast of Spamalot and was a part of the Las Vegas tryout of the new musical, All in: The Poker Musical.

She has been a cast member of the national tour of the musical version of The Color Purple as a part of the ensemble, and understudied the lead character of Shug Avery. She performed in David Saxe's VEGAS! THE SHOW, playing now at the Saxe Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. She is currently playing the role of Mama in the Bochum production of Starlight Express.

Rice led the cast in the Japanese production of Fosse, based on the work of choreographer Bob Fosse. She was also one of the finalists on the television show Star Search.[1][2]

Connect with Reva Rice on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/reva.rice

Bochum, Germany – 1988-89 – Rusty

Bochum, Germany – 1992-93 – Rusty stand-by and Television Promotions

Las Vegas, USA – 1993-94 – Rusty

Connect with Steven Skeels on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stevenskeels