Dustin the Big Hopper

Dustin is the Big Hopper in the musical Starlight Express. He is a gentle, kind-hearted soul who is very shy and very sensitive, especially about his weight. His best friends are Flat-Top and Rusty. Dustin's also close with the rest of the freight yard residents, the Rockies, and Poppa. When Poppa decides to race in heat three, Dustin is desperate to race with him. Sadly, it was too much for Poppa due to Dustin's weight but when he races with Rusty for the downhill final, they win!
Musical Numbers
Although not a singing role, Dustin plays a key part in Starlight Express. His only solo lines are during Freight, plus dialogue scenes after Poppa's Blues and the Starlight Sequence. He also guides everyone to find Rusty after he disappears, having won the final race together.
Costume
Dustin's role in the freight train is as a hopper. He carries coal in his capacious body, as is seen through his open shirt front. He wears sturdy work clothes: faded check shirt and trousers held up with braces. His helmet is reminiscent of a safety helmet; the "safety first" ethic suits his character. His large shoulders are a direct copy of the shape of a coal hopper, one of the most literal designs in Starlight Express.
Dustin's outfit was redesigned for Starlight on Ice. He becomes more extreme with no waistline discernible, a very large, clownish figure.
Actors
London
* Gary Love
* Drue Williams
* Geoffrey Stevens
* Nick Lloyd
* Greg Ellis
* Danny Metcalfe
* Gary Noakes
* George Canning
* Mark Davis
* Graham Martin
* Jason Capewell
* Carl Sanderson
* Dale Branston
Broadway
* Michael Scott Gregory
Japan/Australia
* Geoffrey Stevens
Bochum
* Gary Noakes
* Glenn Neate
* Ramon Visser
* Nick Lloyd
* Jesse Adams
* Steven Dry
* Yilmaz Aktepe
* Chris A Mellon
* Matthew Cutts
* Dustin Dubreuil
* Jem Brent
* Ralf Schaedler
* Matthew Wing
* Robbie Frier
* Ken Anthony Nelson
* Alexander Wengel
* Stuart Tayler
* Dario Mazzoli
* Jamie Capewell
* Marlon Moore
First US Tour
* Anthony Marciona
Japan Tour
* Earl R Rhimer
Las Vegas
* Richard H. Blake
* Tom Gamblin
* Tony Tripoli
* Mikael Petersson
Mexico
* Martin Munoz
On Ice
* Scott Irvine
Second US tour
* Scott Bolt
UK Tour
* Gavin Ashbarry
New Zealand Tour
* Gavin Ashbarry
South Africa
* Weslee Swain Lauder
Fort Lauderdale Children's Theater
*Austin Vogt
 
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