By Emeri Fetzer
The musical comedy Xanadu first debuted on Broadway in 2007. Based on the 1980 cult film of the same name starring Olivia Newton John, the production was no-holds-barred camp –– a wild, glittery fantasy that New Yorker reviewer Hilton Als called “resolutely anti-Broadway.”
“I was alive when the original film came out,” said U Theatre’s David Eggers, director. “I remember the music from the film was constantly on the radio, roller skating grew even more popular because of it, and of course my family bought the LP.”
Eggers was acting in NYC when the musical came out, and had multiple friends in the cast.
“It lampooned its own source material, blew the roof of the theatre with incredible singing, and was a heck of a good time! Was it everyone’s favorite? Probably not. Did it care? Not at all,” he said. “Compared to other shows running in 2007, like the Grease revival, Curtains [which Eggers was in!], Jersey Boys, Mary Poppins, The Color Purple, Spring Awakening, A Chorus Line…, Xanadu ‘was the light, bubbly, refreshing palette cleanser Broadway needed.”
Now, it has come to a stage near you. The U Department of Theatre proudly presents Xanadu in the Meldrum Theatre February 14-23.
Xanadu follows the journey of a magical and beautiful Greek muse, Kira, who descends from the heavens of Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, California in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time – the first ROLLER DISCO! (Hey, it's 1980!) But, when Kira falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and chaos abounds.
This show is so singular in its ridiculousness, hilarity, and absolute joyousness.
- Alexa Shaheen, MTP student (Kira)
It’s not a small detail that the cast spends most of the time on wheels. A fun challenge? You betcha.
Roller skating was not a prerequisite for casting. But for those with prior experience and complete beginners alike, preparation began last May, when the Department made skates available so students could practice on their own with plenty of time.
“As the director and choreographer of our production, I’ve had to remember that not everyone grew up roller skating, like I did in Indiana,” Eggers said. “I really think every birthday party was thrown at a roller rink. I spent many Friday and Saturday nights at the roller rink throughout my childhood! I even skated around the Indy 500 racetrack multiple times for a charity fundraiser.”
To teach roller skating, Eggers had to take something truly second nature to him and break it down into understandable terms, moves, and exercises. In addition to skating workshops before and after rehearsals, Alexa Shaheen, a junior in the Musical Theatre Program (MTP) who plays Kira, skated around Liberty Park every day over the summer while singing the soundtrack to build up her breath support.
“On any given day over the last few months, you could come into the Price Theatre Arts Building and find one or two cast members skating down the hall, between classes,” Eggers said. (Even the stage management team have donned skates, to tighten cohesion with the cast!)
Not one member of Xanadu can talk about their experience without mentioning fun.
“This show is so singular in its ridiculousness, hilarity, and absolute joyousness,” Alexa Shaheen said. “To be in collaboration with so many incredible creatives both on and off stage to cultivate an escape into a story that is so joyful is something that is extremely important right now.”
“It's hilarious and weird, packed with incredible Electric Light Orchestra music, and doesn't take itself seriously. If you need a break from our current reality, want to laugh, love the 80s, or want to see some incredibly talented people performing (on roller skates!), this is the show for you,” echoed Bella Dixon, stage manager.
Dixon’s personal connection to the musical is newly poignant.
She first performed Xanadu Jr. at her community theatre, Theatre Palisades in Los Angeles, in 2016. She played Kira, and her best friend played Sonny. That theatre was tragically lost in the Palisades fires in early January.
“I've been reminiscing with old friends, looking at pictures, and reflecting on how much this show has meant,” Dixon said. “It's a full-circle moment, and I couldn't be more grateful to be part of it.”
“The beautiful thing about theatre is that it’s an escape,” assistant director Carina Purdy said.
“Xanadu is exactly that. If you’re in need for a lighthearted and comical experience, it’s perfect. It shows the talents of our wonderful theatre majors and really is just a good time. It has such a wonderful message of love, and at the end of the day all you have is each other and art. And as Zeus says: ‘that is Xanadu!’”
Xanadu
Meldrum Theatre at the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse
Fri, 2/14 @ 7:30 pm
Sat, 2/15 @ 2 pm
Sat, 2/15 @ 7:30 pm
Sun, 2/16 @ 2 pm
Thurs, 2/20 @ 7:30 pm
Fri, 2/21 @ 7:30 pm
Sat, 2/22 @ 2 pm
Sat, 2/22 @ 7:30 pm
Sun, 2/23 @ 2 pm
ASL interpreted performance and audience talkback February 21
XANADU
Book by Douglas Carter Beane
Music & Lyrics by Jeff Lynne & John Farrar
Based on the Universal Pictures film
Screenplay by Richard Danus & Mar Rubel
XANADU is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com.