Xanadu: Kerry Butler to star as Kira

Kerry Butler is to star as Kira in the musical spoof of the mega-flop musical movie, Xanadu, opening on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre on 26 Jun 2007, following previews from 23 May 2007. The Jun 07 opening date means the musical is not eligable for this years Tony Award nominations.

It had been expected that Jane Krakowski would be cast as Kira as she played the role in a reading/workshop of the musical in Manhattan on the 3 Aug 2006. However, it was Kerry Butler who played Kira in an earlier Xanadu reading. In a statement, Producer Robert Ahrens said "Kerry Butler was our first choice and we are thrilled that her schedule has now opened up."

Further casting is to be announced. It remains to be seen if Cheyenne Jackson, who played the male star role of Sonny Malone in the Auguest reading/workshop, will be cast for the part.

Kerry Butler was last seen on Broadway when she starred as Audrey in the Little Shop of Horrors (2003), she originated the role of Penny Pingleton in Hairspray (2002) and as starred in the role of Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1994). Her other Broadway credits include playing Donna Marie in Blood Brothers (1993) and Eponine in Les Misérables (1987).

The movie musical Xanadu was released in 1980, and starred Olivia Newton-John, Michael Beck, and Gene Kelly, and was directed by Robert Greenwald.

The movie failed at the box office, and went on to be nominated for six *Golden Raspberry Awards: Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Michael Beck), Worst Actress (Newton-John), Worst Screenplay, Worst Original Song and went on to 'win' the Worst Director Award (Robert Greenwald). In 2005 the Golden Raspbery nominated Xanadu in their worst musical-movie of the last 25 years.

*The Golden Raspberry Awards, or Razzies, were created by John Wilson in 1980, intended to complement the Academy Awards by dishonoring the worst acting, screenwriting, songwriting, directing, and films that the film industry had to offer.

In Xanadu, the Greek muses incarnate themselves on Earth to inspire men to achieve. One of them, incarnated as a girl named Kira, encounters an artist named Sonny Malone.

The book for the musical is written by Douglas Carter Beane, based on the screenplay by Richard Christian Danus and Marc Reid Rubel.

Through the movie failed badly at the box-office, the film's soundtrack, with music by Olivia Newton-John, Electric Light Orchestra, UK pop idol Cliff Richard, and the San Francisco-based art-rock band The Tubes, went plantinum.

Considering the Soundtrack's success, it is expected that the Broadway musical will feature many of the film's songs, with extra material provided by the Electic Light Orchestra. Eric Stern is the shows musical director.

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