Xanadu: Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman join cast

Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman join the cast of 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.

Testa will play Melpomeny, the evil muse of tragedy and Hoffman will play Calliope, the muse of epic. They join the previously announced Kerry Butler who stars as Kira, the musical's leading female role, and Tony Roberts who will play Danny.

Mary Testa was last seen on Broadway as Maggie Jones in 42nd Street (2001 revival), her other Broadway credits include Marie Christine (1999), On the Town (1998 revival) Chicago (1996 revival).

Jackie Hoffman made her Broadway debut in Hairspray.

Further casting is to be announced.

Xanadu, will be directed by Christopher Ashley, with choreography by Dan Knechtges. The creative team also includes David Gallo (sets) and Howell Binkley (lighting).

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

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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Jackie HoffmanMary Testa