Xanadu celebrates first anniversary on Broadway

The Broadway musical Xanadu celebrates its 1st anniversary on 10 Jul 2008. The musical opened at the Helen Hayes Theatre on 10 Jul 2008, following previews from 23 May, and is currently booking through to 14 Sep 2008.

In Xanadu, which is based on the mega-flop musical movie of the same name, 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 musical opened to mixed, but mostly positive reviews: "Outlandishly enjoyable." (New York Times); "Delightfully inspired." (New York Daily News); "An absolutely ghastly show." (New York Post); "A goofy glitterball of a musical." (Star-Ledger); "Slipshod enterprise." (Hollywood Reporter); "Refreshingly unassuming crowd-pleaser."

Directed by Christopher Ashley, with choreography by Dan Knechtges, Xanadu currently features Kerry Butler (Kira), *Curtis Holbrook (Sonny Malone), Tony Roberts (Danny), Jackie Hoffman (Calliope), Mary Testa (Melpomeny), Andre Ward (Terpsicore), Kyle Dean Massey (Thaliar), Kenita R. Miller (Erato) and Patti Murin (Euterpe).

*Note: Curtis Holbrook has stepped into the role of 'Sonny' from 1 - 27 Jul 2008, temporarily replacing Cheyenne Jackson who has taking a leave of absence to play 'Joe Hardy' in Encores! Summer Stars production of 'Damn Yankees.' Jackson returns to the role of 'Sonny' on 29 Jul 2008.

The book for Xanadu is written by Douglas Carter Beane, based on the screenplay by Richard Christian Danus and Marc Reid Rubel, and features music by John Farrar and Jeff Lynne.

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.

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.

The Broadway musical features many of the film's songs, with extra material provided by the Electic Light Orchestra.

The creative team includes David Gallo (sets), Howell Binkley (lighting) and David Zinn (costumes).

Xanadu is produced on Broadway by Robert Ahrens, Tara Smith, Brian Swibel, Cari Smulyan and Dale Smith.