Xanadu: Whoopi Goldberg plays 'Calliope' Cheyenne Jackson returns as 'Sonny'

As previously reported, Acadamy winning actress Whoopi Goldberg assumes the the role of 'Calliope' this evening (29 Jul 2008) in the Broadway musical Xanadu.

Goldberg is covering the role while original cast member Jackie Hoffman takes a leave of absence to promote the release of her album 'Jackie Hoffman Live from Joe's Pub.' Goldberg will remain with the show through to 7 Sep 2008, at which time Hoffman will return to the role on 9 Sep 2008.

Goldberg was last seen on Broadway in her own show 'Whoopi' which played at the Lyceum Theatre, from 6 Nov 2004 - 30 Jan 2005. Other Broadway credits include: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' (2003 revival), 'Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' (1996) and 'Whoopi Goldberg' (1984).

Golderg has won many awards for her TV and film work, including: 'Ghost' (Academy & BAFTA Award) and 'Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel' (Daytime Emmy).

Also this evening, original cast member Cheyenne Jackson returns to the role of 'Sonny.' Jackson took a leave of absence to play 'Joe Hardy' in the recent Encores! Summer Stars production of Damn Yankees. Curtis Holbrook stepped into the role of 'Sonny' from 1 - 27 Jul 2008 during Jackson's absence.

Xanadu opened on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre on 10 Jul, following previews from 23 May 2007 and is currently selling tickets through to 21 Dec 2008.

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."

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.

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

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

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

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. Eric Stern is the shows musical director.