A New "View" for Xanadu: Whoopi Goldberg Returns to Broadway July 29

By Andrew Gans
and Adam Hetrick
29 Jul 2008

Xanadu's Whoopi Goldberg
Xanadu's Whoopi Goldberg
Photo by Timothy White

Academy Award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, who is one of the co-hosts of ABC-TV's "The View," returns to Broadway July 29 in Xanadu, the Tony-nominated musical at the Helen Hayes Theatre.

Goldberg is temporarily filling in for Jackie Hoffman in the roles of Calliope and Aphrodite while Hoffman is promoting the release of her new CD, "Jackie Hoffman Live from Joe's Pub." Goldberg is scheduled to stay with the production through Sept. 7; Hoffman will return Sept. 9.

July 29 also marks the return of Cheyenne Jackson to the role of Sonny. Jackson has spent the last month co-starring in the City Center Encores! Summer Stars production of Damn Yankees.

In a recent statement, Goldberg had this say about her return to the legitimate stage: "What better way to stick my toe back on to the Broadway stage than to join the amazing cast of Xanadu. It's such a fun show and is definitely my sensibility, as written by the divine Douglas Carter Beane. For me, it's going to be unbelievable."

Xanadu currently features 2008 Tony nominee Kerry Butler, Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, Curtis Holbrook, Kenita Miller, Patti Murin, Marty Thomas, André Ward and Jacob Ben Widmar.

Xanadu boasts a book by Little Dog Laughed playwright Douglas Carter Beane — a 2007 and 2008 Tony Award nominee — and utilizes songs from John Farrar and Jeff Lynne's film soundtrack. The musical, according to press notes, "tells the story of one of the nine muses of ancient Greece who comes to earth to inspire the greatest of artistic achievements – a roller disco. Along the way she falls in love, bumps into an old acquaintance and for the first time, feels the desire to create herself."

Xanadu received four 2008 Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical.

The Xanadu cast recording is available on the PS Classics label.

An Academy Award-winning actress, Whoopi Goldberg has appeared on Broadway in Whoopi, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (which she co-produced). In addition to earning a Grammy and Golden Globe Award, Goldberg is a Tony-winning producer of 2002's Thoroughly Modern Millie. Goldberg is also the producer of the forthcoming Broadway revival of for colored girls... starring Grammy winner India.Arie.

The Helen Hayes Theatre is located in Manhattan at 240 West 44th Street. For tickets call (212) 239-6200.