Whoopi Goldberg Plays Final Xanadu Performance Sept. 7; Hoffman to Return
By Andrew Gans
07 Sep 2008
 |
 |
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," plays her final performance in Xanadu, the Tony-nominated musical at the Helen Hayes Theatre, Sept. 7.
Goldberg, who began her limited run July 29, was temporarily filling in for Jackie Hoffman in the roles of Calliope and Aphrodite while Hoffman promoted the release of her new CD, "Jackie Hoffman Live from Joe's Pub." Hoffman is scheduled to return to the Hayes Sept. 9.
In a previous 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, Cheyenne Jackson, 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.
Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy
Send questions and comments to the Webmaster
Copyright © 2008 Playbill, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|