Xanadu Will Now Close Sept. 28

By Andrew Gans
23 Sep 2008

Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson in Xanadu.
Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson in Xanadu.
Photo by Peter Lueders/Paul Kolnik Studio

Xanadu, the Tony-nominated musical based on the infamous flop film of the same name, will end its run two weeks earlier than recently announced.

The producers of the musical had announced Sept. 16 that the musical comedy at the Helen Hayes Theatre would end its run Oct. 12. A new closing date was announced Sept. 23: Xanadu will now play its final Broadway performance Sept. 28 at 3 PM.

The producers released a statement saying that the decision to close the show early was made to avoid losses in the current economic climate.

Xanadu currently features 2008 Tony nominee Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman, Kenita Miller, Patti Murin, Marty Thomas, André Ward and Jacob ben Widmar. Christopher Ashley directed with Dan Knechtges providing the choreography.

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.

The national tour of Xanadu will kick off in November at the La Jolla Playhouse, followed by a six-month run at Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre. Additional tour dates will be announced at a later time.

A foreign production recently opened in Seoul, Korea. Plans are underway for productions in London (co-produced with David Ian and John Gore), China, Australia and the Philippines.

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