By Andrew Gans
and Adam Hetrick
15 Dec 2009
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| Xanadu stars Elizabeth Stanley and Max von Essen |
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| Photo by Alan Decker |
Stanley plays the roles of Clio/Kira with von Essen as Sonny. They are joined onstage by Natasha Yvette Williams (Melpomene/Medusa), Annie Golden (Calliope/Aphrodite), Larry Marshall (Danny Maguire/Zeus), Kevin Duda (Thalia/Eros/Cyclops), Amy Goldberger (Partial Swing, Featured Skater, u/s Melpomene, Calliope), Veronica J. Kuehn (Euterp/Thetis, Melpomene/Caliope u/s), Jesse Nager (Terpsicore/Young Danny/Hermes/Centaur), Vincent Rodriguez III (Swing, Sonny u/s), Chaunteé Schuler (Erato/Hera), David Tankersley (Swing/Specialty Skater) and Tiffany Topol (Swing, Kira u/s).
Xanadu boasts a book by Little Dog Laughed playwright Douglas Carter Beane and utilizes songs from John Farrar and Jeff Lynne's film soundtrack from the infamous 1980 flop film. Xanadu is directed by Christopher Ashley with choreography by Dan Knechtges.
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."
The original creative team also includes scenic designer David Gallo, costume designer David Zinn, lighting designer Howell Binkley, sound designers T. Richard Fitzgerald and Carl Casella, projections designer Zachary Borovay, wig and hair designer Charles G. LaPointe and musical director Eric Stern.
The Xanadu cast recording is available on the PS Classics label.
Producers of the tour are Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Tara Smith, Brian Swibel, Sara Murchison and Dale Smith.
For more information visit www.xanaduonbroadway.com.


