PHOTO CALL: Whoopi Goldberg Joins Broadway's Xanadu

By Ernio Hernandez
July 31, 2008

Stage and screen star Whoopi Goldberg returned to Broadway July 29 in the musical Xanadu.

The actress is filling in for Jackie Hoffman in the roles of Calliope and Aphrodite through Sept. 7 at the Helen Hayes Theatre.

Goldberg earned an Academy Award for her work in "Ghost" and was Oscar-nominated for her role in "The Color Purple." Onstage she has appeared in Whoopi, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

She joins Cheyenne Jackson (who returned to the show from his recent stint in Damn Yankees for City Center Encores!) and original Tony-nominated star Kerry Butler as well as Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, Curtis Holbrook, Kenita Miller, Patti Murin, Marty Thomas, André Ward and Jacob Ben Widmar.

Here is a look at Goldberg's opening night in the show:

The cast at curtain call

Bookwriter Douglas Carter Beane		Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg and cast take their bow

Cheyenne Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg and Kerry Butler		Douglas Carter Beane and Whoopi Goldberg

The cast make a toast on the Helen Hayes Theatre stage.

All photos by Aubrey Reuben.