'XANADU' Premieres In Chicago 1/16/09

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to present Broadway's surprise hit musical XANADU at Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place beginning Friday, January 16, 2009. The press opening is Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Individual and group tickets are currently on sale for this fabulously fun, out-of-this-world musical confection.

XANADU opened at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre to critical acclaim on July 10, 2007 as the first new musical of the 2007/2008 season. Since the 2007 opening, the award-winning musical garnered the best reviews of the season, with critics and audiences leaping to their feet! Winner of Best Musical (Outer Critics Circle Award) and Best Book (Drama Desk Award), The New York Times raves XANADU is "heaven on wheels," and the Washington Post says this musical is "a triumph!"

This wildly funny musical delivers a surprisingly touching story about the nine magical muse-daughters of Zeus, who come to earth in 1980 (disguised in roller skates, leg warmers and Australian accents) to inspire humans to create truly great work and discover the meaning of the universe's greatest secret: the Gift of XANADU. Zeus' most important decree is they can't fall in love with any mortals! But all that changes when the young Kira (Elizabeth Stanley) meets the handsome artist Sonny (Max von Essen), who needs her help in achieving his greatest dream. It is only when Sonny teaches Kira the true meaning of inspiration, that the secret of XANADU is revealed!

XANADU stars Sharon Wilkins and Joanna Glushak as the evil Muses "Melpomene" and "Calliope" and Larry Marshal as "Danny" (played in the film version by Gene Kelly). The cast also includes Tallia Brinson, Amy Goldberger, Vince Rodriguez III, Jason Michael Snow, Kristofer Stock, JB Wing and Chicagoland-natives Julius Thomas III and Tiffany Topol.

With a book "ingeniously adapted" (New York Times) by Douglas Carter Beane, and a score by Jeff Lynne (writer and producer for the Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O.)) and John Farrar (responsible for most of the hits performed by Olivia Newton-John in the 1970's), XANADU features the top 20 Billboard hits, "Magic," "Xanadu," "All Over the World" and "I'm Alive." Award-winning Christopher Ashley directs "at roller-derby speed" (New York Times) with choreography by Dan Knechtges. XANADU also features scenic design by Tony Award winner David Gallo, costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley, projections design by Zachary Borovay, wig and hair design by Charles G. LaPointe and musical direction by Eric Stern.
XANADU is produced by Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Tara Smith, B. Swibel, Mickey Liddell, and Cari Smulyan.

XANADU performances begin January 16, 2009. Ticket prices are $25 to $87.50 and may be purchased at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place Box Office (175 E. Chestnut St.); any Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., and 18 W. Monroe St.); the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400; all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including select Carson Pirie Scott stores, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores); and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Groups of 20 or more can make reservations by calling (312) 977-1710. For more information on XANADU, visit www.XanaduOnBroadway.com or
www.BroadwayInChicago.com

BIOGRAPHIES
Douglas Carter Beane (Book). Beane's play The Little Dog Laughed opened this season on Broadway where it received the GLAAD media award for best play. His other plays include As Bees In Honey Drown (Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award), Music From A Sparkling Planet and The Country Club. He wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of his play Advice From A Caterpillar which won Aspen Comedy Festival's best feature. His film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar was produced by Steven Spielberg, was the number one film in America for a month and is now a television favorite. The Big Time, Beane's first musical, received rave reviews last year and his next musical, a stage adaptation of the film The Bandwagon is slated to open on Broadway later this season. Fascinated by non-traditional forms of theater, Beane has written the revues, White Lies and Mondo Drama and this season a live theaterical soap opera. The Cartells. As artistic director of the New York theater company Drama Dept. He produced over forty productions, including acclaimed revivals of As Thousands Cheer, June Moon and The Torchbearers and world premiere works by Paul Rudnick, David Sedaris and Wendy Wasserstein. His new play, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost, Too will open next season in New York and he is currently developing a television series for producer Lorne Michaels. He resides in New York City with
his partner, composer Lewis Flinn and their son, Cooper.

Christopher Ashley (Director). Recent credits: All Shook Up, The Rocky Horror Show (Tony nomination), Sweeney Todd and Merrily We Roll Along for the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration (Helen Hayes Award, Direction). Other NY: Valhalla, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told and Blown Sideways Through Life (NYTW); Fires in the Mirror (Public), Jeffrey, Das Barbecü (Minetta Lane); Country Club, As Thousands Cheer, Rude Entertainment, Mondo Drama (Drama Dept.); The Smell of the Kill (Helen Hayes); Voices in the Dark (Broadhurst); Communicating Doors (Variety Arts); Bunny Bunny (Lucille Lortel); L'il Abner (Encores!); Between Us, The Wonder of the World, Newyorkers (MTC); The Naked Truth, Watbanaland, The Night Hank Williams Died (WPA). Film: Jeffrey (Orion Classics), "Blown Sideways",Through Life" (American Playhouse). Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra - Originally a 1970 experimental offshoot of sixties
English hit-makers The Move, ELO thrived under the guidance of Jeff Lynne, recording twelve original studio albums and releasing twenty-eight hit singles in the UK alone. At their peak between 1974 and 1981, ELO amassed a string of nine consecutive gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums. A double album masterpiece, 1977's ‘Out Of The Blue' featured global hits ‘Turn To Stone', ‘Wild West Hero', ‘Sweet Talkin' Woman' plus the song Lynne considers to be his greatest ELO achievement, ‘Mr. Blue Sky'. Subsequent albums, ‘Discovery', ‘Xanadu', ‘Time', ‘Secret Messages', and ‘Balance Of Power' were huge sellers, together with later hits ‘Hold On Tight' and ‘Rock ‘N' Roll Is King', Lynne decided to disband ELO in 1986 for newer challenges. Lynne has since become one of the world's most in-demand songwriters and producers, successfully collaborating with artists such as George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Roy Orbison, Del Shannon, Tom Petty and BrIan Wilson. With Harrison, Orbison, Petty and Bob Dylan, he was a member of the Grammy-award winning Traveling Wilburies and in 1996, his formidable musical talents were officially recognized when he was presented with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Services to British Music.

To post a comment, you must register and login.