TV: Upright's West Side Stories: 'XANADU'

BroadwayWorld.com, the premiere theatre site on the internet, is proud to continue its newest offering in the streaming video space. 'UPRIGHT'S WEST SIDE STORIES' chronicles the adventures of Upright Cabaret producer/hosts Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel as they travel the left coast in search of great theatre... and a few cocktails.

Featuring talent from the Great White Way to the sandy beaches of LA, 'Upright's West Side Stories' takes you up close and personal with some of your favorite entertainers in show business.  

On a unusually cloudy day in Southern California, Chris and Shane made their way down I-5 to the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA for the West Coast premiere of XANADU, the musical. The Upright Boys caught up with Broadway alums Elizabeth Stanley and Max von Essen as they prepared to step into the roles of Kira and Sonny. 

Xanadu's cast joins the creative team of the surprise hit Broadway musical at the Playhouse before embarking on a national tour. Xanadu will run through December 31 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. Xanadu is a new Tony Award-nominated, tongue-in-cheek, magical roller-skating escapade with a joyful classic score of hits like "Magic," "Xanadu," "All Over the World," and "I'm Alive." Based on the 1980's cult film starring Olivia Newton-John, Xanadu follows muse Kira and artist Sonny in their quest for artistic achievement, in pursuit of his dreams to establish...a roller disco! The New York Times called it "Heaven on eight little polyurethane wheels."  

"I first heard the soundtrack of Xanadu as a teenager and was floored by how much fun it was," says Director Christopher Ashley, "Then I saw the movie, and it was a complete train wreck. Thank goodness for Douglas Carter Beane, who has penned a fantastic script - which has made working on this show a match made in roller disco heaven."

With book by Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed), music and lyrics by John Farrar (Grease) and Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra), direction by Christopher Ashley (Broadway's Xanadu, Memphis) and choreography by Dan Knechtges (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Xanadu was the recipient of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Broadway Musical, four 2008 Tony Award nominations and six 2008 Drama Desk nominations.  

Leading the Xanadu cast: Elizabeth Stanley (Kira) returns to La Jolla Playhouse after last performing in Cry-Baby; Max von Essen (Sonny) best known from Les Misérables and Dance of the Vampires, Larry Marshall (Danny), as well as Joanna Glushak (Caliope) and Sharon Wilkins (Melpomene) - the evil muses. Featuring: Tallia Brinson, Amy Goldberger, Vincent Rodriguez III, Jason Michael Snow, Kristofer L. Stock, JB Wing, Julius Thomas and Tiffany Topol. 

Xanadu's creatives also include: Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Gallo (A Catered Affair, Memphis) and lighting designer Howell Binkley (Cry-Baby, Jersey Boys), costume design by David Zinn, projection design by Zachary Borovay, wig and hair design by Charles G. LaPointe (High Fidelity, Jersey Boys), musical direction by Jesse Vargas, music supervision by Eric Stern, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, stage management by Allen McMullen and production management by Peter J. Davis. Associate Director is Dana I. Harrel and Associate Choreographer is DJ Gray.  

La Jolla Playhouse performances of Xanadu are sponsored by Morrison Foerster. Performance times are Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30pm; Thursday through Saturday, 8:00pm; and Sundays 7:00pm. Matinees are held on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm. Single ticket prices range from $42 to $100. To purchase, call (858) 550-1010 or online at www.lajollaplayhouse.org. 

The nationally acclaimed, Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse is known for its tradition of creating the most exciting and adventurous new work in regional theatre. The Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, and is considered one of the most well respected not-for-profit theatres in the country. Numerous Playhouse productions have moved to Broadway, including The Farnsworth Invention, Big River, The Who's Tommy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Walk in the Woods, Dracula, Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays, the Pulitzer Prize-winning I Am My Own Wife, and the currently-running Jersey Boys.

Video edited by Don Swaynos for Upright Cabaret.

More info at www.uprightcabaret.com

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