All About Musicals

Xanadu the musical opened last evening, July 10, at the Helen Hayes Theatre. It’s the first new musical of the 2007-2008 Broadway season.

This new musical is based on the 1980 film, which starred Olivia Newton John. The film was a flop for its time, but the soundtrack went multi-platinum. Playbill.com reports that the musical is much different from the film, with a brand new plot and the best parts of the film, which fans will appreciate.

Several of the cast members have experienced injuries while rollerskating during rehearsals, namely James Carpinello, who was supposed to play Sonny, the male lead, and Kenita Miller, who plays Erato. Carpinello had to back out completely until he heals; Miller’s injury was small and she is still performing.

Press notes describe the musical thus: Xanadu “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.”

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