"Don't Walk Away": Xanadu Closes on Broadway Sept. 28
By Andrew Gans
28 Sep 2008
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Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson in Xanadu.
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| photo by Peter Lueders/Paul Kolnik Studio | Xanadu, the Tony-nominated musical based on the infamous flop film of the same name, will end its run at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre Sept. 28 at 3 PM.
An Oct. 12 closing date had been announced Sept. 16; however, an earlier closing date was then announced Sept. 23. The producers released a statement saying that the decision to close the show two weeks early was made to avoid losses in the current economic climate.
When it closes, Xanadu will have played a total of 49 previews and 512 regular performances.
In a previous statement lead producer Robert Ahrens said, "It was a joy to work on Xanadu, a project that I truly believed in. The cast, which became a family, was superbly talented as was the entire creative team. It's a rare treat to have such a special experience. All of my partners, including Tara Smith, B. Swibel, Dan Vickery, Cari Smulyan, Dale Smith, and Sara Murchison made their Broadway [producing] debuts with the show and their enthusiasm and belief in the project was unparallel. I thank them all."
The national tour of Xanadu — co-starring Elizabeth Stanley and Max von Essen — will kick off in November at the La Jolla Playhouse, followed by a six-month run at Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre. Additional tour dates will be announced at a later time.
A foreign production recently opened in Seoul, Korea. Plans are underway for productions in London (co-produced with David Ian and John Gore), China, Australia and the Philippines.
Broadway's Xanadu currently features 2008 Tony nominee Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman, Kenita Miller, Patti Murin, Marty Thomas, André Ward and Jacob ben Widmar. Christopher Ashley directed with Dan Knechtges providing the choreography.
Xanadu boasts a book by Little Dog Laughed playwright Douglas Carter Beane — a 2007 and 2008 Tony Award nominee — and utilizes songs from John Farrar and Jeff Lynne's film soundtrack. 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."
Xanadu received four 2008 Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Musical.
The Xanadu cast recording is available on the PS Classics label. Song titles include "I'm Alive," "Magic," "Evil Woman," "Suddenly," "Whenever You're Away From Me," "Dancin'," "Strange Magic," "All Over the World," "Don't Walk Away," "Fool," "The Fall," "Suspended in Time," "Have You Never Been Mellow?" and the title tune.
The Helen Hayes Theatre is located in Manhattan at 240 West 44th Street. For tickets call (212) 239-6200.
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