Archive: Arts & Entertainment

The Hangar Theatre Company completes their 44th Mainstage Summer Season with the time-shifting, campy and just plain FUN musical Xanadu, directed by Devanand Janki. The book was written by Douglas Carter Beane, with Music and Lyrics by Jeff Lynne & John Farrar. Performances will run from August 16 to September 1 with matinee and evening performances.

The musical is based on the 1980 film of the same name. Although the film starring Olivia Newton John barely broke even at the box office and was considered a flop at the time, the soundtrack was a hit, and it became a beloved cult classic. Douglas Carter Beane wrote the book for the stage musical adaptation of Xanadu, and added new plot twists and humor parodying the film. According to Beane, he was influenced not only by the film, but also by the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, prompting him to focus more on the Greek mythology plotlines.

The score retains the hits from the film and also includes new arrangements by Eric Stern, and two classic Electric Light Orchestra songs, 'Strange Magic' and 'Evil Woman'. The musical stage version was a huge success, and Beane was even nominated for the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical after its Broadway run in 2007.

In this musical comedy adaptation, the daughters of Zeus and the Muses of Ancient Greek Mythology seek the greatest artist of all time. Intending to travel to Venice, Italy, they find themselves in 1980s Venice Beach, California instead... hilarity, romance, roller-skating and rock/disco music ensue.

"Expect to be moved... even though it's a bit of a campy take on the cult film, it's a very moving story," Janki says. "The professional cast are extraordinary in terms of their ability: we're asking them to roller skate and sing and play a million roles while twirling ribbons. They are all triple threats."

The Hangar Theatre Company closes their season with this glamorous, wacky, and magical show that will reach an audience of all ages.

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