CTC News
PRESS RELEASE – XANADU
Xanadu skates into CTC this spring! Runs April 26 through May 11.
Tickets are available NOW at www.city-theater.org
For Immediate Release: March 22, 2013
Media Contact: Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald, Arts in Media LLC, 302-377-3156 or mfitzgerald@artsinmedia.com
Lace up your skates and roll on over to CTC this spring for Xanadu, the hit musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar and a book by Douglas Carter Beane. It’s a campy romp that slyly sends up the ‘80s movie that inspired it while retaining all the innocent fun of an era that produced big hair, cheesy rock anthems, and neon legwarmers.
The Broadway debut had critics raving. The New Yorker’s Hilton Als pointed out that the self-effacing glee of the piece “points out just how tame most other musicals are” and Charles Isherwood of The New York Times raved that it was “simultaneously indefensible and irresistible…there’s so much silly bliss to be had.” CTC’s version features a roller-rink inspired set, complete with levels that allow actors to zoom all around the audience.
Xanadu is the perfect choice to close out CTC’s 19th season, according to Board President Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald. She is especially excited to present Delaware’s Off-Broadway experience to a younger generation. “CTC shows tend toward the R-rated, but Xanadu manages to strike a cool balance between family-friendly fare and edgy, grown-up fun. This production is a great opportunity for CTC to connect with our die-hard fans as well as their younger family members, and it’s a chance for us to introduce tween and teen arts enthusiasts to an intimate, interactive live theater experience not found elsewhere in the area.”
Xanadu also offers some Gen X nostalgia as it introduces retro hits to a whole new audience. Local musician and recent Hometown Heroes award-winner Joe Trainor (Artist of the Year) returns to music direct after enjoying critical success as composer/lyricist for CTC’s original musical On The Air. “The music in this is fascinating. I’ve been an ELO fan my whole life, so deconstructing Jeff Lynne’s work has been fun. It’s like a time capsule as the music is purposefully dated, but at the core there are some brilliant melodies and great lyrics. These songs are instantly familiar to my generation, but have enough pop appeal to attract younger first-time listeners.”
Producing Artistic Director Michael Gray offers up a tongue-in-cheek take on the charms of Xanadu. “This style of music and this really bad movie were a big part of my early adolescence. I am sure there is something incredibly Freudian about choosing to direct this show! I obviously have some issues to work out so what better way to do that with a very silly, very funny musical filled with old-school ELO songs, based on a movie with Olivia Newton-John. This is going to be a fun ride.“
Xanadu stars Melissa Leigh Elizabeth Baker, Tommy Fisher-Klein, Dylan Geringer, Billy Kametz, Jenna Kuerzi, Greg Murphy, Ann Pinto, Ricky Rotandi, and Joanna Volpe. Directed by Michael Gray. Music direction by Joe Trainor. Choreography by Dawn Morningstar. Set and lighting design by Vicki Neal and Richard Kendrick.
On April 26, opening night, join us for the official after-party downtown at Chelsea Tavern. Enjoy drink specials and private seating at the local hotspot. Xanadu runs for three weekends, ending Saturday, May 11. One matinee performance is scheduled for Sunday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. All other shows have 8:00 p.m. curtain times.
TICKET DETAILS: General admission $25. VIP admission $40 and includes choice seating, complimentary snacks/drinks, and CTC swag. Children 16 and under $15. Military family members $15 tickets with code “OFP” online.
Online ticket sales close at noon daily on show days; cash/check only at door.
All shows at OperaDelaware Studios, 4 S. Poplar Street, on the Wilmington waterfront. Tickets available now at www.city-theater.org.
###
