Xanadu reading-what a cast, what a treat!

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 10:10pm

I was able to catch the second half of this reading at my theatre tonight. Wow-the cast of the reading-Jane Krakowski, Ben Vereen, Cheyenne Jackson, Mary Testa, Annie Golden, Darius De Haas, Asa Somers, and Leslie Kritzer.

It was really exciting seeing all these actors, and the show is great! I hope there was a lot of money in the audience. This deserves to be produced. There was another reading of it a few months ago but I guess nothing came of it. The ELO music still holds up and the entire crowd was rocking. Ben Vereen got a few minutes applause for his big number and he loved it.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:33pm

Thanks for the info - I was wondering how this would go.

I think I read somewhere that is was looking to come to Broadway this fall, although I could be completely incorrect. Anyone have any more info on this?

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:39pm

With Jane Krakowski as the star, and Ben Vereen and Mary Testa as part of the cast I don't see how this reading couldn't have gone well. I distrust the source material though, but it could be one of those cases were the cast and the creative team are so excellent that they could make the show work.
Am I the only one who believes Tommy Tune should be brought to direct this show? (especially since he is already familiar with Krakowski's strong points as a performer)

[blueroses]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:40pm

I wore that record out when I was a kid! Loved Olivia. Total guilty pleasure movie with a great soundtrack!

Jane, did they play "I'm Alive" and "Magic"? I used to love that Tubes song, too...the one that interspersed with the 1940's number.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:51pm

Blueroses, I was working during the first act, so I don't know if they did those tunes. The songs in act two were fabulous! I'm telling you, the entire theatre was rocking and laughing. I didn't see the film but I understand it was a box office flop with a cult following (just my type of film). I bet it was something like "Can't Stop the Music"

[blueroses]

Posted: 8/3/06 at 11:55pm

I think if it makes it to Broadway I'd have to check it out for nostalgia's sake. It sounds like fun (and I love Jane Krakowski).

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 12:00am

Well, they don't always use the cast of the readings in the actual show but I sure wouldn't mind this entire cast if it makes it to broadway.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 12:02am

That is very true. I'm not sure I'd go see this show if Jane Krakowski doesn't star in it (I'm not a big fan of Kerry Butler's who played Kira in the previous reading). Hopefully they will at least keep her and the rest of the cast. Was she good in the role, Jane? Did she seem comfortable playing the part?

[blueroses]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 12:02am

Jane Krakowski, Mary Testa and Ben Vereen sound A-OK to me! I'm glad you had fun.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 12:07am

Was she good in the role, Jane? Did she seem comfortable playing the part?

Yes, she was very comfortable, and good in the role, despite the fact that her British accent turned to Cockney every so often! I hadn't seen her on stage before, and was pleasantly surprised at how strong a singer she is.

[Ragged Tear]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 9:16am

Actually, she was doing a fake Australian accent, which is a cockney accent, so I thought she was spot-on. That was one of the running gags -- justifying the accent, which was really just a tribute to Olivia Newton-John.

By the way, you left out one last cast member: Angela Ai, who has played Christmas Eve in Avenue Q.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 9:30am

If indeed she was trying to do a fake Australian accent, she wasn't entirely successful because at times she was doing the standard British accent. I enjoyed her anyway.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 10:16am

What's with the Australian accent? Is she playing a Muse, or is she playing Olivia Newton John playing a Muse? That makes no sense at all. Unless all Muses are originally from Australia. Weird.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 10:23am

I know, I thought the same thing. She was all over the place. Sometimes I thought she was channelling Olivia, then I thought Oh, no, the muses must be British. Oy.

[MarkK]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 10:43am

I attended last night as well. I thought the entire cast was amazing. In particular Cheyenne, Jane, and Ben were top notch. Jane and Cheyenne had wonderful chemistry together. Jane is incredibly beautiful in person. In my opinion, Mary and Annie stole the show with "Evil Woman".

Aside from the Australian accent, vocally Jane would pop into this airy impersonation of Olivia Newton John (in some songs) - which was very funny. Cheyenne's voice was gorgeous and I also didn't know he could belt that high!

As noted before, Ben got a huge applause for everything he did, although his part really isn’t that big. I would like to see more of him in future readings.

Asa Somers and Darius de Haas stood out in the ensemble. Both were funny and great!

Lots of famous people in the audience; I saw Elizabeth Berkley, several Film /TV actors, and almost every producer in NYC.

With its current staging the show has the same feeling as Mamma Mia. And, it could have the same mass-appeal especially with this cast.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 11:25am

MarkK - Do you remember which songs from the film they used?

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 12:14pm

Xanadu was bad, but had its charms. ONJ singings, Gene Kelly dancing, the ELO music.
Can't Stop the Music was an embarrassment. A complete waste of celluloid (and cellulite).
I was doing movie reviews at the time. The "preview" audiences I saw the films with hated Cant Stop The Music - booed the screen. Xanadu just kind of landed flat. No emotional connection.
Still, I wouldn't mind seeing Xanadu again. I would never watch Can't Stop the Music again.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 1:07pm

There were some really trashy but good scenes in Can't Stop the Music. For instance the YMCA one. I could watch it every day. There are people who love the film because it's so bad.

[poodleboy]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 2:53pm

One of my favorite parts of Can't Stop the Music, Nancy Walker was the director.

[MarkK]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 5:54pm

Here's what I remember:

I’m Alive - Jane Krakowski, Mary Testa, Annie Golden, and Ensemble

Suddenly the Wheels are in Motion – Cheyenne & Jane

Have to Believe in Magic – Cheyenne & Jane

Evil Woman - Mary Testa, Annie Golden, and Ensemble

All Over the World – Everyone

The Fall - Cheyenne

Xanadu – Everyone

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 6:08pm

Which theatre was this?

[MarkK]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 6:28pm

Dodger Stages Theater, next door to Altar Boyz

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 7:56pm

Was "Dancin'"--the big-band/rock duet--included?

[Ragged Tear]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 9:43pm

I believe all of the songs from the soundtrack were included, plus a handful of other ELO and Olivia N-J songs.

[magic8ball]

Posted: 8/4/06 at 10:11pm

Whaaaaaaaaaaat.

I had no idea about the new cast. Darius De Haas, Mary Testa, Ben Vereen, and Leslie Kritzer? Sweet Lord. I can't believe that I missed out on this.