Bobby Burkich, left, and Kirsten Neal rehearse for the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s production of “Xanadu,” which opens Friday.IF YOU GO¦ What: “Xanadu.”¦ When: 8 p.m. June 6-7; 7 p.m. June 12; 8 p.m. June 13-14; 2:30 p.m. June 15; 8 p.m. June 20-21; 8 p.m. June 27-28; 8 p.m. July 5; 2:30 p.m. July 6.¦ Where: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.¦ Admission: $25 students, $30 adults.¦ Phone: 423-267-8534.¦ Website: www.theatrecentre.com.SPECIAL PROGRAMMING¦ Friday, June 6: Opening night gala begins at 7 p.m.; disco after show¦ Thursday, June 12: Real-time captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons¦ Friday, June 13: Disco after the show¦ Saturday, June 14: Watch Riverbend fireworks from patio after the show¦ Friday, June 20: Disco after the show¦ Friday, June 27: Girls Night Out and disco after the show
“Xanadu,” the silly musical production based on the equally campy 1980 movie starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, opens Friday, June 6, in the Circle Theatre at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. The production runs through Sunday, July 6.
It replaces “Pippin,” which was pulled from the schedule because a national touring company is presenting it in Nashville, triggering a regional noncompete clause.
“I’ve wanted to do ‘Xanadu’ for a while,” says director Scott Dunlap, “so it only took us about 10 minutes to choose it as the replacement. It’s just so funny, and there is skating.”
The movie version was not well received by audiences or critics, but the soundtrack did very well. The original score includes “Magic,” “All Over the World,” “Suddenly,” “I’m Alive,” “Evil Woman,” “Have You Never Been Mellow” and the title track. The stage version opened on Broadway in 2007 and was nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book.