 | Xanadu is a musical comedy with a book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, based on the 1980 cult classic film of the same name which was, in turn, inspired by the 1947 Rita Hayworth film Down to Earth. The title is a reference to the poem, Kubla Khan, or A Vision in a Dream. A Fragment, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Xanadu is the name of the Chinese province where Khan establishes his pleasure garden in the poem. The story of the musical focuses on a magical Greek muse, Clio, who descends from Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest creation of his life - a roller disco. But, when Clio, disguised as an Australian roller girl named Kira, falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and Clio risks eternal banishment to the underworld. |
| Xanadu began previews on Broadway on May 23, 2007 at the Helen Hayes Theatre and opened on July 10, 2007. The show is directed by Christopher Ashley (All Shook Up and The Rocky Horror Show) and choreographed by Dan Knechtges. Xanadu's opening night reviews from the New York critics were mostly positive. The musical broke the Helen Hayes one-day box office record the day after the reviews came out. | |
Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson from the cast of the Broadway musical "Xanadu" performing "Suddenly" live on The View, 09/12/2007 Lyrics: "Suddenly" Sonny: It’s ringing! She walks in, I'm suddenly a hero I'm taken in, my hopes begin to rise Kira: Look at me, can't you tell I'd be so Thrilled to see the message in your eyes Sonny: You make it seem I'm so close to my dream And then suddenly it's all there Kira: Suddenly-- Both: The wheels are in motion And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean Suddenly I don't need the answers 'Cos I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you Sonny: Oh, hi. My name is Sonny Malone and I’d like to rent this large auditorium for an event I’m planning. Yeah, I can be there in five minutes. Where are you? Got it. Ok, so take Melrose, uh-huh, past La Cienega. Uh-huh, then past La Brea . . . And how can I feel you're all that matters I'd rely on anything you say Kira: I'll take care that no illusions shatter If you dare to say what you should say Sonny: You make it seem I'm so close to my dream And then suddenly it's all there Kira: Suddenly-- Both: The wheels are in motion And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean Suddenly I don't need the answers 'Cos I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you Sonny: Kira, let’s go talk to the landlord of this place. He has an office in Downtown, L.A. Kira: Downtown, L.A.? Sonny: Don’t worry! You make me feel so invincible I feel like I could go into Downtown, L.A. without a weapon! Why do I feel so alive when you're near, There's no way any hurt can get through Both: Longing to spend Every moment of the day with you-- With you Kira: Suddenly-- Both: The wheels are in motion And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean Suddenly I don't need the answers 'Cos I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you You! | |
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