SpeakEasy Stage Company Presents XANADU, Now thru 6/9

SpeakEasy Stage presents the Boston Premiere of the hit Broadway musical comedy XANADU. This acclaimed show will be the company's 100th production and opens tonight, May 11.

Based on the cult film of the same name, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, this riotous musical follows the efforts of a magical Greek muse who drops in on Venice Beach, California in 1980, disguised as an Australian, to help a struggling artist achieve his dream of opening a roller disco.

XANADU features a book by the ingenious Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed, Sister Act, Lysistrata Jones) and a score full of chart-topping tunes by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar ("Magic," "Suddenly," "Evil Woman"). Mr. Lynne wrote and produced all of the music of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and Mr. Farrar was also responsible for most of the hits that were performed by Olivia Newton-John in the 1970s.

McCaela Donovan will star as the muse Clio/Kira in the SpeakEasy production, which will also feature Ryan Overberg as Sonny, Robert Saoud as Danny Maguire/Zeus, Kathy St. George as Calliope/Aphrodite, and Shana Dirik as Melpomene/Medusa. Cheo Bourne, Patrick Connolly,
Kami Rushell Smith and Val Sullivan are also featured in the cast.

SpeakEasy's Producing Artist Director Paul Daigneault will direct this Boston premiere production of XANADU. Mr. Daigneault has directed over forty plays and musicals for SpeakEasy, and has twice been named Best Director by the Boston Theater Critics Association. In addition, Mr. Daigneault serves on the faculty at The Boston Conservatory; and this season, is also the Rev. J. Donald Monan S.J. Professor in Theatre Arts at Boston College.

Mr. Daigneault's artistic team includes music director Nicholas James Connell and choreographer David Connelly.

The SpeakEasy design team includes Crystal Tiala (scenic), Gail Astrid Buckley (costumes), Karen Perlow (lighting), and Aaron Mack (sound). Victoria S. Coady is the Production Stage Manager and Ryan A. Anderson is the Assistant Stage Manager.

XANADU will be performed beginning May 11 in the Roberts Studio Theatre in the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St. in Boston's South End.

Ticket prices start at $30 with discounts for students and seniors. Persons under age 25 are $25 at all times. Student rush is $14 one hour before curtain with valid ID.

For tickets or more information, the public is invited to call 617-933-8600 or visit www.SpeakEasyStage.com.

Douglas Carter Beane (Book) has credits on Broadway that include Lysistrata Jones, Sister Act, Mr. and Mrs. Fitch, Xanadu (Outer Critics Circle & HX Awards for Best Musical, Drama Desk Award for Best Book, and four Tony nominations including Best Musical) and The Little Dog Laughed (Tony Award nomination, GLAAD Media Award & HX Award for Best Play). His other plays include As Bees in Honey Drown (Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award), Music from a Sparkling Planet, The Country Club, Advice from a Caterpillar, The Cartells, and Mondo Drama. He wrote the film adaptation of his play Advice from a Caterpillar as well as the screenplay of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.

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