XANADU
Book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar
Directed by Rose Schwietz Malla
May 2, 3, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m.
May 3 &10 at 2 p.m.
May 7 at 10 a.m.
The Rand Theater, Bromery Center for the Arts
$5 students, seniors, Card to Culture, $17 general admission
Content advisory: mild references to sex, some coarse language. Recommended for children age 10 and up
Tickets on sale through the Fine Arts Center Box Office (413-545-2511 and online), as well as at the door on the night of the show. To make our shows more affordable, we offer Card to Culture pricing for qualifying patrons.
UMass Theater presents XANADU, a musical with roller-skates!
“The musical Xanadu is about two of the greatest things in the world: falling in love and making art,” says UMass Theater grad student Rose Schwietz Malla, explaining what drew her to suggest this show for our 2024-2025 season.
The 2007 musical, which Schwietz Malla is directing in the Rand Theater, was inspired by the infamous Olivia Newton-John movie and runs May 2-10 at UMass. Tickets for this joyful, singing, dancing, rollerskating extravaganza are on sale now.
The story follows Sonny, a disillusioned artist, who is visited by Clio, a Greek Muse in disguise as a leg-warmer-wearing, roller-skating Australian. Quickly the two develop a relationship and a business plan: to open a roller disco. Along the way, they encounter cohort of fierce goddesses, an inspired old-timer, and plenty of crazy 80’s antics, all to the tune of infectiously catchy songs from the rock band ELO.
Maya Quiñones, the production’s dramaturg, explains that like many Gen Z-ers, she loves unironically campy, unabashedly cheesy, big moments like this musical. Buzzwords for this production are sparkly, joyful, neon, and playful.
“We take playfulness seriously, and that’s about the only thing we take seriously,” Quiñones says.
Roller disco is an inclusive culture that invites everyone to the party, and we’re inviting you to join ours! Tickets are on sale now, so roll on over to the box office! Call 1-413-545-2511 or go online.
UMass Theater Presents “Xanadu”
