Slap on your skates, pump up the glitter, and get hip to the muses in Xanadu! The laugh-out-loud musical stage adaptation of the 1980 film, was performed at Kearns High. Xanadu follows Kira, the Greek muse who decided to put on some roller skates, leg warmers, and an Australian accent in order to help Sonny Malone, a chalk artist with a heart of gold and half a brain, out to discover his own creativity. Sonny and Kira work together to rebuild their “apex of the arts”: a roller disco. Xanadu is the rare musical with a big heart, an even bigger funny bone, and a tongue stuck firmly in its cheek.
But behind all the lights, glitter and roller skates the cast members also have personal lives, with responsibilities besides working on Xanadu. With homework, families, and work, they really have their hands full on a daily basis.
“So I do my homework in the other classes that I go to, let’s say I have math for first period, then for second or third period, if we’re not doing anything during the day, then that’s when I’ll do my homework. That way I don’t have as much work to do at home” states Chandler Paskett.
“The first one or two months that I was in Xanadu’s production track and field was starting and it didn’t take up much of my time because Mrs. Faulk was mainly working with leads. But this last month has been a little more difficult because now we’ve started to get into our after school rehearsals and tech rehearsals; it really eats up track time. So it’s difficult, but it’s doable,” Colton Brockbrader says.
“When I applied to H&M I told them at my interview that I do theater, so I printed out the schedule, I highlighted every rehearsal I needed to be at and I handed that in as my resume. Sometimes they call me in to see if I can come in after rehearsal to help close, and I don’t mind helping as long as I don’t have to leave rehearsal early,” Explains Kevin Castillo
The people in this show are to be applauded for the effort they put day in and day out. Juggling all these things can be a challenge but the dedication these folk have for their craft is amazing and the production really shows for it. Blood, sweat, and tears have gone into making this show the funny, emotional rollercoaster of a musical that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more disco funky fun.