Musical pokes fun at classic movie

“Xanadu” aims to humor audience and draw crowd

Andy Magill

Kaylee Chamberlain

After practicing for months, “Xanadu” cast members look to draw laughs and connect with the audience.

Director Jodi Hatzenbeller said the theater is trying to reach out to an older audience who will enjoy the musical more.

“We have done a lot of promotion online,” she said. “Our generation may not appreciate the musical as much as the generations who grew up watching the cheesy movie that it’s based on.”

Senior Sean Burk said he looks forward to the performer-audience interaction.

“I hope to get a lot of crowd reactions. They’re mainly my favorite things,” Burk said. “The audience is the most rewarding to me. Just seeing their reactions to the things we do.”

Senior and thespian president Charis Tshihamba said she is looking forward to the feeling of performing and getting to have fun with this musical.

“I feel like this musical is so fun and obnoxious and sort of dumb and makes fun of itself for being dumb,” Tshihamba said. “Getting to perform is really fun and you get adrenaline.”

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22  as well as at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 and 23 in the auditorium. Tickets cost $7 for students and $10 for adults and on-stage seating is available for $12.

The theater is hosting a fundraiser at the Park Roller Gardens to promote their performance and raise money Nov. 17.

Tshihamba said this fundraiser will help the theater program make even better shows in the future as well as give people a taste of what the musical is like.

“It shows everyone how fun the musical will be,” she said.

However, rollerskating is not limited to just the Roller Gardens. According to Hatzenbeller, actors will be skating on the stage as a part of the performance to add movement and excitement.

“The roller skating is a new element for us,” she said. “It’s also brought a fresh energy to the show.”