Product Description: The first smash hit of the 2007-2008 Broadway season turned out to be one of the biggest surprises in Broadway history: XANADU, which roller-skated its way into the hearts of critics and audiences alike. A hilariously reinvented send-up of the 1980's Olivia Newton-John film flop, this irreverent musical adventure, about following your dreams when others say you shouldn't, spins along to the addictive original hit film score by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. XANADU follows the beautiful Greek muse Kira as she visits Venice Beach, CA in 1980 to induce an uninspired artist, Sonny, to build the first roller disco (yes!). When she accidentally falls in love with him, much to her jealous sister muses' dismay, chaos and fun abound, skate wheels turn and disco balls twirl. The updated script by Douglas Carter Beane takes the plot and dialogue to knee-slapping extremes, while the legendary chart-topping tunes get a musical theatre makeover via a stellar company of performers. This original Broadway cast recording will keep XANADU in your head, and heart, forever.
Amazon.com: At first glance, turning Olivia Newton-John’s 1980 flop musical into a Broadway show looked like a pretty bad idea. Yet the stage version of Xanadu is thrilling and appropriately ridiculous fun. Adapter Douglas Carter Beane went for the camp jugular (thankfully, this CD includes lots of lines from his book), and the cast rises to the occasion, milking every lyric line. Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson bring irrepressible humor and charm to the roles played by Newton-John and Michael Beck, while Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman provide outsize comic relief as muses. The movie’s songs, penned either by John Farrar or E.L.O.’s Jeff Lynne, are insanely catchy, one sing-along hit after another: "I’m Alive," "Magic," "Suddenly," "All Over the World," "Xanadu." All are huge treats, but the craziest track may well be "Evil Woman," which doesn't appear in the movie, but during which Testa and Hoffman let loose shamelessly over-the-top vocal effects. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - The improbable comeback of "Xanadu"
Broadway play: 4.5 Stars; Original cast recording: 3.5 Stars
Let me state upfront that I absolutely loved the 1980 original movie soundtrack, featuring 5 ELO tracks on Side 1, and 4 John Farrar-penned Olivia Newton-John plus the ELO/Olivia title track on Side 2. The movie was horrible, but the music was great. Fast forward to 2007 when the news came that Xanadu was being worked into a Broadway musical. Well, I was skeptical, but no more. I was in New York recently on a business trip, and jumped on the chance to see it. Somehow the play works great where the movie didn't and it was ... Read More
Rating: - Greatest Broadway Cast Album of 2007
XANADU, the original Broadway cast album, captures the spirit in song of the best musical on Broadway. Funny, fabulous, loving, it will make you laugh and cry. Cheyenne Jackson is the greatest singing star on Broadway since Barbra Streisand and this album captures the beauty of his incredible voice. Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa are a riot as the evil sisters and Kerry Butler will break your heart when she sings "Suspended in Time." The supporting cast are just incredible and I wish you could see their spectacular dancing as well as hear their beautiful voices. First rate!
Rating: - So much fun....I almost peed.
Yah, I have no idea why you would review a musical's album without seeing the show...that's like rating a movie by it's radio commericial. Anyway, I love this movie b/c it's is so cheese-tastic and the music is a true guilty pleasure. The musical was one of the most fun I have had on Broadway! It is truely an interactive experience. The reason why this show survived is b/c of the way it makes fun of the original movie, the 80s, and musical theater in such a clever, fun, playful, and warm way, like how you would tease your little sister or something. So if you keep that in mind, you will like this ... Read More
Rating: - Love the CD...haven't seen the show yet, but will next week.
For some reason, I love the damn CD even though I haven't seen the show yet...I love almost every single song and when Kerry Butler speaks with her Australian accent, it freakin cracks me up. I guess seeing all those clips of the show on youtube made me like the songs more...Great CD!!!
Rating: - Almost as good as seeing it live!
Xanadu has the reputation of being of being a bad movie. Can't argue with that. But the songs were amazing. The songs are by a very spirited cast make it very clear that this is not your 1980's Xanadu. Kerry Butler has an awesome voice and does a spot-on take on ONJ, Australian accent and all. Cheyenne Jackson matches her every step of the way and their chemistry makes it all work. I received this as a present and love it to death. You can indeed make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and Xanadu is it.
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