Roller disco arrives Off Broadway, finally, with a stage version of the 1980 movie tuner "Xanadu" set for spring 2007.
New musical, with a book by Douglas Carter Beane ("The Little Dog Laughed"), will be helmed by Christopher Ashley ("All Shook Up") and produced by Robert Ahrens. Show will have an out-of-town tryout this fall before skating into a yet-to-be-determined 499-seat venue in Gotham.
Music will be taken from the pic, which starred Olivia Newton-John. Roster of songs, written by John Farrar and former Electric Light Orchestra member Jeff Lynne, includes Newton's chart-topper "Magic."
Fantasy-romance follows a frustrated artist and a has-been big band leader (played by Gene Kelly in the movie) inspired by a mysterious woman (Newton-John) to build a flashy roller disco. Pic flopped when it was released, but went on to become a cult favorite.
Contact Gordon Cox at
gordon.cox@variety.com