In an unexpected turn of events, Dallas is witnessing a double dose of the roller-skating musical Xanadu this season, with both Uptown Players and Theatre Three gearing up to showcase Douglas Carter Beane’s Broadway hit.
Originating as a parody of the notorious 1980 movie that starred Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John, Xanadu has transformed from a box office flop into a beloved theatrical experience.
Joel Ferrell, directing Theatre Three’s production slated for June, emphasizes the charm in reviving works that might initially seem insipid: “Sometimes really bad movies that got horribly panned become underground icons,” he notes.
Ferrell reflects on the allure of flawed cinema, likening it to the cult following of films like Valley of the Dolls. He adds, “Being late midlife gay, half of the movies that I would gladly take to an island and watch countless times are very bad movies. I mean, Joan Crawford made very few good movies. But that’s not going to stop me.”
The most recent rendition of Xanadu in Dallas was by Lyric Stage in 2023, and a touring production made its way to the city in 2010.
Uptown Players launched their production this weekend, while Theatre Three’s version is anticipated for next month. Uptown Players’ executive producer Jeff Rane shared that they had initially planned to present the show back in 2012 but postponed their plans upon learning of another group’s intentions.
Meanwhile, Ferrell expressed a desire to return the production to Dallas, having previously directed it at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in 2018. His staging for Theatre Three will feature just five actors, a stark contrast to Uptown’s cast of nine actors complemented by four offstage singers.
Rane remarked, “Neither one of us had any idea that the other had it planned. Fortunately, the dates are far enough apart, the style of the shows are different and it’s a popular title. People are going to potentially see both shows.”
In a recent Zoom interview between the directors, Serrecchia inquired about Ferrell’s approach to integrating roller skating into Theatre Three’s unique in-the-round setup. Rane revealed that Uptown’s cast has been preparing at a roller rink in Grand Prairie for their production.
Ferrell recounted his past experience, noting, “I learned the last go-round that there are very few places that are good for a roller skating show, unless you’re in a roller rink.” He humorously recalled the challenges faced by the Denver production, where they constructed ramps that nearly caused accidents in the audience during performances.
The musical features songs from celebrated artists such as John Farrar and Jeff Lynne, bringing together hits like “Magic,” “I’m Alive,” and “All Over the World.” The theatrical adaptation also integrates references to Greek mythology and even nods to the poorly received film Clash of the Titans, amplifying the show’s comedic undertones.
Ferrell commended Beane’s work for its rich, self-referential humor and witty commentary on both the art world and pop culture of the 1980s: “It’s all in such good, witty, smart, lovable fun that you go with it.”
Serrecchia, a local theater icon with extensive experience including a role in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line, asserted, “The muses have gone silent. What are you going to do? Well, I’m going to take this piss poor movie and a songwriter’s catalog and throw it on stage and make art to bring all the decades together.”
He conveyed that the show provides a much-needed escape in today’s world, stating, “It’s a really thin reason, but it works. It really works. … I don’t think there’s another show that’s sillier than Xanadu. So let’s jump into a mural and go somewhere fun.”
Xanadu debuted during a time when pop stars ventured into the cinematic realm of musicals, with Uptown’s Ferrell further illustrating this era with comparisons to similar works, like Can’t Stop the Music.
Highlights of the theatrical experience include its layers of humor and playful physical comedy. Ferrell expressed, “There’s humor on top of humor on top of humor. I still get tickled reading the script because I can fully imagine Douglas Carter Beane laughing himself into oblivion over a Scotch because of the joke inside the joke inside the joke.”
Both productions aim to deliver an evening filled with laughter and joy, playfully engaging the audience in a world of silly but captivating entertainment.
For those interested in catching the performances:
Uptown Players will run until May 4 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater, located at 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas, with tickets priced between $35-$65 (uptownplayers.org).
Meanwhile, Theatre Three’s production is set for June 5-July 6 at 2688 Laclede St., Dallas, priced at $37-$40, with a special matinee on June 18 for just $20 (theatre3dallas.com).
image source from：https://www.keranews.org/arts-culture/2025-04-26/two-dallas-productions-of-xanadu-in-one-season-the-directors-explain-themselves
