1980 hit soundtracks sends ‘Xanadu’ roller skating into Venice Theatre

Joey Panek realizes that the 1980 movie “Xanadu” isn’t as good as he thought it was when he watched it frequently growing up.

The film was roundly trashed by critics and audiences, but it became a cultural touchstone thanks to an ethereal performance by Olivia Newton-John and a hit soundtrack that includes “Suddenly,” “Magic,” “All Over the World,” “Don’t Walk Away” and the title song.

“I can’t help it, it’s one of my favorites. I recognize it’s not a good movie, but as a kid it had all the things that I loved,” said Panek, who is realizing a long-held dream to play the artist Sonny in the stage version of the movie, which opens Friday at Venice Theatre’s Pinkerton Theatre. “When it opened on Broadway, I thought it’s such a great show, so funny, so fun. And now I get to sing that music. The role of Sonny was everything I wanted it to be.”

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The musical was written by Douglas Carter-Beane (who also wrote the recent Asolo Repertory Theatre musical “Hood”), with music by ELO’s Jeff Lynne and Australian songwriter John Farrar, who wrote many of Newton-John’s hits.

Panek stars opposite Caitlin Ellis, who plays Newton-John’s role of Clio, a Greek muse, who transforms herself into the mortal Kira to inspire Sonny to find purpose in his life and open a roller disco in Venice Beach, California.

So now, the two actors and the rest of the cast, are roller skating around the theater (and elsewhere, for practice) under the co-direction and choreography of Vanessa Russo and Katrina Ploof.

The show was originally in rehearsal last fall when Hurricane Ian blew through the area and heavily damaged Venice Theatre’s main performance space.

Ellis, who recently appeared in the theater’s revue “Up on the Roof,” said it’s a challenge to roller skate, sing, act and speak in different accents, all on a relatively small stage that doesn’t allow much room for momentum.

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“The biggest challenge is navigating skating in a theatrical environment,” said Ellis, who recalled breaking her two front teeth as a child in a skating race with friends. “I turned around to say ha ha ha, I’m winning and skated right into a wall. I hadn’t skated since then.”

Panek had his own skating mishap more recently when he was first cast. “I took a tumble, bruised a rib and stayed off the skates for three weeks, put them back on, took a tumble and put them back on,” he said.

Alyssay Goudy and Jamie Becker play Clio’s sisters Melpomene and Calliope, with Ken Basque as the real estate mogul Danny Maguire who owns the building Sonny wants to use for the roller disco.

Panek said those who know the movie will appreciate some of the references in the stage script. “But if you haven’t seen it, it won’t go over your head. It’s still not ‘War and Peace.’”

‘Xanadu’

Book by Douglas Carter-Beane, music by John Farrar and Jeff Lynne. Directed and choreographed by Vanessa Russo and Katrina Ploof. Runs March 24-April 16, Venice Theatre Pinkerton Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave., Venice. $31, $21 for college students and educators, $15 for youth. 941-488-1115; venicetheatre.org

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 1980s come alive in roller skating musical “Xanadu’ at Venice Theatre