Xanadu has been a terrific and fun show to produce and direct this year. Who knew that a musical based on a movie that came out four years before I was born could be this much fun? But it has been. Our students have worked really hard on this production-- like, seriously hard. For a show that comes off as fluff or pure escapism, it's a beast to get together. I am so proud of the work that these students have put into this.
Our theme for this show is a line Sonny says in the first act: "Just because something is impossible doesn't mean I won't try; just means it might take a while." When things seem hard or impossible, we keep on trying! This musical is cheesy, simple, and fun. My hope is that you will just sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself for a couple hours.
"This is a safe place." That is a statement we say a lot in the theater. For our students it means they are free to explore, express, and empathize without fear of ridicule or reprimand. For you today, it means you can openly express your devotion for one of the most controversial films of all time…Xanadu. Here, you can enjoy the Xanadu free from the ridicule of the outside world. You no longer have to pretend that you think ELO songs are cheesy and that you don’t wish you had Olivia Newton John’s beaded headpiece from the finale sequence. You are in a safe place. On the flipside, if Xanadu didn’t make your Top Ten Greatest Films of All Time or if you couldn’t watch it without wondering if Gene Kelly was thinking, ‘I can’t believe this is my last movie,’ you can feel free to openly mock the legwarmers, Aqua Net and the absurdly over-choreographed dance numbers that seem to occur for no particular reason. You, too, are in a safe place.
I want to express my sincerest thanks to the parents who allow their students to be a part of our productions. Even if theater is "just a phase" in your student's lives, we hope that you will be able to look back on this experience with the fondest of memories. If your child comes home 10 years from now for a holiday and while you are out shopping together "Suddenly" plays over the speakers in the store and you share a good laugh about the outragoues costumes and hard work that doing this show was, then I have done my job. If your child chooses to mention this experience in their Tony acceptance speech, that's just icing on the cake! So, thank you!, thank you!, thank you! You make all of this possible.
I hope you enjoy the show!
Just Xana-do it,
Cory H. Garrett
