Maine State Music Theatre Presents XANADU, Begins July 20

Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) is presenting the New England premiere of XANADU, playing July 20 - August 6 at the Pickard Theater in Brunswick. This wacky musical comedy stars favorite MSMT performers Jenny Lee Stern, Charis Leos, Brandon Andrus, Ed Romanoff and Erin Maguire. The show highlights the music of Olivia Newton John and the Electric Light Orchestra and lovingly pokes fun at the 1980 movie of the same name.

What do you get when you cross roller-skates with greek mythology? XANADU! Low-spirited Sonny Malone gets a visit from a Greek muse Clio, who is disguised as an Australian roller girl named Kira. Her goal is to inspire him to open a roller disco. But when Clio falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and Clio risks eternal banishment to the underworld.

Based on the 1980 cult classic film, XANADU the musical became a surprising Broadway smash hit in 2007. XANADU, with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and unforgettable music by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, was the receiver of four Tony Award nominations in 2008 including Best Choreography, Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and Best Musical. The score includes hits from the late 70s and early 80s such as "Magic," "Evil Woman," "Have You Never Been Mellow," and "All Over the World."
Jenny Lee Stern made a big impression on MSMT audiences last season when she starred as Patsy Cline in ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE. Stern is returning to star in XANADU to play the lead character Clio, otherwise known as Kira. Stern reconnects with her co-star from ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE, Charis Leos.

Leos played the sassy Texas housewife, Louise. Leos has been performing with MSMT for six seasons now and plays Clio's sister Melpomene in XANADU. Her other memorable MSMT roles include Madame Thenardier in LES MISERABLES, Jolene in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, and the conservative mayor in ALL SHOOK UP.
Speaking of ALL SHOOK UP. Leos' co-star from that MSMT production was Brandon Andrus who played the Elvis-like character named Chad. Andrus is back at MSMT for his second season playing the lead role of Sonny Malone in XANADU.

Ed Romanoff, a Maine native, portrays Danny Maguire in XANADU, a real estate mogul and former big-band clarinetist. This is Romanoff's eleventh season with MSMT. Romanoff previously starred in THE PRODUCERS and HAIRSPRAY.

Erin Maguire plays Calliope, middle sister to Clio and Melpomene. Maguire and Leos make quite the diabolical - and extremely funny - pair of jealous sisters in XANADU. Maguire has starred in MSMT productions of CHICAGO, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, and SOUTH PACIFIC.

Rounding out the cast of muses, sirens, dancers, and singers are Chuck Ragsdale, Katie Hagen, Lara Seibert, Brian Michael Hoffman, and Buddy Reeder. Rashaan James Ii, Eric D. Jackson, and Bree Banker also take to the roller disco floor in XANADU and will later be seen in THE WIZ.

MSMT's production of XANADU is graciously sponsored by The Times Record and Bowdoin College. MSMT's entire 2011 season is sponsored by The Highlands and Highland Green.
Tickets to see XANADU are on sale now. Interested parties can contact the MSMT box office at (207) 725-8769, visit the box office window in person at The Pickard Theater or purchase online at www.msmt.org. The show previews on July 20th and runs through August 6th. Matinees are at 2 p.m. and evening shows are at 7:30 p.m. For specific dates and availability, please contact the box office or visit the website. The Pickard Theater is located at 1 Bath Road in Brunswick, on the campus of Bowdoin College.
Don't miss out on the rest of MSMT's 2011 summer season! Take a gospel journey through the famous Land of OZ in THE WIZ or see the award-winning star of Broadway, Euan Morton in concert on August 15th. Children's programming is also planned on August 22nd with a presentation of an original version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST written by XANADU director Marc Robin and MSMT alumni Curt Dale Clark.

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