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Tony Roberts has joined the cast of ’Xanadu,’ a new musical based on the 1980 cult film. The show opens June 23 at Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theatre.
AP PHOTO
NEW YORK — Can Tony Roberts dance — much less roller-skate? Roberts, best known for his roles in several Woody Allen movies and stage appearances in such comedies as “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” and the recent Broadway revival of “Barefoot in the Park,” has joined the cast of “Xanadu,” an adaptation of the 1980 cult movie musical. Roberts will play Danny McGuire, the former big-band leader with dreams of recapturing his old glory. Legendary dancer Gene Kelly originated the role in the campy film, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Michael Beck. Kerry Butler will star in the musical, which opens June 26 at the Helen Hayes Theatre. She portrays Kira, a Greek muse who attracts a painter dissatisfied with his career. He will be played by James Carpinello. Both seem to spend much of their time — at least in the movie — on roller skates. Two musical-theater veterans, Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman, also will be in the show, portraying muses of varying degrees of affability. “Xanadu” has a book by Douglas Carter Beane and will feature songs from the movie by John Farrar and Jeff Lynne. They include such pop hits as “Magic,” “Party All Over the World,” “I’m Alive” and the title tune. Preview performances begin May 23.
Broadway ticket availability and capsule reviews of shows as of March 19 follow. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are available at the theaters’ box offices for the shows listed. Details about how to obtain tickets appear at the end.
A Chorus Line: Michael Bennett’s classic musical about dancers auditioning for a big Broadway show is back. Gerald Schoenfeld. Telecharge.
Avenue Q.: Love blossoms among the 20-something set — a group that includes puppets — in this very funny, adult musical comedy. Golden. Telecharge.
Beauty and the Beast: For those who want a lavish, live-action version of the delightful Disney animated feature, this is the ticket. Others may be content to rent the film. Lunt-Fontanne. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Closes July 29.
Chicago: Bebe Neuwirth is back through April 22 in this entertaining production of the 1975 Kander and Ebb musical, only this time she is playing Roxie Hart and not Velma Kelly. Broadway’s longest running musical revival and deservedly so. Ambassador. Telecharge.
Company: Raul Esparza heads the cast in this revival of the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical about a bachelor who can’t make a commitment. Ethel Barrymore. Telecharge.
Curtains: A murder-mystery musical comedy with a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb. David Hyde Pierce and Debra Monk star. Al Hirschfeld. Telecharge.
Grey Gardens: A musical version of the haunting film documentary about a reclusive mother and daughter who were relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson star. Walter Kerr. Telecharge.
Inherit the Wind: Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehy star in a revival of the Jerome Lawrence-Robert E. Lee play loosely based on the Scopes “Monkey” trial. Now in previews. Opens April 12. Lyceum. Telecharge.
Hairspray: The cult John Waters movie set in 1960s Baltimore has been turned into a hilarious, tuneful musical. Neil Simon. Ticketmaster.
Jersey Boys: The musical story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Winner of four 2006 Tony Awards including best musical. August Wilson. Telecharge. Difficult.
Journey’s End: Hugh Dancy, Boyd Gaines and Jefferson Mays head the cast in a revival of R.C. Sherriff’s classic tale of life in the trenches of World War I. Belasco. Telecharge.
Les Miserables: The musical version of Victor Hugo’s sprawling novel is back. Alexander Gemignani stars as the heroic Jean Valjean and Norm Lewis is Javert. Broadhurst. Telecharge.
Mamma Mia!: The London musical sensation featuring the pop songs of ABBA makes it to Broadway. Die-hard ABBA fans will like it best; others may be puzzled. Cadillac Winter Garden. Telecharge.
Mary Poppins: The world’s most famous nanny comes to the stage after her great success as a P.L. Travers book and a Disney movie. New Amsterdam. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Difficult on weekends.
Monty Python’s Spamalot: A musical inspired by that demented film comedy, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Shubert. Telecharge.
Prelude to a Kiss: A Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Craig Lucas’ comic fantasy about an unusual love affair. The cast includes John Mahoney. American Airlines. 212-719-1300.
Rent: Jonathan Larson’s touching and now nostalgic look at struggling artists in New York’s East Village. Loosely based on Puccini’s opera “La Boheme.” Nederlander. Ticketmaster.
Spring Awakening: A striking rock musical based on Frank Wedekind’s classic drama about a dozen young people discovering their sexual identities. Music by Duncan Sheik. Book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Eugene O’Neill. Telecharge.
Talk Radio: Liev Schreiber stars as an acerbic radio talk-show host in a revival of Eric Bogosian’s play. Longacre. Telecharge.
Tarzan: A Disney musical about Edgar Rice Burroughs’ vine-swinging hero. The score is by Phil Collins. Richard Rodgers. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: A sweet-tempered, often hilarious new musical by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin about youngsters competing in a local spelling bee. Circle in the Square. Telecharge.
The Coast of Utopia: “Voyage,” “Shipwreck” and “Salvage,” all three parts of Tom Stoppard’s trilogy about a group of 19th-century Russian intellectuals, are now playing in repertory. The large cast includes Brian F. O’Byrne, Billy Crudup and Ethan Hawke. Vivian Beaumont. Telecharge.
The Color Purple: A musical version of Alice Walker’s novel about one woman’s triumph over adversity. Broadway. Telecharge.
The Drowsy Chaperone: A big fan remembers his favorite musical from 1928 — and it joyously comes to life. Marquis. Ticketmaster.
The Lion King: Director Julie Taymor is a modern-day Merlin, creating a stage version of the Disney animated hit that makes you truly believe in the magic of theater. Minskoff. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Difficult on weekends.
The Pirate Queen: Stephanie J. Block stars in this Alain Boublil-Michel Schoenberg musical as a legendary Irish buccaneer who was the scourge of Elizabethan England. Now in previews. Opens April 5. Hilton. Ticketmaster.
The Phantom of the Opera: The one with the chandelier. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House is the prime, Grade A example of big Brit musical excess. But all the lavishness does have a purpose in Harold Prince’s intelligent production, now the longest running show in Broadway history. Majestic. Telecharge.
The Producers: A riotous stage version of the 1968 Mel Brooks movie. The musical is even better than the film, which is saying something. St. James. A special “Producers” Telecharge number 212-239-5800. Closes April 22.
The Year of Magical Thinking: Joan Didion’s stage adaptation of her book about the death of her husband. Vanessa Redgrave stars. Now in previews. Opens March 29. Booth. Telecharge.
Wicked: An ambitious, wildly popular musical about the witches in “The Wizard of Oz” as young women. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Gershwin. Ticketmaster. Difficult.