RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
Come Friday night, April 25, Michael Serrecchia will have just a little less on his plate. Then he can take a slight breath.
Before Friday, the director was working on two shows at the same time. But the first of his two shows opens this weekend: Xanadu: The Musical by Uptown Players at the Kalita Humphreys Theater.
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Xanadu: The Musical
Book by: Douglas Carter Beane
Music and lyrics by: Jeff Lynne and John Farrar
Directed by: Michael Serrecchia
Music direction by: Adam C. Wright
Cast: Tiana Shuntae Alexander, Landon Blanton, Bradley Campbell,
Leslie Marie Collins, Stephanie Felton, Gena Loe, Christopher Nguyen,
Ally Van Deuren, Luke Weber
Choreographer: Kelly McCain
Stage Manage: Luisa Ann Torres
Lighting Design: Julie Simmons
Set Design: Dennis Canright
Sound Design: Brian Christensen
Costume Design: Suzi Cranford
Wigs, Hair and Makeup: Michael B. Moore
Props Designer: Kennedy Smith
Master Electrician: Mia Lindemann
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“My brain is on overtime, but it’s good to be busy,” he said. “Besides, I’ve had a lot of prep time for both.”
Serrecchia is a consummate pro, so he can handle the pressures.
After Xanadu opens, he will open The Sunshine Boys on May 2 at MainStage in Irving.
The question is: How does he keep the two shows apart in his brain while directing both?
“There was a whole two hours between rehearsals, and that drive from Irving would always clear my head. So I felt like I had a solid point-of-view going into each — I hope anyway,” he said.
For Xanadu, Serrecchia had a lot of moving parts, and his perspective of the show was the challenge of putting a movie onto the stage. The stage musical is based on the 1980 camp classic film of the same name that starred Oliva Newton-John.
“It’s not as easy going from film to stage, and so, with that, there is a whole new list of obstacles and opportunities,” he said. “But also, people will have expectations from the film and for those moments. We at least address those.”
And speaking of moving parts, the cast is on roller skates.
“These kids are rolling all over the Kalita,” the director exclaimed.
Xanadu: The Musical is set in the 1980s and follows Kira, a Greek muse, who comes from Mount Olympus to Venice Beach determined to inspire the struggling artist, Sonny.
Sonny’s goal is to create the first roller disco with Kira’s help, but her sisters aren’t happy and step in to thwart Sonny’s efforts and Kira’s forbidden love. Plus, there’s roller skating and classic pop hits!
Clearly, this is a colorful show. Serrecchia described it as pure camp. But with all its elements, it’s, ironically, not the gayest show.
“It’s not, but when you see a lavender cyclops, it will make you think,” Serrecchia said with a laugh. “The camp itself makes up for it.”
After he craftied his direction, Serrecchia watched the film for the first time.
Ever.
“It was most enlightening, but I am glad I didn’t watch it first,” he said. “It did help assure that I had grasped its style in our production.”
In a funny bit of coincidence, this production will mark the first of two Xanadu’s on the horizon. A month after Uptown closes, Theatre Three, down the street, will open its production of the show. Booking agents are mindful about rights to shows and aware of theater locations and proximity.
“I thought it was odd, and then I wondered if it would be detrimental at first,” Serrecchia said.
“But now, I think it’s gonna be fun, and perhaps we’ll share audiences on this one! I hope our audience will go see theirs, and I hope the people who plan to see that one will come check ours out.”
Xanadu: The Musical opens April 25 and runs through May 5. For tickets, visit UptownPlayers.org.