Hesston College Theatre to present disco-rock musical “Xanadu”

Hesston College Theatre will bring sparkle, roller skates and chart-topping hits to the stage this spring with its production of “Xanadu.” Performances will take place at 7 p.m. March 5 to 7 and at 2 p.m. March 8 in Keim Center’s Black Box Theater. Tickets are $5 for students and $12 for adults and seniors, available at the door or in advance at hesston.edu/showtix or by calling 620-327-8104.

Directed by Theatre Director Rachel Jantzi, the high-energy musical plays a larger part in the overall message Jantzi wishes to convey throughout this year’s performances.

“I wanted to keep with the theme we had established with the fall play and Christmas show of fantastical stories and light-heartedness,” Jantzi says.

Set to the electrifying soundtrack of the 1980 cult film, the Broadway musical version of “Xanadu” by Douglas Carter Beane reimagines the story with sharper comedy, a streamlined story and additional characters. The show follows Greek muse Kira as she descends from Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, Calif., on a quest to inspire struggling artist Sonny Malone to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time – the first roller disco.

“It took all the best stuff the movie offered – romance, roller skating and an incredible soundtrack, and ditched the poor special effects and loose storyline. He tightened it by introducing additional muses, which created clearer conflict, comedic relief, and he let the music really tell the story,” Jantzi explains. “After all, this movie soundtrack had five chart-busting hits in 1980 and all of them are in this show.”

Audiences can expect glittering costumes, infectious choreography and plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor.

“This is a disco-rock musical,” Jantzi says. “Anyone born in the ’70s or earlier who knew this movie or music will experience some sweet nostalgia. Anyone born after the ’70s will either know it from their parents, or they will simply appreciate the comedy and the music that is still heard today. And really, how many shows can a director pull out a disco ball and a pegasus? Have I mentioned the awesome music?”

The cast features lead actors Anja Martinez of Topeka, Kan., and Angel Sinnett of McPherson, Kan., as Kira and Sonny Malone. Ashleigh Williams of Eaton, Co., portrays Calliope; Rey Tipton of Hesston, Kan., plays Melpomene; Evelyn Gaertner of Newton, Kan., is Erato; Sebastian Pavlovich of Lindsborg, Kan., appears as Thalia; Adam Wonser of Goessel, Kan., plays Terpsichore; and Chloe Robinson of Moore, Okla., portrays Euterpe. The cast also features Josh Fleming ’25, Hesston College flight instructor, as Danny McGuire; Cindy Smith of Park City, Kan., and Constance Feldt of Wichita, Kan., in multiple ensemble roles; and Brody Hutto of Bel Aire, Kan., appearing as Hermes.

The production team includes stage manager Alyssa Coonce, of Hutchinson, Kan.; assistant stage manager and dramaturg Brody Hutto of Bel Aire, Kan.; lead carpenter Sam Setiawan of Goshen, Ind.; co-costume designers Evelyn Gaertner of Newton, Kan., and Chloe Robinson of Moore, Okla.; hair and makeup designer Constance Feldt of Wichita, Kan.; and props chief Ava Huynh of Lam Dong, Vietnam.

Recommended for audiences of all ages, “Xanadu” promises an evening of laughter, nostalgia and unapologetic fun.