Brendan Denison
NORMAL -- It may take just two to tango, but it also takes 100 young thespians to rock a roller disco back to life in song and dance.
The musical "Xanadu JR" by Douglas Carter Beane opens at 7 p.m. Friday in Normal with a cast of 84, along with 16 crew members, all Thomas Metcalf School students from fourth to eighth grade. There are four runs planned through Sunday in the Hayden Auditorium at the Illinois State University laboratory school, 7000 S. University St.
Show director and Metcalf drama teacher Chad Tallon said the 2005 musical is based on a stage production modeled after the 1980 movie "Xanadu."
"A man from Venice Beach, California, is looking for his purpose in life, and these Greek goddesses mistakenly end up in 1980s Venice Beach, California, instead of 1780 Venice, Italy," Tallon said of the musical's plot.
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The man, who goes by Sonny Malone in the show, happens upon an empty theater in which he dreams of opening up a roller disco, or what he aspires to be "the apex of the arts."
After Malone encounters a goddess who yearns to be the muse for his disco inspirations, Tallon said a "classic love story" and "wacky madness" ensue.
Tallon said the 1980 movie was "strange" and received mixed reviews, and so the musical takes a campy twist on the original story.
In an interview during the first dress rehearsal Tuesday, Tallon said the production was coming together greatly.
"It's always a challenge, especially as a lot of these kids have never done (theater) before," Tallon said, adding the first-timers make it fun.
He said they have young students from fourth and fifth grades in the chorus singing a number or two, and other students have several years of experience through summer theater programs and the Community Players Theatre.
And once the show gets rolling, the youngsters command the show, Tallon said: Quick set changes, tech and cues are all run by the kids.
Behind the scenes, Tallon said the students' parents volunteered for building the set, which extends two levels with a movable staircase and ruinous Roman columns supported by metal undergirding for an industrial look. The Hayden Auditorium stage was also extended to prevent the cast from clustering up.
Scenes blend vibrant costumes (around 350 in total) with flashy tech, from lighted rose bushes to LED finger gloves waving through dance parts. The cherry on top is a disco ball sending starry lights across the auditorium hall.
While working with a large, varied cast is a lot of work, Tallon also said "it's the best job in the world."
The 'kooky' side
There are 11 musical numbers written to choreography coursing jubilantly across the stage, with track credits that include Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John, who appeared in the 1980 movie.
Musical numbers include ELO's hit tracks "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic."
Playing two antagonistic roles in the show are Miriam Dalton as Melpomene and Brynn Bozarth as Calliope. The two eighth graders said "Evil Woman" is one of their favorite numbers to play out.
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Bozarth added that "Strange Magic" is another fun number in the show.
Dalton said what she likes most about her character is playing someone who is very mean.
"I'm not very mean in real life," she said.
"I really get to connect with my character because we're both a little on the kooky side," Bozarth said. "I get to play with sarcasm. I get to move around more than what I've had to do with different characters, where I have to stand still and straight."
While she's performed in a lot of other musicals, Bozarth said she isn't as much of a dancer, and "Xanadu" has expanded her musical experience.
"I've always been a dancer," said Dalton, "but acting has never really been my strong suit." In the latter field, she said she's learned a lot about what to do with her body and how to react with her face.
Bozarth encouraged the the public to come see the show because her school gave it a high budget, and the ensemble is sounding great.
"It's not something you would expect from a middle school production. It's a little more high-tech, and our set is amazing," Bozarth said.
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With at least 20 volunteers helping some nights, which includes the cast's family members and school alumni, Tallon said the show has been a massive group effort.
Rehearsals started in late November, meeting three nights a week. Practice runs ramped up for the final push.
Tallon said he can trust the "product" will eventually shape up in the production and amaze him.
"The result doesn't matter as much as kids learning the process of how it happens, and if they take something from that ... that's where the goods come in," he said.
Through theater, Tallon said his students learn socially and emotionally about communicating with new people and making new friends.
When asked why people should come see see the musical, Tallon said it's especially important to take witness of young kids "who have an emerging passion."
"In today's day and age, being able to watch kids do what they love is fun, and especially important when ... that involves music and dance that people can appreciate and listen to," he said. "Theater of all realms is incredibly important."
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Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
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