Xanadu
at Rock Ridge High School

Reviewed on January 22, 2022

Gwen Ihde
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Art. Music. Muses. A roller disco? Rock Ridge High School provided all this and more in their production of Xanadu by Douglas Carter Beane. The jukebox musical, featuring songs by Oliva Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra, is a crowd-favorite, and Rock Ridge High School did not disappoint.

The show follows Clio (Maddie Kesler), a naive muse set on a mission to bring art to the 1980s. Donning leg warmers, roller skates, and an Australian accent, Clio inspires Sonny Malone (Grayson Scheefers), to open a roller disco. While they deal with scheming sisters, a pesky theatre-owner, and forbidden love, the characters whisk the audience into a world of music and roller skates.

Maddie Kelser lit the stage with her bubbly nature and animated mannerisms as Clio, moving with a graceful, showy flair. In contrast, Grayson Scheefers played the dim yet endearing Sonny Malone as he clumsily ambled around the stage. The two were always able to get a roar from the audience but balanced their over-the-top characters with moments of heartfelt emotion.

The ensemble was the backbone of the production, seamlessly slipping in and out and adding vibrancy to each scene. The muses each embodied their unique art forms, assisted by color coordinated dresses and elegantly styled wigs (designed by Javaria Sohail and Mandy Springer). Though they were rarely the focal point, the versatile ensemble kept a constant excitement as they danced and sang in close-knit harmonies. By placing the orchestra on the stage, the production was able to adopt a concert feel and add to the captivating energy of the ensemble.

The stationary set (designed by Danny Fortuno), with towering marble pillars and a balcony, took form with the assistance of lighting (designed by Jack Capobianco). By simply changing the lighting colors or turning on a strip of LEDs, the stage transitioned from a roller disco to Mount Olympus in a matter of seconds. Each lighting change was carefully thought out, adding depth and creating a vivid disco-feel.

Rock Ridge High School's production of Xanadu allowed the audience to escape to a world of Greek mythology and disco. Every scene was teeming with energy and excitement, the ensemble even spilled out into the audience and spread their spirit. Through the combination of set and lights, the production was able to effortlessly transport the audience. With hilarious characters, catchy songs, and a captivating atmosphere, Rock Ridge High School left the audience wanting to lace up their roller skates and start dancing.

Abby Wyland
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

It's not often when inspiration strikes, but when it does, it's something truly special. Rock Ridge High School's production of Xanadu explored the themes of temptation and creativity through the electric hilarity of roller skating, 1980s pop-rock, and the Greek gods.

Inspired by the 1980 cult classic film, Xanadu is a pop-rock jukebox musical comedy that combines the magic of Greek mythology and the spunk of 80s disco. With a book written by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics composed by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, the musical features a different storyline than its film with more Greek mythology presence. Xanadu premiered on Broadway in 2007 and ran for over 500 shows. During its run, it garnered a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Award, along with two Tony nominations.

The story of Xanadu followed the head muse of Mount Olympus, Clio, and her muse sisters. Their job was simple: to inspire mortals who dwell on Earth. However, there were three important rules the muses could never break: never create artwork yourself, never reveal your muse identity to a mortal, and, most importantly, never fall in love with a mortal. Donning the name "Kira", an Australian accent, leg warmers, and roller skates, Clio ventured to Venice Beach, California on a mission to save a starving artist by the name of Sonny Malone. Her plan to help worked as Sonny went from horribly suicidal to properly moved. His vision? To create a roller rink including all forms of art out of an abandoned theater. However, trouble arose when Kira's muse sisters Melpomene and Calliope hatched an evil plan to put a love curse on an unsuspecting Kira. Will Kira be able to resist the curse and the urge to help Sonny, or get swept up in the intoxicating world of love and the human spirit?

The role of Clio, or Kira, was perfected by Maddie Kesler. Performing almost the entire show on roller skates, Kesler showed impeccable skill by dancing and singing with power and grace. Additionally, the Australian accent Kesler used elevated her character's bubbly physicality and fanatic energy.

From the moment he appeared on stage, actor Grayson Scheefers, in the role of Sonny Malone, brought an air of charisma and humor. Scheefers' improv was so flawless that any mistake became an addition to his lovable, foolish character.

Actresses D'Amora Brunson and Ellie Schubert, who portrayed evil sisters Melpomene and Calliope, were a captivating duo who complimented the brightness of the show with sinister yet playful energy. With the use of comedy and sass, along with stunning vocals, these two transformed a high school show into a Greek myth filled with betrayal, excitement, and fun.

The costumes were assembled by Ethan Terry, Javaria Sohail, Kaylie Rivers, and Annabelle Monte, and done so with impressive cohesion. The example of expertise that this team incorporated is best described by the ensemble of the Muses, who each had a similar dress shape and shade but a different color and personal touch that matched each of their characters.

Perhaps what dazzled the stage the most was the brilliant lighting design by Jack Capobianco. Not only did the lighting properly coordinate with the mood, characters, and costumes, but it also extended the voltaic color scheme of the show as designed by the Xanadu Marketing team, composed of students Jason Jones, Kylie Miller, Olivia McMahon, and Ellie Schubert.

In a few words, Rock Ridge High School's production of Xanadu brought life and joy to the stage through exceptional acting, enthralling technical design, and genuine fervor.

Grace Drost
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

The amazing capacity for humans to overcome challenges and create is fundamental to human existence. Rock Ridge High School's production of Xanadu is a timely reminder to everyone watching of the importance of art in the face of adversity.

Based on the 1980 cult classic, Xanadu is a musical that tells the story of Sonny Malone and his quest to find the inspiration to create. While considering ending it all, he meets Kira, a vibrant, and somewhat eccentric, Australian blonde on roller skates. He was immediately drawn to her, not knowing she's actually a muse from ancient Greece named Clio. The pair joined forces to open a roller rink and fell for each other in the process, something Clio was forbidden to do.

Front and center during the opener "I'm Alive" was Kira (Maddie Kesler) who showed herself to be full of vibrancy. Kesler carried this energy through the production, making hilarious character choices, including an overly exaggerated Australian accent. The most impressive aspect of her performance, however, was that throughout the entire show she danced, sang, and acted gracefully on wheels. Sonny Malone (Grayson Scheefers) added many hysterical moments and established Kira and Sonny as a comedic pair. Scheefers' physical humor, such as rolling around on stage and "falling" in roller skates as well as his flawless delivery of Sonny's one-liners had audience laughter echoing around the theatre. Melpomene (D'Amora Brunson), the main villain who plotted against Kira, was a powerful presence. Brunson's performance of "Evil Woman" was a standout, showing off her strong vocal ability. During the show, she established her character as an evil force even when she was not in the spotlight.

Over the course of the musical, actors moved between many different places, from the roller rink to the muses' home in Greece and even to Mt. Olympus. The set and lighting teams made these transitions look easy with impeccable coordination. Set designer (Danny Fortuno), created a stationary build that included a balcony, a set of doors that opened and closed on cue, and columns that perfectly hid actors coming on stage. An impressive set, it transformed as needed, allowing many actors to be on stage at once without feeling crowded. The lighting designers (Jack Capobianco and Maggie Miller) had specific lighting for each place the characters went, drastically affecting how the set was viewed by the audience. They utilized LED strip lights with bright, bold colors for big numbers and drab muted colors for sadder scenes, even sometimes correlating the lights with the color of actors' costumes. The lighting was made much smaller and dimmer during serious scenes, creating beautifully intimate moments. These elements made the set multifaceted and transitions quick and smooth, fully transporting the audience to each scene.

Xanadu was more than a comedy; it was a hopeful encouragement to keep creating even through the toughest times. Rock Ridge's show carried this theme, sending the audience home laughing and inspired.

Amanda Anthony
Tuscarora High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

Do you remember that eccentric 80's film starring Olivia Newton-John as a Greek deity? Rock Ridge High School has brought it to life on stage with roller skates, legwarmers, and jean shorts in their must-see production of Xanadu!

Xanadu is a jukebox musical comedy written in 2007 by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, based on the 1980 film of the same name. The story centers around a depressed artist, Sonny, and a Greek muse, Clio. Clio seeks to inspire Sonny, and in doing so, invokes the wrath of her sisters, who try to sabotage her by forcing her to break one of Zeus' rules: never fall in love with a mortal.

The minute the performers emerged from the pink-lit set with smoke machines billowing around them, the entire cast had the audience wrapped around their fingers. Their playful energy was contagious, and they had the entire audience laughing within seconds of starting the show. Just as bewitching was the impressive set they skated around, and the cohesive and colorful lights enhanced every single moment.

The leads of Xanadu delivered on their promise of a night full of laughter. Clio, played by Maddie Kesler, perfectly grounded all her character's quirks in comedy, never letting her portrayal stray from being charming to being annoying. Her over-exaggerated Australian accent perfectly exemplified this, as the accent was always more than just her voice, as she pushed her animated movements to match it. Opposite her was Sonny Malone, played by Grayson Scheefers, who was always eliciting a laugh from the audience with his spirited one-liners and hilarious physicality. One scene that stuck out from the others was the business pitch: Sonny enters on stage, donning roller skates, and can't stop falling during the meeting. What could've gotten old quickly instead earned a laugh from the entire auditorium.

Although, this show was more than just the leads. The supporting cast wowed the audience with excellent comedy, singing, and dancing. A stand-out character was Melpomene, played by D'Amora Brunson, who instantly stunned the audience with her knock-out voice in the song "Evil Woman". Furthermore, Xanadu boasted a large ensemble that often stole the show. Towards the end, the ensemble members came out as Gods, Goddesses, and deities for the solo-filled number "Have You Never Been Mellow". Laughter erupted through the audience as AJ Ruhnke came out in his Centaur costume, and one solo, Jack Gould as Cyclopes, even got a hearty cheer from the audience.

Nevertheless, this show wouldn't have had half as much impact if it weren't for the show-stopping technical elements. The lighting, designed by Jack Capobianco, was professional quality, and everyone noticed. Danny Fortuno's two-tiered scenic design created a grand space that the cast used beautifully. Every single element, truly, was brilliantly executed. Easily, it was the most impressive technical display the audience had seen from a high school in quite a while.

Rock Ridge High School's reputation for great theatre lives another day with its stellar production of Xanadu. The audience walked away from their performance humming the catchy tune of "Xanadu" and anxious for another great show.

Amanda Jacobson
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

When setting out to create peak entertainment that combines all the arts and athletics, there's only one thing you could make, a roller disco. At least according to the mesmerizing musical, Xanadu.

Doused in their "Strange Magic," Xanadu at Rock Ridge High School was nothing short of campy fun. From professional-level lighting to the onstage band, and constant "Dancin'" ensemble, RRPA's production of Xanadu was overflowing with spirit, spunk, and splendor.

The jukebox musical comedy Xanadu was based on the 1980 film of the same name and first hit Broadway in 2007 where it ran for over 500 performances. The show followed a mellow Californian artist named Sonny, who struggled with self-doubt until he unexpectedly ran into a Muse, Clio, who was sporting leg warmers, roller skates, and an Australian accent in an attempt to disguise herself. She inspired Sonny to create a flashy roller disco. All was sunny until two of Clio's sisters, Melpomene and Calliope, schemed to derail Clio's carefully constructed plan and chaos ensued.

Leading the collection of talented actors were Maddie Kesler and Grayson Scheefers who played Clio and Sonny Malone, respectively. While both actors delivered remarkable performances on their own, they shined together. Their comedic beats blended into their romantic chemistry harmoniously and drove the characters' journeys throughout the show.

D'Amora Brunson's portrayal of Melpomene was "Magic." Plotting, cackling, and elegantly dancing around, Brunson elicited attention every second she graced the stage. Brunson expertly portrayed the graphic contrast between delightful Muse and conniving jealous sister. The combination of her powerful vocal performances and comedic chemistry with fellow scheming muse, Ellie Schubert, deeply enriched the production.

Donned in monochromatic goddess dresses each complete with a matching color streak in their hair, the Muses created a colorful and energetic backbone to the show. D'Amora Brunson, Ellie Schubert, Mariah Waters, Julia Freeman, Karishma Ruhnke, and Maggie Cantwell completed the zesty ensemble of muses. Each performer brought a unique and individualistic approach to their respective muse creating profoundly vivid and animated performances.

The RRPA Theatre Costume, Make-up, and Hair Class took on the formidable task of combining the aesthetics of ancient Greek gods and goddesses with the bright colors and moxie of the 1980s. By letting the '80s influence bleed into the styles of the Muses and Gods, the team was able to create a cohesive and seamless onstage aesthetic. Each Muse was adorned in a drapey, Goddess-style dress in a color that matched their character's personality. The supporting ensemble wore similar styles in white which contributed to the natural ambiance of the set.

What truly brought the show to life was the incredibly dynamic and intricate lighting design by Jack Capobianco, Maggie Miller, and the RRPA Lighting Crew. The crew left no detail undone, down to coordinating the lighting to the characters' color palettes. Using specials and their colorful cyclorama, the team was able to effectively distinguish between the settings of California and Mount Olympus. Their use of bright colors and moving lights brought the disco setting to life and created an energetic and exciting atmosphere.

The immensely talented cast and crew expertly took on the daunting combination of Ancient Greek mythology, roller-skating, and '80s disco to create a production best described as Heaven on wheels.

Charlotte Lobring
St. Andrew's Episcopal School
Submitted for publication to Blue Ridge Leader

Begin with a young, uninspired artist and then explode into a colorful and harmonious celebration of the arts…all on roller skates, of course. Rock Ridge High School's Xanadu was a highly professional and lively production with a cast and crew that went above and beyond at all times. It was as funny as it was heartfelt, and was a loving nod to the 1980s, legwarmers and all.

Xanadu, with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne (of the Electric Light Orchestra) and John Farrar, is inspired by the 1980 film of the same name. It tells the story of an ancient Greek muse, Clio, who wishes to inspire a struggling artist named Sonny. Using the name Kira and sporting an Australian accent, Clio and Sonny grow closer together as he works to open a roller disco named Xanadu. This is much to the satisfaction of Clio's older sisters, Melpomene and Calliope, who wish to get Clio banished to the Netherworld for falling in love with a mortal.

Maddie Kesler, who played the titular character Clio, was a joy to watch at all times. Kesler's bright and bubbly personality was executed perfectly through grandiose movements and beautiful, crystal-clear vocals. With the roller skates and accent, Kesler added to the magical quality of the character. Grayson Scheefers, who played Sonny Malone, was a master with physical comedy and chemistry with the other cast members. The audience roared with laughter watching Sonny struggle with the roller skates and deeply felt Sonny's affectionate connection with Clio. Scheefers also executed the songs with grace and fluidity.

Who doesn't love a villain though, right? This show certainly delivered. D'Amora Brunson, who played Melpomene, displayed a powerful, graceful quality that left the audience wanting to see more. Ellie Schubert, who played Calliope, had the best jokes and vocal riffs in the show. Whether the two were "making it rain" with dollar bills above the stage or just being silly, they were the highlight of the show. Another standout performance was by Matt Miscio, who played business mogul Danny Maguire. Miscio embodied the tough, determined businessman with ease. It was delightful to see Danny's soft spot for the arts come out gradually throughout the show.

No matter who was on stage, or what song it happened to be, the ensemble was consistently in character, which is advanced for a high school production. The other Muse sisters, played by Mariah Waters, Julia Freeman, Karishma Ruhnke, and Maggie Cantwell stole the spotlight with their alluring dance moves and radiant ribbon twirling. Zeus and Hera, played by Sam Cooper and Sneha Khandavalli respectively, were entertaining in both witticism and vocals. Hayley Sutton played two of the most memorable characters in the show. As Young Danny, in a flashback scene, Sutton's tap-dancing skills were unreal in rhythm and balance. As Hermes, the one-liners were fantastic.

The technical aspect of the production was simply astounding. The Greek-influenced, two-level set designed by Danny Fortuno caught the eye the moment the audience walked in. The lighting, designed by Jack Capobianco, added to the atmosphere of the show in the most stunning way possible. The student choreographers, Maggie Cantwell and Elle Hardesty, brought the show to life with mystical and pop-style movements. The costumes, hair, and makeup were flawless, designed by Maddy Springer, and the school's Theatre Costume & Make-Up Class. Each design fit the characters in just the right way.

Xanadu at Rock Ridge High School was a breathtaking show full of unforgettable performances, marvelous design, and a whole lot of fun.