Saturday Matinee

Xanadu is coming to SF! Seriously, talk about suspicions rising when I first heard what this musical was about – disco roller skating Greek muses saving hunky guys in dorky socks? (Reminds me of my reaction to Pirate Queen when I heard about it – a musical with river dancing??) But with the most gushing review I’ve ever read in the NY Times and trusted recommendations, this show has piqued my curiosity. If I were to go to NY anytime soon, this would be first on my list of musicals to see.

Cheyenne Jackson and Kerry Butler in Xanadu

Kerry Butler, with Jackie Hoffman (first one on the left)

Also, The Color Purple tour tickets are available for sale. Coming to the Orpheum Theater, it features my favorite original Broadway cast member, Felicia Fields (who should have gotten a Tony, IMO) as the hilarious and heartbreaking Sophia. The rest of the cast is a stunt casting extravaganza – Michelle Williams (of Destiny Child’s fame) is playing Shug Avery, and LaToya London (from American Idol) is playing Nettie. I suppose they’re hoping that their stunt casting streak is going to hold up, with the casting of Fantasia Burrino as Celie on Broadway.
I have to admit, I wasn’t at first thrilled about seeing this musical on Broadway. I thought it’d be a long drawn out melodramatic Oprah show with music. And, after all, what do I have in common with Celie, who grew up poor and abused? On top of that, tickets were so darn expensive; it’s one of the few tickets I’ve bought at TKTS, where I paid a whopping 3-4 times more than what I usually pay for lottery/rush tickets. But, despite expections, there’s something so universal about the show, which sweeps you up in Celie’s life story. It sounds so corny (in the worst Oprah show sort of way), but there’s something so genuine and earnest about watching someone struggle to overcome great odds and to see people really fight for themselves in adverse circumstances. Embarrassingly, I’ve never cried so much during a show, and I’ve also never been so emotionally moved. Go see it! I’m so glad it’s on tour. The SHN website also has a podcast on behind the scenes for The Color Purple.