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ZACH Theatre Adds Weekend Night Dance Parties

Updated: Thursday, July 19 2012, 07:35 AM CDT
By Rob Faubion, AustinOnStage.com

ZACH Theatre wants to get their audiences dancing when the theatre company concludes their 2011-12 Season with the Austin premiere of the Broadway hit Xanadu: The Musical.  Directed and Choreographed by Nick Demos - who staged ZACH’s hit production of The Drowsy Chaperone - performances run July 18 through September 2.

Following the Friday and Saturday night performances, the Kleberg Stage will be transformed into a disco dance party.  In the spirit of ZACH's annual “Red, Hot & Soul” parties, the weekend events will include go-go dancers, music mixed by DJ Manny and a cash bar.  The event will be included in the regular ticket price for weekend performances.
   
With a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, the musical is based on - and spoofs - outrageously campy 1980s Universal Pictures film of the same name, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly and featured a screenplay by Richard Danus and Marc Rubel.   The over-the-top, roller-skating musical tells the story of beautiful muse who descends from the heavens of Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach and inspires a struggling artist to create his biggest dream - the first roller disco.
    
ZACH’s production stars Jill Blackwood and Matthew Redden, with Rick Roemer, Lara Wright, Michelle Alexander, Roberto Araujo, Beth Koepp, Jennifer Young, Tyler Jones, Charissa Allen and Josh Wechsler. Allen Robertson provides the musical direction.
    
Performances run Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.  The Opening Night post-show Champagne Reception will be held Saturday, July 21, and the GLBT Wilde Party with pre-show mixer will be Thursday, August 2. Tickets range from $25 to $55 with $18 student rush tickets available one hour before show time with valid ID.
    
ZACH's Kleberg Stage is located at 1421 West Riverside Drive, on the corner of Riverside and South Lamar Blvd.  For tickets and more information, call (512) 476-0541 ext. 1, or visit www.zachtheatre.org.

(Photo of Jill Parker by Kirk R. Tuck)ZACH Theatre Adds Weekend Night Dance Parties