The year is 1980. Venice Beach is buzzing, neon is humming, and a frustrated young artist named Sonny Malone has just abandoned his mural of the nine Greek Muses. But the moment he storms off, the impossible happens. The Muses burst to life (I’m Alive), and Kira, secretly the Muse Clio, hatches a plan to inspire Sonny toward artistic greatness. Disguised as an Australian roller skating dream girl, she swoops in at the Santa Monica Pier and sets Sonny’s imagination spinning (Magic). His dream? To open a roller disco.
But inspiration has consequences. Kira’s success puts her one step closer to earning the legendary gift of Xanadu, and her jealous sisters Melpomene and Calliope plot to curse her into falling in love with a mortal, a forbidden act (Evil Woman).
As Sonny and Kira discover a rundown theater that might just become their dream (Suddenly), they cross paths with Danny Maguire, a businessman whose own past with a Muse resurfaces in a flashback (Whenever You’re Away From Me). Soon, visions collide, disco lights flicker, and the race begins to restore the theater, now revealed to be named Xanadu, before time runs out (Dancin’, Strange Magic, All Over the World).
But when Kira’s feelings grow too real, the rules of Olympus come crashing down. She flees, Sonny follows, and the truth is revealed in a swirl of heartbreak, Pegasus wings, and suspended time (Suspended in Time). Brought before Zeus, Aphrodite, Thetis, and Hera, Kira faces judgment until mercy wins out (Have You Never Been Mellow). In the end, Zeus grants her the chance to return to Earth as a mortal, and the gift of Xanadu is finally realized (Xanadu).
At FYPA, we believe youth theatre isn’t just for grandparents with cameras. It’s for everyone. Our young performers, who represent seven southeast Iowa school districts, train, rehearse, and create with a level of professionalism that invites audiences of all ages to experience theatre that is polished, imaginative, and culturally alive.
Xanadu Jr. is the perfect match for our mission:
• It’s campy, clever, and joyfully self-aware, a parody and a tribute in the same breath.
• It celebrates creativity, inspiration, and the courage to dream big, which is the heartbeat of FYPA.
• It gives young artists the chance to perform material that is both theatrically rich and musically iconic.
• And it invites audiences to connect with 1980 in whatever way they carry it:
o Lived it? You’ll feel the nostalgia.
o Heard stories about it? You’ll get the myth and the magic.
o Think the era was ridiculous? This show lovingly agrees and winks at you the whole time.
This is children’s theatre elevated, with bold design, original art, next level choreography, professional production values, and storytelling that resonates far beyond the age of the performers, all brought to you by an all star team of musical theatre production veterans.
The original Broadway production of Xanadu was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2008. And the soundtrack is a cultural time capsule of pure pop electricity.
The original film featured seven Top 20 hits, powered by the unmistakable sound of Jeff Lynne and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and the legendary voice of Olivia Newton John. Songs like Magic, Evil Woman, All Over the World, and Xanadu remain instantly recognizable across generations.
This isn’t just a musical. It’s a neon soaked, roller skating, synth shimmering celebration of an era that refuses to fade… in leg warmers.
