The Muses (Calliope, Clio, Polyhymnia, Euterpe, Terpsichore, Erato, Melpomene, Thalia, and Urania) are chilling, when Clio discusses the plight of Sonny, a dejected and confounded sidewalk chalk artist named Sonny. She raises and proclaims the mission of all Muses to inspire and gently guide all creatives (including Scientists!!??) to the information they need to succeed. But of course, everybody knows that. To further and facilitate Sonny’s progress, Clio will assume the alias of Kira, a roller blader (legwarmers and all) who will connect with Sonny, all the better to lead him down his predetermined path. She must, however, be careful as direct interference (including jumping his bones) is strictly taboo.
Naturally for Sonny and “Kira” sparks fly immediately. She proceeds to entice and encourage him, carefully respecting the boundaries between deities and mortals. Sonny consults his enigmatic, radiant mural, noticing the word: XANADU. As luck (tehe) would have it, there is a deserted property up for sale. A failed nightclub called Xanadu. The two must do all they can to make the most of this opportunity.
T3’s production of Xanadu: an improbable musical comedy assembled from songs from other shows, is an undeniable delight. A shiny, polished spectacle with great production values and the playful heart of Rooney and Garland’s legendary barnhouse, it’s all charm and nonsense. No pun is too shameless, no nudge too sly. Filled with feminine energy and fairy tale logic, it weaves hope with the fanciful and helplessly silly. And it wields carelessness, celebration, as if it it were a language. As if it were a given. You see the disco ball and poledancer poles (shame on them!) and ribbons and bubbles and strobes and it all seems impossible. But like a gift from Dionysus, it’s not.
Kudos and congratulations to Jeffrey Ferrell and this light and loopy cast (Lauren LeBlanc, Max J Swarner, L. Walter, Hannah Arguelles, and Laura Lites). All in all this assembly of Designers and Musicians, et al have converged to blend each element into something bright and chipper and marvellous.
Xanadu plays at Theatre Three June 5th -July 5th, 2026. 2688 Laclede Street, Suite 120, Dallas, TX, United States, Texas. 214-871-3300. boxoffice@theatre3dallas.com. theatre3dallas.com