West Windsor, N.J. - The Pennington Players perform magic on roller skates with their upcoming performance of the hilarious musical fantasy "Xanadu" at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Dates and show times for this spirited take on 1980s popular culture are: Fridays, March 9 and March 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, March 10 and March 17 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, March 11 and March 18 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on March 9.

Theater goers are invited to dress in their best 1980s regalia and vie for some prizes from that crazy neon era! Those in costume will be asked to come up on stage ten minutes before show time - by 7:50 p.m. for the evening performances and 1:50 p.m. for the Sunday shows. The audience will select the winners.

Based on the film starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, "Xanadu" is the perfect blend of satire, parody and drama - all adding up to an electrifying, moving tale about following one's dreams, no matter what the obstacles. The show follows the journey of a beautiful Greek muse, Kira, who descends from Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California. Her quest is to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest creation of all time: the first Roller Disco!

With "Xanadu's" classic numbers like "Magic," "Suddenly" and "Evil Woman," the audience will roll right along with the lively original musical score composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne (of Electric Light Orchestra) and John Farrar. The show is performed without an intermission and runs approximately 90 minutes. The original Broadway production opened in 2007 to glowing reviews, and was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

"Xanadu" features Jaclyn Dixon of West Deptford as Clio/Kira, and Matt Reher of Philadelphia, PA, as her mortal lover, Sonny. Also starring are Tom Guzzi of Pitman as Danny; Jaimie McMillin of Bordentown as Melpomene; Maria Aromando of Neshanic Station as Calliope; Dominick Sannelli of Levittown, PA, as Thalia; Frankie Rowles of Philadelphia, PA, as Terpsicore; Tia Brown of Lawrenceville as Erato; and Kim Cupo of Fairless Hills, PA, as Euterpe. Pit singers include Alison McMullen of Ewing, Zachary Mazouat of Mt. Olive and Elena Maddox of Horsham, PA.

The production team includes John Boccanfuso of Yardville as the director and choreographer, Tracy Witko of Chester as the musical director, Michelle Rittmann of Ewing as stage manager and costume designer, Judi Parrish of West Trenton as set and lighting designer, and Frank Ferrara of West Windsor as producer.

The Pennington Players have been entertaining local audiences since 1951, and was the first group to perform at the Washington Crossing State Park Open Air Theatre. The Players produce three to four shows each year at Kelsey Theatre, ranging from children's shows to lesser-known dramas to full-scale musicals. Their shows at Kelsey have included "Urinetown," "13," "Ragtime," "The Wiz," and "Once On This Island."

Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $14 for students and children. Those who attend on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, will receive a 15% discount on tickets. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Kelsey Theatre box office at 609-570-3333 or order online here. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking available next to the theater.

For more information about the Pennington Players and the show, visit their website here. Show previews and more information are also available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/XanaduAtKelsey or http://xanaduatkelsey.weebly.com.

For a complete listing of adult and children's events for the remainder of the 2011-12 season, visit the Kelsey website or call the box office for a brochure.

2011-12 Theatre Schedule
Kelsey Website
Audition Information
Summer 2012 Tomato Patch Visual and Performing Arts Workshops