Joplin High School theater department students are breaking out the hairspray, roller skates and radical 1980s vibes for their spring musical production.
“Xanadu” will be showing at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 2104 Indiana Ave. Tickets are $8 for seniors and students, and $10 for adults. The show is about one hour and 25 minutes.
Based on the 1980 Universal Pictures film of the same name and a book by Douglas Carter Beane, the comedy features music and lyrics by pop-rock musicians Jeff Lynne and John Farrar.
“Xanadu” follows the journey of a Greek Muse, Kira, who descends from Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, California, in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time — the world’s first roller disco.
“We started the season with a couple of serious shows, and to end it with something that’s so camp, fun and light has just been a good time,” said Ashley Trotnic, Joplin High theater teacher and director of the play. “The musical pokes fun at the movie a little bit and has some popular songs people will recognize.”
Trotnic said the department initially intended to run the show in the spring of 2021, but it was pushed back due to COVID-19. Trotnic recalled that she fell in love with the musical after seeing it several years ago and knew she had to bring it to Joplin.
“Since this show didn’t have an online streaming option, we decided to switch shows in 2021,” Trotnic said. “We brought it back this year. Monica Brown, the vocal director, took a group of students to the International Thespian Festival in 2019, and we saw a production of this. I had the most fun that I’ve ever had sitting through a show. The characters were so good. The kids were having fun on stage, and the audience was feeding off it. After that, I couldn’t wait for a chance to do the show. It’s a fun comedy and a good time.”
Trotnic said the students have spent months on the musical and expressed how proud she is of their progress and dedication.
“They put a lot of work into it, and I don’t think people realize how much goes into putting on a production like this, as far as everything from the ground level — all of the work the kids have to do who have the parts and maintaining that through a whole rehearsal process, but also all of the tech that goes into it and all of the extra hours you spend rehearsing,” she said. “Everyone gets really close.”
Learning to skate
Melanie Cerrato Zavala, an 18-year-old senior, spent months learning to skate to be the main character, Clio/Kira, in which she plays a dual role and uses three accents throughout the show. This is her first musical.
“When I heard that they were doing this musical back in November, I wanted to be a part of it, but you needed to skate for it,” she said. “I had never touched skates before. Before auditions happened, I started learning how to skate from a friend. I would skate at work. I also love singing so much, and I started listening to the music, and by January, I knew all the words. I really love skating now. It’s a lot of fun.”
Clio, the Muse of history, is the youngest of the Greek Muses. She changes her name to Kira when she visits Earth and uses an Australian accent. Cerrato Zavala said her character is bubbly, driven and likes to inspire others.
“My character wants to go down to Earth and help an artist named Sonny to become one of the greatest artists of all time,” she said. “I want to inspire him to create something wondrous. I’m a goddess, but when I come to Earth, there are trials. I have a sister who wants to take my place as the leader of the goddesses.”
First scene
Eli Sotlar, a 17-year-old senior, plays Sonny, who becomes the love interest of Kira. He described Sonny as air-headed, creative and intuitive.
“Sonny’s very artistic,” he said. “In the very first scene, it opens up and I’m looking at a mural of all the Greek Muses that I drew. He’s very creative and sometimes right to the point. This character is teaching me to express myself more. People receive things how they want to receive it, but all you can do is put it out there.”
This spring production will be one of the last performances for many of these Joplin High School students before they graduate, including senior Hannah Gilbert, 17.
Gilbert, who has spent her high school career participating in the theater department, said this last production will be a bittersweet one. In “Xanadu,” she’s playing the main villain, Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy who’s determined to take down Kira.
Gilbert described her character as confident and someone who believes she should be leader of the Muses because she’s the oldest.
“I love playing the villain, and I get to do goofy things,” she said.
Because this is her final year on stage, Gilbert said, she’s had the opportunity to step into a leadership role and has been guiding other students in the theater department. Her younger sister, freshman Shiloh Gilbert, is also in the musical, and the two are getting to share the stage together.
“I’ve always wanted to have a fun comedic role, and I’m so excited for this,” Hannah Gilbert said. “I love making people laugh. For the first time, since I’m a senior, I’m able to help others and the future of this theater department.”
Want to go? Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved at https://tinyurl.com/jhs xanadu.
