La Jolla Playhouse Hosts 'XANADU' YEAR'S EVE 12/31

It's XanaDU Year's Eve! La Jolla Playhouse hosts a special New Year's Eve
event to celebrate the run of its musical comedy Xanadu and the beginning of a new year on December 31, 2008. Roll into 2009 with this performance and dance party from 9:00pm to 1:00am in the Mandell Weiss Theatre and the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre at La Jolla Playhouse.
La Jolla Playhouse brings out the disco balls, pulls out all the stops and rocks and rolls into the wee hours of 2009 in an awesomely fun 1980s evening featuring members of the Xanadu cast singing dance hits of the ‘80s era just prior to the New Year countdown. See Xanadu - Broadway's surprise hit musical, then step inside Xanadu's world of glitter and glam at the extraordinary party.
The evening begins at 9:00pm with a full Xanadu performance in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. At 10:30pm the XanaDU Year's Eve party kicks off with a rockin DJ, dessert buffet catered by Wolfgang Puck, three hosted bars, and glowing Xanadu party favors. Slide on your legwarmers and don your favorite attire with that ‘80s flair, and La Jolla Playhouse will provide the magical atmosphere before and after the countdown - and well into 2009.
"Xanadu is a 90 minute party on-stage," says Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. "We'll be extending the party until the ball drops and beyond. What a perfect way to celebrate New Year's Eve and close Xanadu's run here in San Diego."
Xanadu officially opened at La Jolla Playhouse Sunday, November 23, 2008. Xanadu is a Tony Award-nominated, tongue-in-cheek, magical roller-skating escapade with a joyful classic score of hits like "Magic," "Xanadu," "All Over the World," and "I'm Alive." Based on the 1980s cult film starring Olivia Newton-John, Xanadu follows muse Kira and artist Sonny in their quest for artistic achievement, in pursuit of his dreams to establish...a roller disco!
Leading the Xanadu cast: Elizabeth Stanley (Kira) returns to La Jolla Playhouse after last performing in Cry-Baby; Max von Essen (Sonny) best known from Les Miserables and Dance of the Vampires, Larry Marshall (Danny), as well as Joanna Glushak (Calliope) and Sharon Wilkins (Melpomene) - the evil Muses. Featuring: Tallia Brinson, Amy Goldberger, Vince Rodriguez III, Jason Michael Snow, Kristofer L. Stock, JB Wing, Julius Thomas and Tiffany Topol.
XanaDU Year's Eve is a fundraising event. Proceeds will directly benefit La Jolla Playhouse New Play Development and Educational & Outreach Programs. XanaDU Year's Eve is sponsored by Wolfgang Puck and Palm Beer.
Ticket prices are $200, $300 and $400. Gold Circle tickets include premiere seating, valet parking and an exclusive Xanadu souvenir gift. An exclusive pre-performance dinner with Artistic Director Christopher Ashley is also offered.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY. To purchase, call (858) 550-1010 or online at www.lajollaplayhouse.org. La Jolla Playhouse is located at 2910 La Jolla Village Dr. La Jolla, CA 90237.
The nationally acclaimed, Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse is known for its tradition of creating the most exciting and adventurous new work in regional theatre. The Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, and is considered one of the most well respected not-for-profit theatres in the country.
Numerous Playhouse productions have moved to Broadway, including The Farnsworth Invention, Big River, The Who's Tommy, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, A Walk in the Woods, Dracula, Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays, the Pulitzer-Prize winning I Am My Own Wife, and the currently running Jersey Boys.