Xanadu Stars Hoffman and Roberts to Appear on TV

Jackie Hoffman, currently co-starring in the hit musical Xanadu, will be a guest on "The Conan O'Brian Show," Thursday, August 9th. "Conan O'Brian" airs on NBC at 12:35 am.

In addition, Tony Roberts will appear on "Weekend Today" in New York, Saturday August 4th on NBC at 9 am.

Hoffman, who plays the evil muse Calliope in Xanadu, previously played Prudy Pingleton in Broadway's Hairspray.  She won acclaim for her one-woman show "Jackie with a Z," which she recently performed at Joe's Pub.  Off-Broadway credits include Regrets Only.  Film and TV work includes "Starved," Garden State and Kissing Jessica Stein.

Roberts plays Zeus in Xanadu. Tony Roberts' Broadway credits have included the recent revival of Barefoot in the Park, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Cabaret, The Seagull, The Sisters Rosensweig, Jerome Robbins' Broadway and They're Playing Our Song among others. He has received two Tony Award nominations for his work in How Now, Dow Jones and Play it Again, Sam.  He has appeared in many films and TV shows.

Douglas Carter Beane has written the book for Xanadu based on the film of the same name. The score will include the hits, "Magic," "Xanadu," "Party All Over the World" and "I'm Alive" -- all top 20 Billboard hits. The score was written by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Lynne wrote and produced all of the music of Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O). Farrar was also responsible for most of the hits that were performed by Olivia Newton-John in the 1970's. Christopher Ashley will direct with choreography by Dan Knechtges.

"This musical myth, set in the year 1980, tells the story of one of the nine muses of ancient Greece  who comes to earth to inspire the greatest of artistic achievements – a roller disco.  Along the way she falls in love, bumps into an Old Acquaintance and for the first time, feels the desire to create herself," according to press materials.  Starring Kerry Butler as "Kira" (played in the film version by Olivia Newton-John), Cheyenne Jackson as "Sonny," Tony Roberts as "Danny" (played in the film version by Gene Kelly), and Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa as the evil Muses "Calliope" and "Melpomene," respectively, Xanadu's cast also features Curtis Holbrook, Anika Larsen, Kenita Miller and Andre Ward.

Tickets are available on www.Telecharge.com (212) 239-6200. Xanadu is playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 44th Street.

Visit www.xanaduonbroadway.com for more information.

Photo of Jackie Hoffman by Ben Strothmann