The Xanadu Set, Photo Taken by Scott Kim
Xanadu the HS Drama’s Season 3 Production, showed on April 18th and 19th, at the Korea International School Jeju’s HS PAC. The entire production team raked up their very best for a perfect show; the set, which had included a fully-functioning fountain - yes a fountain that really spouts water -, along with several Californian 1980s vibe background sets, provided a perfect setting for the entire show to take place. Furthemore, its marvelous 1980s and 1990s music, touched with some ‘hot’ and ‘dry’ humour was accentuated by the beautiful performance from the cast, thus providing a fantastic 2 hour entertainment for the audience. But where does this seemingly erratic, arbitrary theme of ‘Grecalifornian’ come from?
Initially, Xanadu had been a 1980s American musical film, which had received negative reviews from its critics and spurred the creation of the Golden Raspberry Awards, given to the worst movie of the year. Its 20 million dollar investment was barely returned, by bringing 22 million dollars in its entire times on the box office, which was devastating. But, who would have thought that Xanadu’s soundtrack would instead spur a humongous commercial success? Xanadu’s soundtrack was a international success, bringing about numerous musical awards, later sparking the creation of the musical, Xanadu in 2007. Xanadu, opened about 20 years later in 2007 at the Broadway with the movie’s soundtrack; later, the musical was adapted and performed here at KISJ.
The KISJ’s rendition of Xanadu contained almost all of what the broadway Xanadu possessed, including its notorious aspect of ‘skating’. The six muses of the show, along with its main protagonists, Kira and Sonny performed parts of the show with roller-skates on. Along with this huge surprise, the casts had Greek togas on to imitate the Greek feeling throughout the show; towards the end of the show, various casts transformed into Cyclops, nymphs, and centaur which added to the surprise of the audience. Looking back after the final performance of Xanadu, Xanadu must have been a big challenge for the Drama Production Crew and the Cast; they had to perfect singing, skating, costumes, set (with its phenomenal fountain created by Mr. Robin Kimmerling), and finally had to put all of this together to form a phenomenal show. In addition to this, the entire cast had to sync the singing together with the Pit-Band (Keys, Guitars, Bass, and Drum), which had also been a great live touch to the performance.
The author would like to take this chance to thank the cast, staff, band, and the entire Drama Production Team for this entertaining performance. Amy Wonjin Kim, Anna Semi Hong, Grace Taemi Kim, Haley Eugene Chung, Hannah Harheem Lee, Joshua Chang Hyeon Park, Julie Joo Mi Park, Justin Doo Min Kim, Neo Chanheum Park, Justin Lee, Seongju Sally Han, Spencer Heemang Kim, Suhrheem Lee, Zenia Isabel Asad, Sohee Kim, Sungmin Cho, Anna Ye Jin Cho, Sebin Chin, Kevin Junhan Choi, Riley Eunsol Park, Lin Jae Hwan Jung, Sue Hyojae Kim, Minju Lee, Sarah Sunwoo Lee, Kelly Haeun Cho, Ruby Yeonju Kim, Julia Dahyeon Lee, Hyeseo Hong, Joo Won Irene Kim, Luna Yeonsu Kim, Jason Ji Huan Hwang, Gerrard Hyun Yul Choe, Eric Ji Hwan Kim, Joe Kyung Hee Cho, Steven Shinyong Park, Justin Jaemin Jun, Scott In Woo Kim, Eric Guihao Zhang, Keith Yuji Yamada, David Sung Jae Koh, and Irene Jung, and finally the director, Mr. Burnham, and the musical directors, Mr. Leonard of the Pit Band and Ms. Hingstman of the vocal. Thank you for a fantastic show!