Broadway Star Helps Marshall Students Prepare For Spring Musical

FALLS CHURCH, VA — As Marshall High School's Statesmen Theatre prepares for its spring musical "Xanadu," there was no one better to help than one of the musical's Broadway stars.

Kerry Butler, who has played roles in Broadway musical premieres like "Hairspray," "Xanadu," "Mean Girls" and "Beetlejuice," visited the high school theater program on Feb. 17. Butler did a musical workshop with students after doing a similar workshop for Oakton High School's upcoming musical "Mean Girls."

"The students did an excellent job! They really made me laugh," Butler told Rhea Newnaha of Marshall High School's Rank & File. "It was very nostalgic for me to work on this show I haven’t thought about for at least ten years."

"Xanadu," based on the 1980 movie musical starring Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelly, follows a Greek muse who comes down to Mount Olympus to help a struggling California street artist accomplish a dream of running a roller disco. On Broadway, Butler played the Greek muse Kira/Clio.

At Marshall High School, the Broadway veteran coached Sophia Welch and Dale DeVinney as the two lead love interests as well as Sara Porjosh and Lia Davila as two competing muses who plotted to destroy their rival. Butler also told stories about how they did the original staging, what it was like to roller skate while singing, dancing and acting, and how to give depth to characters even in a silly show.

She left students with some positive words.

"We can have different views, politics, religions and backgrounds yet we are connected when something makes us laugh or cry together," Butler told Rhea Newnaha of Rank & File. "That is needed now more than ever. I hope everyone will come see Xanadu - I promise it will make you laugh and you will leave feeling a little happier."

"Xanadu" will be performed at Marshall High School Thursday, May 4 through Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. A 2 p.m. show will also be shown on Saturday, May 6. For tickets and more information, visit www.statesmentheatre.org.