Hi, Playbill! Welcome to our behind the scenes glimpse of life here at Xanadu. (I had to write that sign backwards so it would work in the mirror. Be impressed.)
Chris Critelli
Let’s take a look around!
Chris Critelli
One of our pre-show rituals in the guys’ dressing room is checking out hilarious Internet videos. Here's pit singer, understudy and YouTube cowboy Jake Klinkhammer servin' up some lolz for Gene Weygandt (Danny/Zeus) & Sean Blake.
Chris Critelli
My holy trinity: sweat bands, Throat Coat and a trusty bandana.
Chris Critelli
Behold their power.
Chris Critelli
Our dry erase board is usually home to drawings too appalling to talk about in public. Here’s something a little tamer. It’s Mitt Romney and his binder full of women!
Chris Critelli
Sean Blake & Gary Carlson (Thalia/Cyclops) showing us that real men wear checkered jumpsuits.
Chris Critelli
Here in the ladies’ dressing room, Stephanie Binetti (Euterpe/Thetis) puts on one of her many wigs from our show.
Chris Critelli
And Christine Sherrill (Melpomene/Medusa) & Nancy Voigts (Calliope/Aphrodite) help her get into costume.
Chris Critelli
Here I am photo-bombing Nancy Voigts while she tweets, or instagrams, or…something.
Chris Critelli
Before every show we have a skate call or what I like to call a make-sure-you-don’t-die call. We roll around for a bit and perform our big finale. Here are Gene Weygandt & Jake Klinkhammer getting fresh.
Chris Critelli
And look who else is at skate call! It’s my lovely co-star, the beautiful & hysterical Gina Milo (Clio/Kira)! Here she is giving us some signature XANA-hands.
Chris Critelli
And here she is getting into character.
Chris Critelli
With her non-stop costume/footwear changes, getting her leg-warmers to look just right is actually a huge (and daily) challenge. Sometimes she needs a little help.
Chris Critelli
Hey look, it’s a serial killer’s basement! Just kidding. It’s one of many wig stations for our show. Hairdos are a huge part of Xanadu.
Chris Critelli
And when my castmates aren’t looking, I steal their wigs.
Chris Critelli
Gene Weygandt getting into the zone before the show begins.
Chris Critelli
And here’s a candid shot from the wings of Gene’s Zeus lounging on his Olympian throne. I took this right before my entrance. (Don’t tell my stage manager)
Chris Critelli
Here Gary Carlson transforms into his scene-stealing Cyclops.
Chris Critelli
And Sean Blake gives us his brand of Centaur attitude. You don’t have to be a biped to be sexy.
Chris Critelli
Meet our incredible pit-singers Robin Childress & Jake Klinkhammer! Here they are luxuriating in their custom-built backstage sound booth complete with mini disco ball.
Chris Critelli
Every now and then, we change the setting of the play from 1980s Venice Beach to modern day Brooklyn for a special hipster rendition of Xanadu. This is me getting into character. Whatever.
Chris Critelli
And here we are, after a long week’s work, winding down in my apartment where I host my weekly "Sunday Fundays." Snacks, booze, board games & ghost stories. What’s not to love!
Chris Critelli
Well, thanks for taking a peak into our backstage lives! Now, get outta here - we’ve got short shorts & glittery jumpsuits to put on!
Chris Critelli
