Theatre is returning stronger than ever at The Norshor Theatre

Theatre is finally starting to look the way it did before quarantine at The Norshor Theatre.

Duluth Playhouse’s production of Xanadu is set to be the first full length musical to be produced after COVID -19 made performances unsafe last year. But now with the vaccine roll out and precautions being lifted it’s time to return to the theater.

Director of Xanadu Phillip Fazio says, "it had to be a smaller show but a really fun, high energy, show that a lot of people would want to see this summer. So xanadu just happened to check all those boxes." The musical is an adaptation of the 1980’s movie featuring Olivia Newton John and has all the actors skating around on stage in roller-skates!

The lead actors include Kelly Killorin and Stuart Gordon who play Kira and Sonny Malone. Both were super stoked to be acting in person again. Kelly says her first day walking on a finished set was magical. "it’s wonderful it fills my heart, the first time I came out of it they had all these light that made it look so magical and everything was shining and sparkling and I was like ahhhhh!"

"I’m pinching myself a little bit every time I come out of the rehearsal room it’s like… wow we’re back," says Stuart. He was also very excited to be back rolling around stage. Luckily for him he had skating experience from playing hockey. He also says the community’s excitement for the show is very real. "I’ve had people come up to me and say I’m so excited to see this show and I’m so excited for theatre to be back and im like yeah! Come see it!"

After a year of isolation Phillip says that this is just what the community needs to connect with one another again. "To be able to come back and have that live experience with people surrounding you. That communal group experience of laughing at the same thing, being emotionally moved by the same thing. Sharing that experience with your friends your family, with other strangers… it’s indescribable, and it’s what makes theatre so unique and so powerful."

For more information and ticket prices for Xanadu check out their website here.