Xana-Dude

December 26, 2007

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Robert Ahrens went to the place where nobody dared to go…and made “Xanadu” on Broadway a reality. As the driving force and one of the producers of the camptastic Broadway hit musical, Ahrens believed in magic and nothing could stand in his way. (That’s a lyrical reference to the Olivia Newton John song “Magic” and if you don’t get it, I feel sorry for you).

I first met Ahrens, a one-time investment baker and film producer (WTC View), after a revival screening of “Xanadu” the movie here in LA in 2005. It happened to be my birthday that weekend so invited all my friends to celebrate my b-day and the wonder of “Xanadu” at the same time. After the screening, we adjourned to Chevy’s across the street for birthday cake and fellowshipping. Ahrens ended up there thanks to a mutual friend of ours. At the time, the producer was already on the way to making “Xanadu” on Broadway a reality. I remember him telling me about it and me being excited about it but also thinking, ‘Yeah, good luck with that.’

But Ahrens and his team persevered and made it happen. And the reviews have been terrific. Lots of them use the word ‘sublime,’ which is fitting.

I caught the show when I was in New York in mid-December and I was so giddy with joy, I almost dropped my glow stick over the balcony. (They give you glow sticks on the way in! “Les Miz” doesn’t give you crap.) My favorite number is “Suspended in Time,” and you’ll see why when you see the show. I don’t want to give anything away.

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