Skate Spectacle Skeptical

Late last month, a workshop of the new rollerskating tuner XANADU took place at the Minetta Lane Theatre and is currently sked'd to open in April at the Helen Hayes. Critics called the Olivia Newton-John film "the most dreadful, tasteless movie of all time," yet B'way execs think it can make it on the boards. Star Jane Krakowski decided last Friday, however, to pull out of the planned mounting to stick with the boob-tube laugher, 30 ROCK, for which she's obviously raking in a lot more green.

Sources were quoted in the POST saying "I don't see how they can do it without her. She's the show." It makes one wonder if the show that'll try to forgive STARLIGHT EXPRESS for ruining skates and stages will be able to get itself together for those harsh critics in that big apple sans Krakowski. We'll see. The book is being fixed by Douglas Carter Beane, currently rep'd on Bway with gay romp, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED. Auditions are happening now, and official rehearsals will most likely begin shortly, however, actors already associated with the project have been taking skating lessons into their own hands.

But, hell, wouldn't that be something? To have to turn down an above-the-title role in a new Bway smash (well, probable failure?) to do television? Sheesh. And I have yet to be able to turn down non-paying, way the hell off-off Broadway shows.