Musical 'Xanadu' is ready to roll in production by CLO Cabaret

“We make a couple of our audience members muses,” Ms. Galvin said. “I think it gives an extra boost of fun comic energy to the show.”

Britton Mauk’s set design is in the shape of a T, creating a ramp that comes down into the audience and an alley where the actors can skate among the tables.

“We tried to invoke the look of a roller rink, so there are some walls around the edges where the seating is … a kind of hybrid of Venice Beach meets roller-disco,” the director explained.

Another adaptation is that the musicians in the four-piece band also sing backup to summon some of that ELO power.

“Literally, every member of the show is going to be working really hard. Luckily, it’s 90 minutes and they only have to do it once a night when we get into a performance,” Ms. Galvin said. “The thing is, it’s so fun and funny, you can’t help but be energized as it progresses.”

Choreographing is Mark Burrell of Broadway’s Tony-winning revival of “Pippin,” which featured acrobatics but no skating. Ms. Galvin mostly ice skated growing up, but after coming aboard “Xanadu,” she bought a new pair of roller skates and laced up to get ready.

“I feel pretty good. My skating game is pretty strong,” she said with a laugh. She felt she would not want to ask Ms. Vadnais to attempt anything that she couldn’t demonstrate.

The actors, including Reed Allan Worth as Sonny, were on skates over the summer as well, “so the skating is coming along pretty well,” the director said.

If you’re worried about skaters picking up speed in the intimate space, don’t. Ms. Galvin said safety and precision is how they roll — pun intended.