Character guide
Danny Maguire
from Xanadu
Danny Maguire is the world-weary businessman whose past connects him unexpectedly to the magic surrounding Xanadu, the 2007 Broadway musical.
- Show
- Xanadu
- Broadway premiere
- 2007
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Lynne & Farrar
Danny Maguire: from the film to Broadway
Broadway compared with the 1980 film
The musical doubles Danny's part. In the 1980 film, Gene Kelly, in his final film role, played Danny McGuire, a former big-band clarinetist turned construction mogul who helps Sonny open the club. On Broadway, Tony Roberts played Danny Maguire (the stage spelling) and also Zeus, king of the gods, tying the mortal story to the Mount Olympus plot the stage version plays up.
Roberts originated both roles in the 2007 Broadway production at the Helen Hayes Theatre.
Who is Danny Maguire?
Danny represents a more grounded, jaded counterpoint to Sonny's youthful optimism within the story. Having seen his own dreams shaped and shadowed by encounters with the muses years earlier, Danny serves as both a cautionary figure and a source of wisdom for Sonny as he navigates his own creative and romantic awakening.
His presence adds a layer of history and consequence to the musical's whimsical plot, showing what happens after the magic fades and ordinary life sets back in.
Danny Maguire's role in Xanadu
Danny is a supporting role that benefits from a performer able to bring genuine gravity and a touch of melancholy to a show otherwise defined by bright, breezy comedy. The part calls for solid vocal work within the musical's pop-rock idiom, along with the acting range to make Danny's backstory feel meaningful rather than incidental.
Even within a comedic, roller-skating musical, Danny's scenes offer a change of pace, giving the show some emotional shading alongside its high-energy numbers.
Why Danny Maguire resonates
Danny resonates because he hints at real stakes beneath Xanadu's playful surface, showing what unfulfilled dreams can look like decades later. For performers, the role is an opportunity to bring depth and contrast to a musical built primarily around comedy and spectacle.
Danny Maguire: frequently asked questions
What show is Danny Maguire from?
Danny Maguire is a character in Xanadu, the 2007 Broadway musical.
Is Danny Maguire a lead or supporting role?
Danny Maguire is a supporting role that adds emotional weight to the story.
Who wrote the music for Xanadu?
Xanadu's score draws on songs by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar.
Think you can name today's mystery character in eight guesses?
Play today's Character Guesser