‘Heaven on wheels’ is rolling through

The Orange County Performing Arts Center is pulling out all the stops for a roller-skating-inspired musical.

Onstage through Dec. 27, “Xanadu” was described as “heaven on wheels” by the New York Times when it rolled through Broadway.

The stay at the Orange County Performing Arts Center is the musical’s only Southern California appearance.

Set in 1980, “Xanadu” is based on a cult classic film that was panned by critics but beloved by audiences, which featured Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly.

Critics despised the film so much that it led to the creation of the Razzie Awards, the antithesis of the Oscars.

Famed scriptwriter Douglas Carter Beene originally refused to write the musical version, famously saying: “No way. ‘Xanadu’ sounds like career suicide wrapped in a nice box.”

But he acquiesced, and the musical version was nominated in 2008 for a Tony Award for Best Musical.

The production follows the journey of Greek muse Kira, who finds herself in Venice, Calif., with the task of inspiring the first roller disco. Naturally, Kira falls in love with a mortal, and chaos ensues, producers say.

A can’t-miss component of the musical’s stop in Costa Mesa is a mural next to Segerstrom Hall created by Melanie Stimmell Van Latum, one of the top chalk painters in the world. Her 125-square-foot mural is inspired by show character Sonny, himself a chalk artist.

Van Latum is the only woman ever to have earned the title of Maestro for her street paintings, which she has created around the world. A Los Angeles native, she spent several years working on the “South Park” film and television show before leaving the entertainment industry in 2005 to follow her street painting passion full time.

There are a number of special deals for patrons, including tickets from $10 to $30 on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for patrons who donate two nonperishable food items.

The Christmas Eve show will be at 2 p.m.; Christmas Day’s show will be at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available on the website, by phone or at the box office, with promotion code MERRY.

Other events include roller skating on the center’s community plaza today and Saturday; and a talk-back with cast members after the performance Tuesday.