Bushwick’s Xanadu Roller Arts is taking a full-on trip down the Yellow Brick Road this month, as Vinyl Nights creator Rebecca Lynn transforms the roller rink into an immersive, glitter-drenched homage to “Wicked,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “The Wiz” for a one-night-only holiday celebration.
Lynn, who produces monthly roller events, told Brooklyn Paper that the concept is a dream come to life.
“I’m a huge fan [of the movies], and at Xanadu we love dressing up,” she said. “And their whole theme feels so Christmas-like.”
The event — “Rolling to Emerald City! Vinyl Nights Wicked Skate Night with Impala Skate” — will take place Dec. 19 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The night promises a high-energy mix of disco, funk, soul and old-school classics from DJs Misbehaviour, Operator Emz and DJ Condy Kim, with plenty of built-in surprises.
Lynn is teaming up with Impala Skate, which is supplying signature Wicked-inspired green and pink skates. Guests are encouraged to skate in style: Costumes are not only welcomed but central to the night’s spirit. Two attendees will even win a pair of Impala skates in a costume contest.
The transformation of Xanadu goes beyond outfits. The roller rink’s lighting system will glow in pink and emerald, and Unicorn Snot, a Brooklyn-based glitter cosmetics line, will run a free on-site sparkle station.
A troupe of six to eight performers will skate throughout the night in elaborate themed looks. Many are pole dancers who will perform on skates in full Wicked costumes, Lynn said.
For Lynn, the night is not just a party but a celebration of Oz’s enduring cultural power — and of the women who inhabit it.
“I really find this a true women’s empowerment event,” Lynn said. “It’s all witches. North, South, East and West, I’m calling everyone.”
Santa Claus will also make an appearance — on roller skates, of course — for festive holiday photos. That cross-holiday mashup was intentional, Lynn said, meant to “fuse the Christmas and Oz magic.”
What she hopes most is that fans of “Wicked” and Oz lore show up ready for something they can’t experience anywhere else.
“If you love roller skating, even if you don’t, and are a huge fan of the movies, this is the only event of its kind. There’s no one else in the world that’s doing this themed roller skating party for Christmas.”
Tickets for “Rolling to Emerald City!” start at $27 and can be purchased online. The roller rink is located at 37 Franklin Ave. in Bushwick. For more information, visit xanaduarts.com.
