Angels, a new musical based on Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost, will premiere on Broadway during the 2008-9 season, it was announced today at a press conference by the show's producers. Written by the new Australian team of Ken Lai (book, music and lyrics) and Marcus Cheong (book and lyrics), Angels will feature a cast of 24, including Robert Cuccioli, Jessica Grové and Nicholas Rodriguez, in the leading roles. The musical will be directed by Rich Fowler and, as befits its title, will feature spectacular aerial choreography, unprecedented on Broadway.
Angels tells the extraordinary story of the ancient war between the Angels and Lucifer's fallen minions. This timeless tale of good versus evil, hope versus despair—angels vs. demons—is told through the eyes of Sera, the Angel of Light (Grové). Though she is gifted with the power to control light, she aspires to a more heroic role. Her ambition is manipulated by Lucifer (Cuccioli), which results in tragic consequences to the Angels and the humans they protect. Sera must find the courage and power to defeat her nemesis.
Angels was imagined by two University of Sydney students (Cheong and Lai) in 1998 (the two met some years earlier when they collaborated on their first musical) Cheong, then a 24-year-old architecture graduate, wrote the book and lyrics, and Lai, a budding aeronautical engineer, composed the music. They soon abandoned those fields of study to pursue their theatrical careers (their unique journey is the subject of an Australian public television network documentary currently being filmed). Since then, Angels has been revised, and received a 2006 workshop production at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Angels will have a pre-Broadway engagement at The Strand Theatre in Shreveport, LA, August 29 – September 13. The production will be the first theater event to benefit from the newly enacted LA Act 482, referred to in Louisiana as the Live Performance Tax Credits, which provides income tax incentives for live musical or theater performances produced in the state of Louisiana. (Shreveport has already become one of the nation's primary hubs for film production).
In addition to Mr. Cuccioli, Ms. Grové and Mr. Rodriguez, the cast of Angels includes:
Todd Buonopane,
Kevin T. Collins,
Kerri Jill Garbis, Trey Gillen,
Alan H. Green,
Brittney Lee Hamilton, Holly Heiser,
Tim Hunter,
Erica Jacob, Kolina Janneck,
Melina Kalomas, Erin Kruse,
Brian Mathis,
Adam Monley, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone,
Ellie Mooney,
Ron Nahass,
Shane Rhoades,
Caesar Samayoa,
Rena Strober, Molly Tynes,
Kevin Vortmann and Eric
William Whitehead.
Angels is produced by
Marcus Cheong,
Frank Monteleone, Dale Smith;
Tamara Lovatt-Smith, Producing Associate;
Bob Blume, Consulting Producer. The design team is comprised of:
Skip Mercier (Scenic & Costume Design), Lightswitch New York (Lighting Design & Projection Design),
Bernard Fox (Sound Design),
Lynne Hockney (Choreography),
Christopher D. Littlefield (Musical Director), Julie McBride (Associate Musical Director), TDH Media (Video Projection Content Design),
ZFX, Inc. (Flying Effects),
Bettie Rogers (Hair Design), and J&M Special Effects (Special Effects).
Additional Angels announcements, Broadway dates and theater will be announced soon.
www.angelsthemusical.com
Photo of Robert Cuccioli by Linda Lenzi
Photo of Jessica Grove by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
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