Whidbey Island Center for the Arts to Stage CITY OF ANGELS, 2/7-22

City of Angels weaves together two plots, one is black and white and the other in color. Watch out! It's an action-packed, witty, and spectacular musical that pays homage to the film noir genre of the 1940's detective movies. City of Angels opens February 7 and runs through February 22, 2014.

City of Angels is the rarest of musical comedies; loaded with music and written in contemporary jazz idiom and also filled with sidesplitting comedy. Set in the glamorous, seductive Hollywood of the 40's, the world of film studios and flimsy negligees, the show chronicles the misadventures of Stine, a young novelist, attempting a screenplay for movie producer/director, Buddy Fidler.

The play boasts two musical scores with clever lyrics. One provides the cast with numbers to help reveal certain emotions or to celebrate particular moments in the way that only music can. The "other" score was written to emulate pure movie soundtrack music, 1940's vintage. The final curtain comes down on two happy endings.

City of Angels is directed by Elizabeth Herbert, musical direction is by Sheila Weidendorf, choreography by Chelsea Randall, and Dwight Zehm is the stage manager.

A good musical is made so much better with the addition of a live band or orchestra. Musical director Sheila Weidendorf says, "City of Angels is, hands down, the smartest musical I have ever encountered. The book is clever, and the music even more so. This elegant nod to both Big Band Jazz and sultry film noir stylings is deepened in its perfect union of verbal and musical wit. Composed with an instrumental sensibility, each vocal line is fully supported by completely intentional and juicy scoring...no "good enough" in this production. When offered the musical directorship for this production, there was simply no saying "No!"."

Director Elizabeth Herbert says, "City of Angels won the 1990 Tony Awards for best musical, score, and book. Clever and witty, fast-paced with killer music, it's a Broadway musical in the style of the 1940's film noir detective movies. Not only does it have two stories-one in black and white and one in color; it has a Hollywood ending!"

Tickets can be purchased at the WICA Box Office (360) 221- 8268 or (800) 638-7631 or tickets.wicaonline.com. Shows are February 7-22, 2014; 7:30 PM Friday and Saturday, 2 PM Sunday. Ticket prices are $15.50 for Youth, $18.50 for Seniors and $22.50 for Adults, $15.50 Sunday matinee. Service fee not included. City of Angels is an adult-themed musical comedy.

The cast of City of Angels is as follows: Main cast: Bob Atkinson, Jim Carroll, Jim Castaneda, Karla Crouch, Deana Duncan, Gabe Harshman, Mikkel Hustad, Lars Larson, Savannah Randall, Ryan Saenz, Tristan A.B. Steel, and Carrie Whitney. The Angel City of Four singing group: Matt Bell, Linda McLean, Christina Parker, Rob Scott. Ensemble cast: Stave Ford, Hannah Mack, Keith Mack, Melinda Mack, Sarah Parker, Loretta Seybert, Pete Seybert, Aleah Stacey, Kathy Stanley, and Bob Thurmond. Angel City Beat Band: Larry Heidel, trombone; Jonathan Small, bass; Scott Small, drums; Gordon Ullmann, trumpet; Sheila Weidendorf, musical director, pianist & leader of the band.

Larry Simon Gelbart, 25 February 1928, Chicago, Illinois, USA. A pre-eminent screenwriter, librettist, director, and producer. As a teenager, Gelbart worked for Danny Thomas, writing jokes, and then wrote for Bob Hope and Eddie Cantor. Together with composer Stephen Sondheim, they took four years writing and re-writing what became A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. The show opened on Broadway in May 1962, and ran for 964 performances. Gelbart and Shevelove both won Tony Awards. Gelbart went to London in 1963 for the West End opening, and stayed for nine years. He wrote for Marty Feldman, and provided the screenplays for a number of movies, many of them uncredited. Gelbart turned the 1970 film M*A*S*H into a television series, winning Emmys for his contributions. He wrote many of the almost 100 episodes 1972-83, as well as directing and serving as executive producer on the series. In 1988, City Of Angels, an ingenious and hilarious private eye spoof of a musical, for which Gelbart wrote the book (and won his third Tony), opened on Broadway. Gelbart died at his Beverly Hills home on September 11, 2009.

Elizabeth Herbert (Director) became a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists at the age of four when she made her professional debut in live television (NBC's Matinee Theatre). She continued her professional acting career through college and well into her adult life. Elizabeth has been teaching, coaching, directing and mentoring children and adults in Seattle, Las Vegas and Los Angeles since 1976. Elizabeth is also the co-founder and director of Postcards from Whidbey Island, a live, theatre-radio, variety show based in Coupeville. Most recently, Elizabeth directed the hilarious and buzz worthy production The Full Monty at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity Association.

City of Angels will feature three special events throughout its run. The first is an Opening Night Red Carpet Premier Party! Dress in Old Hollywood style black tie attire and join us on the red carpet to celebrate the opening of City of Angels. Post-show champagne reception and awards for best dressed. Friday, February 7, show starts at 7:30 PM

The next is a First Sunday Talkback. Stick around after the show for a Q&A session with the director and cast about the process of staging this elaborate, tony-award winning production. Sunday, February 9, show starts at 2:00 PM

Lastly, there will be a Valentine's Sweetheart Night. Spice up the night with a saucy film noir musical comedy. Buy one ticket and receive your date's for 50% off. Friday, February 14, show starts at 7:30 PM.

Photo Credit: Jeanne Juneau

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