Whidbey Island Center to Present 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, 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!"."

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.

Tickets can be purchased at the WICA Box Office (360) 221- 8268 or (800) 638-7631or tickets.wicaonline.com. Shows are 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.

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.

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