Theatre Raleigh's City of Angels Is a Fast-Paced
Audio-and-Visual Delight, with a Top-Notch Cast

Theatre Raleigh's Aug. 3-7 and 10-14 presentation of City of Angels, directed and choreographed by Lauren Kennedy Brady, stars
(from left) Adam Monley, Adam Halpin, Amber Nicole Guest, Happy Mahaney, and Megan McGinnis (photo by Jennifer Robertson)

Theatre Raleigh reopened their newly renovated main-stage venue with aplomb -- a play that literally has "something for everyone": City of Angels. Fans of musical theater, of metaliterature, of drama, of comedy and, yes, of film noir will appreciate this production.

This fast-paced audio-and-visual delight showcases Theatre Raleigh's producing artistic director Lauren Kennedy Brady's skills as both director and choreographer, as well as the excellent judgment of Wojcik Casting (the team credited with recruiting the top-notch cast).

City of Angels stars (from left) Karter Dolan, Happy Mahaney, Adam Halpin, and Megan McGinnis (photo by Jennifer Robertson)

The Show:

With book by Larry Gelbart, music by Cy Coleman, and lyrics by David Zippel, it is set in Los Angeles/Hollywood in the late 1940s. It follows the trials and tribulations of a fellow named Stine (author of a novel titled City of Angels) as he endeavors to adapt this novel into a screenplay.

At the same time, City of Angels follows the foibles of the novel's main character -- a hard-boiled cop-turned-private-eye named Stone (note the similarity of the names) as he works a case that his gut instincts (as well as his common-sense) had insisted he decline.

City of Angels stars (from left) Adam Halpin, Happy Mahaney, Linh Schladweiler, and Greg Laux (photo by Jennifer Robertson)

The Cast:

Both Adam Halpin (as Stine) and Adam Monley (as Stone) play their roles to the hilt, serving up equal portions of comedy, drama, and commentary (as well as sharing their vocal talents).

The dual storylines require that most of the principals play two roles -- one role in Stine's "real world" and one in Stone's "on-screen world"; and every member of the cast delivers, not only "in spades" but in every other suit as well.

The other principal cast members include: Amber Nicole Guest as Gabby/Bobbi, Megan McGinnis as Donna/Oolie, and Greg Laux as Jimmy Powers. The rest of the cast includes: Juliana Valente as Carla/Alaura, Paul Aguirre as Vargas/Munoz, Happy Mahaney as Buddy/Irwin, and Grace Hamashima as Avril/Mallory, plus Raleigh locals Tedd Szeto, Karter Dolan, Anna Wentworth, and Faith Jones.

Theatre Raleigh's production of City of Angels stars Juliana Valente and Adam Monley (photo by Jennifer Robertson)

The Tech:

Speaking of dual-storylines, hats must be tipped to costume designer Kahei Shum McRae (for reasons that will be quite apparent when you see the show -- 'nuff said).

While on the subject of the visuals: Scenic designer Chris Bernier teams up with projection designer (and master electrician) Charlie Rachske to create a space that flexes adeptly between multiple richly defined scenes.

Sound designer Eric Alexander Collins, along with a marvelous seven-piece orchestra, make sure that the audio was every bit as pleasing as the visual.

Theatre Raleigh's production of City of Angels stars Megan McGinnis and Adam Halpin (photo by Jennifer Robertson)

A Few High Points:

As well-performed as the solos are, the duets and the "company" pieces are even more impressive.

The score includes a metaliterary duet by Stine and Stone: "You're Nothing Without Me." And its reprise "I'm Nothing Without You" delivers a masterful counterpoint.

A quartet known as "Angel City Four" is delightful. In addition to their vocals, pay attention to the "bits."

The script is rife with "noir-isms," such as "only the floor kept her legs from going on forever."

There is a song-and-dance number set in the Medical Examiner's Office, a number in which everyone participates in the choreography.

Theatre Raleigh's cast for City of Angels includes Adam Halpin and Amber Nicole Guest (photo by Jennifer Robertson)

From the Department of Picky-Picky (and these opening-
night "wrinkles" have quite likely been ironed out):

1. On a few occasions, the orchestra's volume made lyrics not-quite-understandable to my backrow (70-year-old) ears.
2. A sliding door at the back of the lower level of the stage seemed to have an occasional glitch.

The City of Angels cast includes (from left) Tedd Szeto, Faith Jones, Anna Wentworth, and Karter Dolan photo by Jennifer Robertson)

Cy Coleman, David Zippel, and Larry Gelbart's CITY OF ANGELS (In Person at 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4-7 and 10-14), directed and choreographed by Lauren Kennedy Brady, with musical direction by Michael Meyer, and starring Adam Halpin as Stine, Adam Monley as Stone, Amber Nicole Guest as Gabby/Bobbi, Megan McGinnis as Donna/Oolie, and Greg Laux as Jimmy Powers, and featuring Juliana Valente as Carla/Alaura, Paul Aguirre as Vargas/Munoz, Happy Mahaney as Buddy/Irwin, and Grace Hamashima as Avril/Mallory, plus Raleigh locals Tedd Szeto, Karter Dolan, Anna Wentworth, and Faith Jones (Theatre Raleigh at the Theatre Raleigh Arts Center at 6638 Old Wake Forest Rd. in Raleigh). TRAILERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ1un9bsWVc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLzpm-IEEyQ. VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBrPHqUNhtfRMWQ2Ej8Fxeg. 2022 MAIN-STAGE SEASON: https://theatreraleigh.com/2022-main-stage-season/. THE PRESENTER/VENUE: https://theatreraleigh.com/, https://www.facebook.com/TheatreRaleigh, https://www.instagram.com/theatre_raleigh/, https://twitter.com/theatreraleigh, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBrPHqUNhtfRMWQ2Ej8Fxeg. DIRECTIONS/PARKING: https://theatreraleigh.com/location-parking/. COVID REQUIREMENTS: https://theatreraleigh.com/covid-19-updates/. THE SHOW: https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/44603/city-of-angels, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/city-of-angels-2599, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Angels_(musical). THE SCRIPT (excerpts): https://books.google.com/books. TICKETS: $30-$45, plus taxes and fees. Click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-832-9997, info@theatreraleigh.com, or boxoffice@theatreraleigh.com. PLEASE DONATE TO: Theatre Raleigh.

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