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City of Angels (musical)

City of Angels is a satirical musical comedy with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel, and a book by Larry Gelbart. The show takes a humorous and critical look at Hollywood through the eyes of Stine, a successful writer who is adapting his latest novel into a film. The musical explores two parallel storylines: one following Stine's struggles to adapt his novel, and the other taking place within the world of the film he is creating. The musical is also an ode to the classic film noir genre of the 1940s.

Stine - The author of the novel City of Angels, which he is adapting into a film.

Gabby - Stine's wife (The actress playing Gabby also plays Bobbi.)

Donna - Buddy's secretary (The actress playing Oolie also plays Donna.)

Carla Haywood - Buddy's wife, who will be playing Alaura in the film. She is having an affair with Jimmy Powers. (The actress playing Carla also plays Alaura.)

Avril - A young Hollywood starlet who will be playing Mallory in the film. She is having an affair with Buddy. (The actress playing Avril also plays Mallory.)

Buddy - The film producer. He is changing the integrity of the novel. He is married to Carla and having an affair with Avril. (The actor playing Buddy also plays Irwin.)

Pancho Vargas - The actor playing Munoz in the film.

Gerald Pierce - The actor playing Peter Kingsley in the film.

Werner Kriegler - The actor playing Luther Kingsley in the film.

Jimmy Powers - A popular singer, who appears in both the Hollywood scenes and in the fictional movie scenes. In the real world, Powers is having an affair with Carla.

The Angel City 4 - Jimmy Powers' back-up singers, a close-harmony quartet who serve as a Greek chorus in the film world.

Two Studio Guards, played by the same actors who play Sonny and Big Six

Recordings[edit]

There are recordings of the original Broadway cast on Sony (ASIN: B00000272K), released on February 9, 1990,[33][34] and the London original cast on RCA (ASIN: B000003FN9), released October 12, 1993.[35]

Critical response[edit]

Frank Rich wrote in his review in The New York Times: "...how long has it been since a musical was brought to a halt by riotous jokes?...This is an evening in which even a throwaway wisecrack spreads laughter like wildfire through the house, until finally the roars from the balcony merge with those from the orchestra and the pandemonium takes on a life of its own.... There is no end to the cleverness with which the creators of City of Angels carry out their stunt of double vision, starting with a twin cast list (a Hollywood Cast and a Movie Cast) in the Playbill....Mr. Coleman's score - a delirious celebration of jazz and pop styles sumptuously orchestrated by Billy Byers..."[2]


An article about Frank Rich in the Deseret News noted: "But a rave from Rich can translate quickly into box office dollars. 'City of Angels,' a new musical without big stars, was taking in about $18,000 a day in advance ticket sales before it opened, according to general manager Ralph Roseman. The day after it opened to mixed reviews - but lavish praise from Rich - the box office take was $324,700."[36]


Of the 2014 production at the Donmar, Matt Trueman from Variety wrote: "Gelbart makes his point early and his ciphers can't sustain a second act that gets itself tangled. Small matter, given the style on show. Practically every other line cracks a laugh, and Coleman's authentic jazz score is rich and infectious, combining variety with real integrity. Robert Jones's crisp greyscale design, artfully lit by Howard Harrison, and Duncan Mclean's colorful projections match them for class."[22]

Film adaptation[edit]

In June 2009, a film adaptation of City of Angels was announced with Barry Levinson as director.[38]

at the Internet Broadway Database

​City of Angels​

Information from Tams-Witmark