Award-winning musical City of Angels is a celebration of the film noir genre and dark detective fiction which takes place in two worlds. The ambitious writer of a Hollywood screenplay, Stine, struggles as he negotiates his demanding film studio boss, compromises on his movie and dealing with the women in his life, while his creation – ‘private eye’ Stone – takes on a life of his own and mysteriously gatecrashes Stine’s life.
While screenwriter Stine’s detective story plays out in black and white in the ‘reel world’, he finds the dangerous temptations of ‘real world’ Los Angeles often too colourful and endlessly alluring.
Winning 6 TONY Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical, this sensational jazz score by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, Barnum), sizzling lyrics from David Zippel (The Goodbye Girl, Mulan) and book by acclaimed comic screenwriter Larry Gelbart (M*A*S*H, Tootsie) is a witty and glorious celebration of film noir.
This new Australian production of City of Angels stars Kane Alexander, Amanda Harrison, Anton Berezin, Chelsea Plumley, Troy Sussman, Rohan Browne and Anne Wood. This production also features Connor Crawford, Hannah Fredericksen, Andrew Kroenert, Melissa Langton, Jennifer Peers, with Adam Fiorentino as Lieutenant Munoz. Directed by Martin Croft, Choreographed by Benjamin Osborne with Musical Director Kellie Dickerson.
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Stone
Kane Alexander
Kane has performed internationally, collected numerous awards, and recorded with Sony Music. His roles on stage include Bobby Strong in Urinetown (Helpmann Award nomination), Claude in Hair, Willard in Footloose (MO Award nomination), the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Billy Crocker in Anything Goes, Captain Giorgio Bachetti in Passion and also performed in the 10th Anniversary production of Les Miserables. In the 2001 New York Cabaret Awards, he was named “Best New Voice” and won both the BISTRO and MAC Awards for “Most Outstanding Debut”. Subsequently, he was asked to perform at Rupert Murdoch’s 70th birthday party in New York, alongside Natalie Cole. After his return to Australia, he was named a finalist of the 2001 Young Australian of the Year Awards. In concert, he has toured with popera superstars Il Divo, UK diva Katherine Jenkins, Marina Prior, Lisa McCune and Tina Arena. Kane has appeared on several recordings including this own solo album, Kane Alexander.
Donna / Oolie
Amanda Harrison
Amanda made her professional debut playing Jenny in Aspects of Love. Other theatrical credits in Australia include: Betty in Sunset Boulevard; Les Miserables; Ellen in Miss Saigon; Liza in The Boy from Oz; Ellie in Leader of the Pack and We Will Rock You, for which she was awarded the 2004 Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Oz. For The Production Company, Amanda has appeared in: Mame; She Loves Me; Guys and Dolls; Oklahoma! and as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. Amanda is most well known for originating the role of Elphaba in the Australian production of Wicked – a role that earned her Green Room, Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. In 2012 Amanda created the role of Paula in the world premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman. On London’s West End, Amanda has appeared as Ali in Mamma Mia!. She was also an original London cast member of We Will Rock You.
Stine
Anton Berezin
Anton had his first professional acting engagement in Larry’s Song at the age of 18 at the Malthouse Theatre. He subsequently trained at the Actors Centre, London and landed his first major role in a musical as Anthony Warlow’s understudy in The Secret Garden during 1995-1996. He has since had roles in Australian productions of Wicked, The Producers, Side Show Alley, Cabaret the Musical, Follies, Fiddler on the Roof, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Cats, Mack and Mabel, Sondheim on Sondheim, Anything Goes, Rain the Musical, Doctor Zhivago as the alternate lead, Mr Eichelberg in Promises Promises, The Reciter in Pacific Overtures and received rave reviews as The Bank Manager in Once the Musical. On television, Anton has had roles in Jack Irish, Neighbours, The Secret Life of Us, Marshall Law, MDA, Miss Fischer’s Murder Mysteries and most recently, The Divorce.
Gabby / Bobbi
Chelsea Plumley
Chelsea Plumley is a multi-talented award-winning stage, cabaret and television actor. Her musical theatre roles include Amy in Company, Rizzo in Grease, Lyn in Breast Wishes, Jolene in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers and – for which she received Greenroom Award nominations – Betty in Sunset Boulevard, Vivien in Life’s A Circus, Lalume in Kismet, Marge MacDougall in Promises Promises and Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls. She has toured her one-woman cabaret shows internationally and hosted the worldwide phenomenon Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music for thirteen years. On television, Chelsea appeared as guest coach and accompanist on Channel Ten’s I Will Survive, as ‘Rachel’ in Offspring and as the ‘Queen of the Fairies’ in six seasons of the children’s television program, William and Sparkles’ Magical Tales. As a recording artist, Chelsea released her solo album Live & Luscious in 2004, and has starred on cast albums Life’s A Circus, Breast Wishes, Welcome to the Inside of Ed’s Head and Chair in the Landscape.
Buddy Fidler / Irwin S. Irving
Troy Sussman
Troy’s theatre credits include Les Miserables (London), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Pirates of Penzance, Mary Poppins, The Drowsy Chaperone, Donmar Warehouse’s Guys and Dolls, Mame, Sweet Charity, We Will Rock You, The Witches of Eastwick, Mack and Mabel, Noises Off, The Singing Forest, Guys and Dolls, The Gilbert & Sullivan Show, Jolson, both the 10th Anniversary and the Original Australia/New Zealand productions of Les Miserables, Chess, Miss Saigon, The Secret Garden, The Phantom of the Opera, Hair , Aida and Carmen with the Victoria State Opera , Tales of Beatrix Potter, Peter Pan and Oliver. In Asia Troy was seen in Honk!, Chang and Eng and Masterpiece: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in China. On Television Troy has appeared in Les Miserables at Windsor Castle, Forensic Investigation, Denise, Good Morning Australia and Saturdee. Troy can be heard on the Australian Cast Recordings of Mary Poppins and Hair, South Pacific Soundtrack and solo vocals on Rob Guest’s Standing Ovation.
Jimmy Powers
Rohan Browne
Rohan has performed in Baz Luhrman’s Strictly Ballroom the Musical throughout its tour of Australia in the role of ‘Ken Railings’. Prior to this, Rohan played the lead in The Production Company’s Singin’ in the Rain, garnering generous acclaim. Rohan will appear next in Nice Work if You Can Get it playing the lead role of Jimmy Winter for The Production Company. Rohan recently created the role of Marty in The Tap Pack and prior to this he was seen in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Recent credits include The Producers and A Chorus Line (Asia), the Australian tour of A Chorus Line (Green Room Award nomination), the acclaimed revival of West Side Story (Green Room Award nomination), Melbourne Theatre Company’s The Drowsy Chaperone (Green Room Award nomination), Chicago, Anything Goes, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tivoli, Hot Shoe Shuffle, the world premiere of The Boy From Oz, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Kiss Me, Kate (Green Room Award nomination), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Follies and Mame.
Carla Haywood / Alaura Kingsley
Anne Wood
Anne is best known for her portrayal of the leading role of Donna Sheridan in the Australian premiere of Mamma Mia! earning her a Green Room Award and an invitation to play the role on London’s West End. She recreated the role for the 10th Anniversary Tour. Previously she spent time in London and Hamburg playing leading roles in Cats, Aspects of Love, Crazy For You, A Swell Party and Barnum. Her Australian credits include the roles of Irene in Crazy For You, Elsa Schraeder in The Sound Of Music, Minefields and Miniskirts, Mrs. Mullin in Carousel, Menopause The Musical, Phyllis in Follies, Meg in Damn Yankees, The Mother in Prodigal, Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show, Electra in Gypsy, Evangeline Harcourt in Anything Goes, Madame Morrible in Wicked, Muriel Eubanks in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Sara Jane Moore in Assassins. Anne’s debut solo album Divine Discontent was released in 2012.
Pancho Vargas / Lieutenant Munoz
Adam Fiorentino
Adam was born and raised in Melbourne, but his acting work has taken him around the world. Starting in TV and Theatre in Australia and Asia, his stage debut was in the original production of The Boy From Oz. He followed this with productions of Grease, Cats, Mamma Mia!, Footloose and the lead role of Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever (the role made famous by John Travolta in the film). That role took him to London to play Tony on the West End. From there he went straight into the TV series Hollyoaks: In the City. Still pursuing his dream of Broadway he decided to make the move to the Big Apple. That dream came true when he stepped on stage in the lead role of Bert in Mary Poppins on Broadway. His TV credits in the USA include roles in 30 Rock, Sherri and All My Children to name only a few. Adam recently played Bernardo in The Production Company’s acclaimed production of West Side Story.
Avril Raines / Mallory Kingsley
Hannah Fredericksen
Hannah Fredericksen is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Bachelor of Music Theatre (2011). She was awarded the VCA Orloff Family Trust Scholarship for demonstration of outstanding commitment to the course. Her theatre credits include; the role of Olivia in The Carving Theatre Company’s Twelfth Night, Elizabeth in Company Eleven’s production of David Williamson’s Third World Blues and Cecily Cardew in the Citizen Theatre Company’s sold out season of The Importance of Being Earnest. Most recently, Hannah originated the role of Kate Kelly in the world premiere of Ned – A New Australian Musical (Groaning Dam) and received rave reviews for her performance. Hannah’s screen work is equally as expansive. She has appeared as Lilly on Offspring, starred alongside David Wenham and Jacqueline McKenzie as Poppy in Paul Cox’s feature film Force of Destiny, (Illumination Films) which was selected to open the 2015 Melbourne Film Festival. She also appears as Olivia Newton-John in the upcoming channel 7 mini-series Molly (Pop Machine) and features opposite Nathan Phillips as Jessie Slavich in ‘Hunters’, to be released on America’s Syfy network in 2016 (Matchbox). She also features in Opera Australia’s upcoming feature film The Divorce (ABC).
Angel City Quartet Soprano
Jennifer Peers
Jennifer most recently played Gertrude Stein in Loving Repeating for Vic Theatre Company. Other credits include Showboat, Isabel in The Pirates Of Penzance for The Production Company, Miss Lark in the Australia / NZ tour of Disney’s Mary Poppins, Karen in BBC drama The Kangaroo Gang: Thieves By Appointment, Peaches in Jerry Springer the Opera at the Sydney Opera House, Opera Australia’s national tour of My Fair Lady, Frieda/Betty in Sunday In The Park With George for the Q Theatre and Minnie Davies in the original Australian cast of The Hatpin. She spent two years living and working in London where she made her West End debut in Shoes for Sadler’s Wells.
Angel City Quartet Mezzo-Soprano
Melissa Langton
Melissa’s versatility as an entertainer is highlighted by her unique performances in cabaret, music theatre and on the concert platform. Her theatre appearances include; Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables, The Pirates Of Penzance, The Mikado, Marry Me A Little, Eurobeat, We Will Rock You (Killer Queen), The Threepenny Opera and Into The Woods. Melissa has appeared in two world premieres of Australian musical theatre productions; Strange Bedfellows and How To Kill Your Husband – for which she received a Green Room Award nomination for Best Female in an Opera. For The Production Company; Carousel, 42nd Street, Damn Yankees, Follies, Crazy For You and Sugar.
Angel City Quartet Tenor
Andrew Kroenert
Andrew’s performing credits include Jim Greene in Show Boat (The Production Company), Fisherman / Warrior / British Admiral / Sailor in Pacific Overtures (Watch This), Sid in the Australian premiere cast of Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang (TML), Buddy in The Buddy Holly Story (Showbiz Christchurch and LTPA) and lead in Virgins: A Musical Threesome (Echelon, NYMF). He can be heard on cast recordings of Virgins: A Musical Threesome and Once We Lived Here. Musical Direction credits include Peppa Pig Live! (Life Like Touring), Rocking The House With Mickey Mouse (Disney Special Events), Showtune Sweethearts and Amanda Harrison’s Up Close and Reasonably Personal.
Angel City Quartet Baritone
Connor Crawford
Connor graduated from Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Music Theatre in 2011. His first production out of College was the musical Jersey Boys, touring extensively in Australia and New Zealand from 2011 to 2013. Connor received rave reviews for the musical Dreamsong, playing the role of ‘Chris T’ under the direction of Dean Bryant. Connor appeared in Third World Blues, a David Williamson play set against the background of the Vietnam War, portraying ‘Dennis’. He recently appeared as ‘Joe Byrne’ in Ned: A New Australian Musical. In television, Connor appeared in Winners and Losers and will be seen next playing the role of ‘John Paul Young’, in the mini-series Molly, about the life of the legendary Australian music critic. Connor will make his feature film debut in The Divorce for Opera Australia with support from Film Victoria.
Director
Martin Croft
Martin started his professional career at the age of 17 with appearances on Melbourne TV. Initially trained as a classical singer, his first professional musical theatre show was Jesus Christ Superstar in 1975 for Harry M. Miller, touring Australia and New Zealand. This led to a full career in Music Theatre and Opera, first as performer and then adding Director, Musical Director, Teacher, Event Manager and Producer to the list. Martin has starred in most of the major musical theatre shows of the last 25 years in Australia, the UK and USA. Les Miserables (Australia and San Francisco), Godspell (Melbourne), Cats (Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Macau, South Korea), Miss Saigon (London), The Phantom of the Opera (Australia) and he has been a guest Principal Singer with Opera Australia as Luiz in The Gondoliers. As producer and performer – Closer Than Ever, Putting It Together and the award-winning 3 Vile Men. Martin produced, co-wrote and starred in the highly successful Joe Starts Again which received the 2004 Green Room Award for best new musical and was invited to the inaugural New York Music Theatre Festival in September 2004. Martin’s recent credits as Director/Resident Director include Les Miserables (Asia/South Africa tour), The Boy From Oz (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth), Oliver (Cameron Mackintosh Australia/Singapore), Jersey Boys and The Addams Family for New Theatricals. He has also directed numerous award ceremonies, concerts, workshops, cabarets and plays both in Australia and overseas. Martin produced Welcome to the Inside of Ed’s Head – Eddie Perfect’s first solo CD. In 2009 Martin was instrumental in the formation of the highly successful music theatre course at the Victorian College of the Arts. Martin is currently Vice-President of Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He is the recipient of 1 MO Award and 2 Green Room Awards and has been a proud member of Actors Equity (MEAA) since 1975.
Musical Director
Kellie Dickerson
Kellie is recipient of a Bachelor of Music (Honours, Performance) from the University of Sydney, the Donald Peart Memorial Award for Music, the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust Scholarship to Young Conductors and a place in the Symphony Australia Young Conductor’s Programme. Her career began as pianist/keyboardist on The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon (both Cameron Mackintosh), Turandot (Opera Australia) and The Three Divas, continuing as assistant or associate musical director with Beauty and the Beast (Disney/Jacobsen Entertainment), Showboat (LiveEnt/Marriner Productions), The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and The Producers (Gordon Frost Organisation), The Mikado (Carl Rosa Opera Company), and The Witches of Eastwick (Cameron Mackintosh/Jacobsen Entertainment). As musical director and/or conductor, engagements include Amici Forever (Sydney Opera House), Die Fledermaus and The Merry Widow (Opera Queensland), Respect (Jim McPherson), Annie Get Your Gun and Thoroughly Modern Millie (The Production Company), Australia Plays Broadway (Carnegie Hall) and Wicked (Gordon Frost Organisation/Marc Platt/Universal) for which she won a Green Room Award. As the late Rob Guest’s musical director Kellie toured Australia and New Zealand extensively. She was involved in the development of the new Australian musical, Strange Bedfellows (Instinct Entertainment), and was honoured to be a part of the Australian premiere season of Dr Zhivago (GFO). In 2011 Kellie conducted the Australian premiere of Grey Gardens (TPC), continued her association with Dr Zhivago as resident musical supervisor for the Korean premiere in Seoul, and Wicked as resident musical supervisor of the Australasian tour. Through 2012/2013 she was the musical director for the Australian production of Legally Blonde, and joined the supervising team for the Korean language production of Wicked.
Choreographer
Benjamin Osborne
After training at The Dance Factory, Benjamin made his stage debut in the original production of The Boy from Oz. This was followed by appearing in Shout – The Legend of the Wild One and the original Australian company of Mamma Mia!. During his three and half years there, he took over the role of Dance Captain for the Australian and Asian tours. Benjamin then took on the role of Dance Captain for the Australian production of Miss Saigon, where he later became the Resident Choreographer. He has since worked on the Korean, Dutch and Japanese productions as the Associate Choreographer. Benjamin’s other credit’s include the 10th Anniversary production of Mamma Mia!, the Australian and New Zealand tours of Jersey Boys and the Australian production of The Addams Family, all as Resident Choreographer. Benjamin is thrilled to be returning to Life Like Company having choreographed last year’s production of Passion.
Costume Designer
Kim Bishop
Kim was Costume Designer for Doubt, A Parable (RL Productions), The 39 Steps and They’re Playing Our Song (HIT Productions), Barassi – The Stage Show (Athenaeum Theatre), Singin’ In The Rain, The Producers, Kismet, The Boy From Oz, The King & I, The Boyfriend, Crazy For You, Mame, Damn Yankees, 42nd Street and Sweet Charity (The Production Company). He has also toured as Head of Wardrobe on many large scale shows including The King & I, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, South Pacific, The Rocky Horror Show, Aida – The Spectacular, The Boy From Oz, Singin’ In The Rain, Shout and Moonshadow. For some years, Kim toured the world as Wardrobe Manager with ice dancers Torvill and Dean.
Designer
Robert Alexander Smith
Robert is a multidisciplinary designer – working actively as a Set Designer, Graphic Designer and Graduate Architect. Robert completed his Masters of Architecture at Melbourne University in 2014, having completed his Bachelor of Architecture Studies at Melbourne University and The Technisches Universität Berlin (TUB). He has presented papers and talks on the relationship between set design and architecture. Robert has worked extensively in theatre as Resident Designer, Producer and Company Manager of Four Letter Word Theatre, involved in over 60 productions, including: The Fastest Clock in the Universe (Chapel Off Chapel); Live Acts On Stage (fortyfivedownstairs); Old Man Nanook (Geelong Courthouse); and The Wild Party (Revolt).
Lighting Designer
Tom Willis
Tom is a graduate of VCA where he studied lighting design under John Comeadow and Nick Schlieper. Since then Tom has established himself as a successful freelance designer, working on a range of projects spanning theatre, puppetry, dance, circus, opera, musical theatre and cabaret. Notable projects include: Mother (IF Theatre/Regional Arts Victoria). Money Shots (Sydney Theatre Company), The Plague Dances (Malthouse), Orpheus, The Temptation of St. Antony, Undine, Peer Gynt (4 Larks), The Ugly One, The Pigeons (Griffin Independent), DasShoku Shake! (Yumi Umiumare), Dying City and Purgatorio (Hoy Polloy), Sweeney Todd, Rhinoceros (Union House).