Real Audio soundclips courtesy Amazon.com

Cast of City of Angels (click for larger view)

PROGRAM NOTES

Winner of six Tony awards, including Best Musical, CITY OF ANGELS is that rarest of musical comedies, one that is not only loaded with music and written in the contemporary jazz idiom, but filled with comedy as well.

Set in the glamorous, seductive Hollywood of the 40's, the world of film studios and filmy negligees, the show chronicles the misadventures of Stine, a young novelist, attempting a screenplay for movie producer/director Buddy Fidler.

While Fidler professes to be a fan of Stine's work ("I've read a synopsis of every book you've ever written," he assures the author, his gargantuan ego forces Stine to make endless compromises in the script he's writing, the script being an adaptation of one of Stine's novels which features his Raymond Chandleresque hero, a private investigator named Stone.

Every movie scene that Stine writes is acted out on stage by a group of characters whose costumes are limited to various shades of black and white. The same is true of the sets in which they appear and the props that they use. With music scored in the genre, we are, in fact, treated to a live version of a 1940s private eye film, a tale of decadence, and homicide with a liberal sprinkling of femme fatale.

It all starts when Stone's Girl Friday ushers a striking socialite, Alaura Kingsley into Stone's office. The alluring Alaura is there to hire Stone to track down the mysterious disappearance of her stepdaughter, Mallory Kingsley.

Stine must fight off the increasingly demanding Buddy Fidler and is left alone to fight the Hollywood battle by his wife, Gabby, who returns to New York because she disapproves of Stine's tactics. To make matters worse, he is then confronted by his alter ego, Stone, who is totally disgusted by Stine's willingness to sacrifice his principles. Finally stepping over the line that separates fantasy from reality, Stone challenges his creator, Stine, the confrontation resulting in the rousing duet, "You're Nothing Without Me" which closes the first act.

The second act finds Stone more and more ensnared by the treacherous web spun by Alaura Kingsley, while Stine has to negotiate his way through the creative land mine laid down by Buddy Fidler and somehow regain the regard he craves from his wife and from the fictional Stone, to say nothing of himself.

After singing the ironic, soul searching, "Funny," Stine appears on the sound stage for the first day of the filming of his script. It is here that, with the surprise appearance of Stone at his side to encourage him, and visible, of course, only to Stine, that the author finds the gumption to stand up to Buddy and reclaim his self respect. Acquitting himself nobly, Stine is reunited with and once more in the good graces of his wife and his alter ego, Stone. Together-with the entire company joining in-they perform a robust musical reprise of "You're Nothing Without Me," a switch in the lyrics turning it into the far more positive "I'm Nothing Without You." The result is that best of all Hollywood conventions, a happy ending.

WHO'S WHO

JOHN CARPENTER (Peter/Gerald and Jimmy Powers) John last performed for Grey Lite Players in Guys and Dolls, He is a senior at Elmhurst High School, where he has participated in many dramatic and musical productions, including Camelot and Oliver. He also appeared as Tony in West Side Story.

JANE CLARK (Angel City Five) Jane is the choir director at Bethany Presbyterian Church. In her spare time, she divides her time between being a full-time mother and a self-employed accountant. She recently performed at First Presbyterian in Godspell and in the Civic Theatre's Oklahoma. This past summer, she appeared as Agatha in Guys and Dolls for Grey Lite Players.

SAM FRUSHOUR (Buddy/Irving) Sam is a Fort Wayne native and graduate of Snider High School and Indiana University. He was in many plays as a youth including You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Godspell, The Music Man, The Pajama Game and Little Mary Sunshine. He recently returned to the theatre as Jesus in Harding High School's production last spring of Godspell. This summer, he performed as Bernardo in Center Stage's production of West Side Story. Some of his hobbies include camping, photography and singing.

TODD FRYMIER (Stone) This is Todd's second performance with the Grey Lite Players. He recently performed as Judas in Godspell at First Presbyterian Theatre and Edward in Spike Heels with the Alternative Theatre Company and Grey Lite Theatre. Todd works at Delta House as a bartender, and builds better fake trees than anyone else. In his spare time, he enjoys drinking Slurpees, watching Flow-Bee commercials, and singing along to his Partridge Family CD.

ANDREW GROSS (Stine) Andrew has been working with Grey Lite Players since it began. To earn his living, Andrew works as a Special Education teacher. For fun, he raises birds and torments his cats, Grace and Ifit. As always, Andrew would like to thank his family and friends for their continued support and encouragement.

JEFFREY KELLEN (Gilbert/Dr. Mandril and Sonny) Jeff is a newcomer to both the Fort Wayne area and the theatre in general. In fact, City of Angels marks his debut performance on stage with no less than three characters. Jeff is currently seeking certification in Special Education, as he already holds a BA in Journalism from IU at Bloomington. During the day, he can be found at Irwin Elementary School helping the learning disabled, and at night he can be found locked up in his spare room painting surreaslistic murals.

KELLY KELLEN (Angel City Five/Com.Gaines/Hairdresser) Kelly was last seen as a Mission Doll in Grey Lite's production of Guys and Dolls. She is working on finishing her BA in music education at IPFW. She currently works with K-5th graders at a Kindercare in town.

JILL KELLY (Avril/Mallory) Jill is a junior at Norwell High School. She has been in Oklahoma and played Nellie Forbush in South Pacific last year. City of Angels is her second production at Grey Lite. Jill was in Guys and Dolls this summer and hopes to continue acting in her spare time.

AMY LOMONT (Cinematographer/Yamato) Amy is a senior at Elmhurst High School. This is her first production with Grey Lite, but she has participated in productions at Elmhurst and with the Fort Wayne Youtheatre. Some highlights include West Side Story, Camelot and Oliver.

STEPHANIE ANN MAY (Alaura Stand-In/Margaret and Angel City Five and Ana/Margie) Stephanie works at Fort Wayne National Bank. Past performances have included Rosalie in West Side Story at Center Stage and Godspell at First Pres. She is the proud aunt to Alexis, born on July 8, 1994. Go Christy!

TERI MELTON (Gene/Officer Melton) Teri has performed in all of the Elmhurst High School productions including Oliver, The Pink Panther Strikes Back, Camelot and West Side Story as Maria. She is currently in The Diary of Anne Frank at Elmhurst.

ANNE OVERMYER (Gabby/ Bobbi) Anne is excited (though she thinks she's schizophrenic) to be playing Bobby and Gabby. Audiences may have seen her as the Witch in Into The Woods, Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hannah Mae in A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking. Much love to friends, family and Butte.

CHRIS RASOR (Lt. Munoz/Pancho/Angel City Five) Chris was last seen in Guys and Dolls at Grey Lite. He is a freshman at I.P.F.W. where he will study Music Education. He has performed in many plays and musicals during his years at North Side High School, including Rumors, Carousel and Once Upon A Mattress. In his free time, he enjoys working as Chuck E. Cheese and teaching choreography to Northwood and Geyer Middle Schools' Swing Choirs.

CHRISTY REISING (Oolie/Donna) Christy last graced our stage at Grey Lite behind the scenes of Spike Heels. She was also a Hot Box Dancer in this summer's production of Guys and Dolls. She has previously appeared in Godspell, Evita, The Fantasticks, and Oklahoma for various local theaters.

MIKE SKIVER (Werner/Luther/Big Six/Studio Cop) In real life, Mike is a Graphic Designer/Technician in Huntington. He returns to Grey Lite Theatre for the first time this season. Mike's last appearance was as Thisbe in A Mid-Summer Night's Dream last December.

JENNIFER TETER (Alaura/Carla) Jennifer is thrilled to be making her final performance in Fort Wayne with the Grey Lite Players. She is FINALLY moving to Chicago in search of an acting career. Her credits with GLP include Chris in Rumors, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Diana in Lend Me A Tenor. Jennifer would like to thank her family and friends for all their support and she will miss everyone lots!

Orchestra
Rehearsal Pianist/Keyboard...Holly Knott
Woodwinds...David Streeter
String Bass...Dana Gillin
Percussion...Ken Jordan
Stage Manager...Jill Younts

"CITY OF ANGELS" MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT ONE
PROLOGUE - "City Of Angels Theme"
DOUBLE TALK (STONE)- Stone
DOUBLE TALK (ALAURA & STONE)- Alaura & Stone
DOUBLE TALK (BUDDY)- Buddy
DOUBLE TALK (STINE)- Stine
WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT WOMEN - Gabby & Oolie
YOU GOTTA LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELF - J. Powers & Angel City Five
LOOK OUT, STONE - Orchestra "You Gotta Look Out For Yourself"
THE BUDDY SYSTEM - Buddy
WITH EVERY BREATH I TAKE - Bobbi
THE TENNIS SONG - Alaura & Stone
EVERYBODY'S GOTTA BE SOMEWHERE - Stone & Angel City Four
LOST AND FOUND - Mallory
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WAIT - Munoz with male trio:
Pancho, Mahoney & Yamato
YOU'RE NOTHING WITHOUT ME - Stone & Stine

ACT TWO
ENT'ACTE - J. Powers & Angel City Four
"City Of Angels Theme" and "Stay With Me"
STAY WITH ME No. 2 - J. Powers & Angel City Four
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON ME - Oolie/Donna
DOUBLE TALK (BRUNCH) - Buddy & Chorus
THIS IS ALAURA'S THEME - Chorus
IT NEEDS WORK - Gabby
DUET: WITH EV'RY BREATH I TAKE - Stone & Alaura
FUNNY- Stine
I'M NOTHING WITHOUT YOU - Stine, Stone, Gabby & Full Company
BOWS - Orchestra "I'm Nothing Without You"
EXIT MUSIC - Orchestra "Double Talk"

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