City of Angels: Musical Info & Synopsis


Synopsis:

City of Angels offers a unique blend of two interwoven narratives. The “real” world unfolds in black and white, following the story of a private detective named Stone as he investigates a crime in 1940s Los Angeles. Simultaneously, the “reel” world comes to life in color, portraying the making of a Hollywood film based on Stone’s adventures. As the two worlds intersect, City of Angels explores themes of truth, illusion, and the blurred lines between fiction and reality.


Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through the following links, we may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.


Musical Information

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)

Cast Size: 25+

Genre: Dramedy

Setting: 1940s / USA (California)


Creative Team

Music: Cy Coleman

Lyrics: David Zippel

Book: Larry Gelbart


Awards

Drama Desk Award: Outstanding Musical (1990)

Laurence Olivier Award: Best New Musical (1994)

New York Drama Critics’ Circle: Best Musical (1990)

Tony Award: Best Musical (1990)


Cast Albums

Original Broadway Cast (1990)➝

Original London Cast (1993)➝


Resources

Licensing: Concord Theatricals➝

Sheet Music: Amazon➝


Tags

1980s, Jazz, Large Cast, Mystery, Non-Linear, Original, Sports, Tony Award


Similar Musicals

If you’re looking to discover new shows, here are some musicals like City of Angels.

Seesaw

Sweet Smell of Success


Return to the complete A-Z musicals list »