STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Wagner College Theatre is bringing the award-winning musical “City of Angels” to life, inviting audiences on a thrilling, humorous ride through the dueling worlds of a writer and his fictional detective.
Performances are scheduled for Nov. 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23 at 8 p.m., with matinees on Nov. 16, 23, and 24 at 2 p.m. All performances will be held in Wagner College Theatre’s Main Hall Theatre, Grymes Hill.
Wagner College Theatre’s production is being creatively led by Wagner College alumni and faculty, including Director Brian Sgambati, who is both a WCT alumnus and a current assistant professor, and Choreographer Jasmine Canziani ‘17. The music director is Dr. Lauri Young, WCT’s resident music director for more than 25 years.
“‘City of Angels’ is a distinctly Wagner show,” says Sgambati. “One of the program’s most renowned graduates, Randy Graff, won her first Tony Award for Best Featured Actress as Oolie in the original Broadway cast.”
Sgambati was in the audience during one of those performances in 1990 and “was blown away.”
When he learned that Randy Graff was a graduate of Wagner College Theatre, it contributed to his choice to study there. Coming full circle, Sgambati shared that he’s proud to restore “City of Angels” to Wagner College’s Main Stage “not only for the Randy Graff connection, but also because [his] directing mentor at Wagner, the late Professor Christopher Catt, directed it on this very stage in the early 2000s to great success.”
Rehearsals are underway for Wager College’s production of “City of Angels,” running Nov. 14 – 24, 2024. (Courtesy of Tala-Lisa Klezmer)Courtesy Tala-Lisa Klezmer
THE COMPANY
In addition to Sgambati and Young, the creative team also includes Choreographer Jasmine Canziani, Fight Choreographer Vincent Lane, Costume Designer Ryan Ginter, Hair & Makeup Designer Alfreda “Fre” Howard, Projections Designer Scott Cally, Scenic Designer Phill Hickox, Lighting Designer Vicki Neal, Sound Designer Grace Oberhofer, Props Master Erika Warrix, and Intimacy Choreographer Becca Canziani.
Additionally, the production team features Stage Manager Micah Hale, Technical Director Brian T. Sharron and Production Manager Vicki Neal. The cast includes James Bilbruck, Daniel Siani, Emma Casertano, Sophia Erneta, Nico Alexander, Elle Ouimet, Marc Mundsinger, Salvatore Romania, Anabel Moda, Antonio Paz, Daniel Stefanski, Daniel Manuel Torres, Cole Pickert, Connor Perri, Amanda Marko, Jocelyn Oberle, Nika Skylar, Gavin Conner, Quill Cooke, Torre Cintorino, Max Markarian, Matthew Abatemarco, Nick Bates, Harper Saxon, Layla Valenzuela, Emma Mastoros, Maggie Cantwell, Emma Herron, Vasa Zhidkova and Maddy Vaillancourt.
Rehearsals are underway for Wager College’s production of “City of Angels,” running Nov. 14 – 24, 2024. (Courtesy of Tala-Lisa Klezmer)Courtesy Tala-Lisa Klezmer
TICKETING
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit wagner.edu/performing-arts/tickets. You can also contact the box office directly at 718-390-3259 or [email protected]. The box office is open from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and one hour before every performance.
Ticket prices vary depending on date and seat location and include a $2 service fee: Adult $25 to $32, seniors $23 to $30, non-Wagner students $18 to $20, Children $18 – $20. Readers of silive.com can redeem a 10% discount on tickets with promo code: SILive.
Theatre patrons are welcome to park in the Tiers Lot Visitor Parking and the Stadium Parking Lot. To find the Wagner College Main Entrance using GPS, use 631 Howard Ave., Staten Island.
Visit wagner.edu/performing-arts/tickets for more information about the accessibility ramp, dedicated transportation assistance, and sensory-friendly options.
Rehearsals are underway for Wager College’s production of “City of Angels,” running Nov. 14 – 24, 2024. (Courtesy of Tala-Lisa Klezmer)Courtesy Tala-Lisa Klezmer
ABOUT WAGNER COLLEGE THEATRE
Wagner College’s Performing Arts Department provides students with a strong liberal arts background combined with intensive training in dance, music, acting and design.
With more than 50 years of producing live performances on Staten Island, Wagner College has ranked among the top five collegiate theater programs in the United States by the Princeton Review since 2004, most recently ranking second nationally in its 2025 “Best 390 Colleges” guide.
For more information, visit wagner.edu/performing-arts.
Rehearsals are underway for Wager College’s production of “City of Angels,” running Nov. 14 – 24, 2024. (Courtesy of Tala-Lisa Klezmer)Courtesy Tala-Lisa Klezmer
ABOUT “CITY OF ANGELS”
The show, which won five Tony Awards in 1990, including Best Musical, features a vibrant score by Cy Coleman (“Sweet Charity”) and follows Stine, a young writer struggling to retain control over his crime novel as it’s adapted for Hollywood, alongside the gritty escapades of his private investigator creation, Stone.