[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of “Nicky and the Angels” with story and book by Jillana Devine-Knickel, and music and lyrics by Ali Mandelbaum, playing six Sunday night performances at the Whitefire Theatre from April 14 – May 19.
“Nicky and The Angels” was a big success at the Hollywood Fringe Festival last year. And no wonder. Tthis high-energy 80s-era musical about high school students who work nights at a theatre in L.A. is a really wonderful story about an iconic time in the City of Angels.
It’s a true coming-of-age story and not just about these three kids, but also in some way about America itself. The 80s saw the beginning of AIDS and a real loss of innocence at the mercy of a terrible disease that was dismissed for far too long. It changed something fundamentally about this country and that is also reflected in this play. But it’s centered around these kids, who are so beautifully realized by these three young actors. A hard-working aspiring actor Nicky, a pre-med-tracked singer Courtney who is crushing hard on Nicky, and aspiring Broadway dancer Angie whose hilarious upper-crust take on her world nearly brought the house down.
They are all tackling their own unique individual issues and as friends who met at work, not school, they have a bond built on this particular turning point in their lives. They yearn for adulthood, but worry about how to find who they really are. So afraid of making the wrong choice, sometimes it seems easier to stand still. We have all been where they are, some of us in the same era. What is so interesting about these stories is how fresh they still seem, even though they began decades ago. The 80s is more than 40 years ago. When I was growing up in the 80s, 40 years before that was World War II. Boy does that give some fierce perspective…
It’s a sweet, funny and quite moving musical with some lovely songs and the actors do them all full justice. The characters are perfect for the times and the supporting cast is just as great as the three leads. How wonderful to go to a small theatre in Sherman Oaks and see a new musical about three kids from the 80s in L.A. singing songs about love, fear, friendship and growing up. It made me long for the age I was once, with big hair, neon outfits, leg warmers, the best music ever and the world at my feet.
Come see “Nicky and The Angels!”
NoHoartsidstrict.com readers can get 50% off tickets for all performances if they enter the code nicky50 when they purchase their tickets at nickyandtheangels.com.
Tickets:
https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=6942
Where:
The Whitefire Theatre
13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
When:
April 14 – May 19
Sundays at 7pm
The Cast
The cast includes Adam Levia (Angel in “Rent” at the Chance Theater in Anaheim, NBC pilot “Isabel”), Carmina Garay (“Diary of a Future President,” “The Conners,” “PEN15”) Katie Silverman (“Grey Gardens” at The Ahmanson Theatre, “Mayans MC,” “PEN15,” “The New Girl”), Sam Brock (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream and “A Perfect Ganesh” at Theatricum Botanicum), Dalton Maltz (“Tommy and the Brothers” at the Wren Theater, “Assassins” at the Lyric Hyperion) and Ben Larson (“Hit the Wall,” “Carrie: The Musical” and “The Normal Heart” at USC School of Dramatic Arts).
The Team
Story and book are by Jillana Devine-Knickel, who also directs, music and lyrics are by Ali Mandelbaum, choreography is by Dr. Claire Anne “Daanee” Touchstone. The Musical Director is Xander Ambrose. Macy E. Kunke is the Production Stage Manager.