From left at center stage, Shiv Harris (in red), Keith Adair, John Susan Holst and Isa S. Chu (in blue) perform in the Pinole Community Players production of “City of Angels,” now showing through March 23 at the Pinole Community Playhouse.
*Photo courtesy: Isa S. Chu*

Curtain Calls: ‘City of Angels’ musical shows through Sunday in Pinole

Actors in lead roles stand out in this entertaining production at venue previously unknown to author

PUBLISHED: March 17, 2025 at 5:15 AM PDT

This is a bit embarrassing, but I just discovered an East Bay theater that has been around since 1986. Thanks to an actress friend, that oversight has been rectified.

The Pinole Community Players was a dream come true for two Pinole couples — Gary and Nancy Gill and David and Patti Clark. With Gary’s technical knowledge, Nancy’s musical talents, David’s directing background and Patti’s producing and organizational skills, Pinole Community Players came to fruition those many years ago.

Attending the company’s opening weekend of “City of Angels,” I was pleasantly surprised at the intimate theater, well-appointed lobby, friendly volunteers and entertaining musical that’s now showing there.

G.A. Klein directs the complicated show that requires a large cast and good-size orchestra. Music director Brian Sennello beautifully leads his group of seven musicians who manage to share the small stage with cast members and lots of set pieces.

In writer Larry Gelbart’s nod to 1940s film noir, two parallel storylines take place concurrently: one following writer Stine as he struggles to adapt his novel to a film and the other detailing the black-and-white world of the film characters.

The cast rapidly accomplishes lots and lots of scene changes, but a of the changes would move quicker without the furniture. Kudos to costumer Flo Buchanan and wig designer Desiree Capote with their plethora of costumes and wigs for dressing the “real” and “film” versions of cast personas.

While the large cast was a bit uneven at times, the leads certainly stood out with Shauna Shoptaw displaying a dynamite voice as femme fatale Alaura Kingsley/Carla Haywood.

John Susan Holst, her unwilling love interest Stone, nailed his role as the film’s noir detective with Keith Adair using his considerable talents to bring the author Stine to life. The two have a clever duet, “You’re Nothing Without Me,” as the writer and character sing about their symbiotic relationship.

Shiv Harris (Gabbi/Bobbi) and Isa Chu (Oolie/Donna) were both knockouts in their roles, especially in their duet “What You Don’t Know About Women” and Chu in her solo “You Can Always Count on Me.”

“City of Angels” continues through Sunday in the Pinole Community Playhouse at 601 Tennent Ave. in Pinole. For tickets or more information, call 510-724-9844 or go online to pinoleplayers.org.

Original post: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/03/17/curtain-calls-city-of-angels-musical-shows-through-sunday-in-pinole/