MET OPERA STAR CAROL VANESS' WEST COAST DIRECTORIAL DEBUT, "ANNABELLA" AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL BY SAM JOHNIDES & TONY GONZALEZ

Annabella

Musical Annabella to Premiere at Hollywood Fringe Festival Directed by MET Opera Star Carol Vaness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:
Sam Johnides
517-648-0510
[email protected]

LOS ANGELES – April 20, 2015 Musical writing duo, The Sam and Tony Show are set for the world premiere of their new musical, Annabella, at the Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd. in the Hollywood Fringe Festival with an extensive nine-performance run. Preview night June 6th and running through June 27th.

Helmed by New York MET Opera star Carol Vaness, Annabella brings to the stage a renaissance of Greek tragedy story telling, shining the light on society’s undesirables and their fragile lives while incorporating contemporary musical numbers in the pathos of Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.

Vaness explains, “Annabella is a director’s dream. [It’s] very deep in expression and easily accessible for anyone who loves the deep feelings found in reality." It is for this reason that Vaness chose Annabella for her west coast directorial debut.

Telling the tale of a traveling puppeteer, this dark tragedy-romance engulfs us in a medieval Italian town where we meet Lorenzo, who is saved from death by the healing hands of Annabella, a reclusive witch in the woods. Meanwhile, Annabella’s guardian, Valentina grows jealous of this newfound love and plants seeds of deceit in hopes to steal Lorenzo for herself. We are thrown into a whirlwind of mistrust, revenge and dangerously devoted love.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Annabella is written by Sam Johnides and Tony Gonzalez and directed by Carol Vaness. Starring Kimberly Hessler (USC) as Annabella, Melinda Ehrlich (Berkeley) as Valentina and Tony Gonzalez (Indiana University) as Lorenzo. To round off the cast we have Amanda Rae Troisi (NYU) as Emilia, November Christine (East Carolina University) and Ra’Shawn Durell (AMDA). Ashley Stanbury (CSULB) will be understudying the role of Annabella with assistant direction by Zach Laws (UNCSA) choreography by Danielle Janco (Rutgers) and musical direction by Sam Johnides.

SCHEDULING AND TICKET SALES:

Saturday June 6th: 8pm – Preview
Friday June 12th: 8pm
Sunday June 14th: 2pm
Tuesday June 16th: 8pm
Saturday June 20th: 6pm
Sunday June 21st: 2pm
Tuesday June 23rd: 8pm
Friday June 26th: 10pm
Saturday June 27th: 8pm

Tickets are $10 online or at the door.
For more information visit our website at: hff15.org/2130
Follow Annabella on Social Media: www.facebook.com/annabellamusical | @dearannabella #thesamandtonyshow

The Lounge Theater: 6201 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038