Washington Heights Residents Shine in Nonprofit Blue Hill Troupe Performance of “City of Angels”

The Blue Hill Troupe, the only musical theater group in New York City to donate its net proceeds to charity, performs “City of Angels,” April 21 – April 29, at El Teatro of El Museo del Barrio (1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street). Washington Heights residents appear in the production. Johnny Hager appears as Jimmy Powers, and Andrew Neuman and John Taylor appear in the ensemble. All proceeds from the Blue Hill Troupe’s production will benefit Rocking the Boat.

Johnny Hager is a Spanish teacher, teaching sixth through 10th grades. He became involved as a volunteer with the Blue Hill Troupe last Fall. In “City of Angels,” Johnny appears as Jimmy Powers, a famous singer who’s personality and voice charms everyone he meets. Jimmy Powers sings throughout the production with his backup singers, the Angel City 4. Johnny was last seen in Blue Hill Troupe’s performance of The Pirates of Penzance.

Andrew Neuman is an attorney for one of the largest electric utilities in New York State and John Taylor is a science teacher at an independent school in New York City. Andrew and John became involved as volunteers with the Blue Hill Troupe in 1997. John is one of the many Blue Hill Troupe members to have met and married a fellow member, and one of the select few to have served as president of the Troupe with his wife at one time. In “City of Angels,” Andrew and John appear in various roles in the ensemble.

“‘City of Angels’ is a show people really love, but it doesn’t get produced very often because it requires considerable production values,” says Jennifer Dorre, Blue Hill Troupe’s President. “We’re fortunate that we have those capabilities and are very excited to give New Yorkers a chance to see this rarely performed gem.”

Set in the glamorous, seductive Hollywood of the 40s, the world of film studios and flimsy negligees, “City of Angels” chronicles the misadventures of Stine, a young novelist, attempting to write a screenplay of one of his detective novels. Each scene he writes comes to life on stage, starring his hardboiled detective alter-ego, Stone. As Stone’s life in the film plot gets more complicated, so does Stine’s personal and professional life, until the point when the two plots intersect. The amazing double score and story do what all good movies should, eventually winding up with two happy endings.

Tickets to “City of Angels” are on sale now and range from $30.00 - $110.00, and can be purchased at http://bht.org/events/city-of-angels/. Performances are April 21, 28, and 29 at 7:30 PM, April 22 and 29 at 2:00 PM, and April 23 at 3:00 PM.

Every year since 1924, the Blue Hill Troupe has come together for a season of revelry celebrating its three great passions: Theater, Charity and Community. The Troupe’s efforts are rooted in a tradition of performing a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, and the group also presents a musical theater production as well as a concert series. Since its inception in 1924, adjusted for inflation, the Blue Hill Troupe has donated over $7 million to New York City charities. For more information about the Blue Hill Troupe, please visit www.bht.org, Facebook.com/BHT.org and @BlueHillTroupe.

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Photo Captions: Johnny Hager and John Taylor appear in Blue Hill Troupe's Production of "City of Angels."