Luanda de Hilster, who is a sophomore at the University of Central Oklahoma, has been tapped as Assistant Director to the musical “City of Angels” which takes to the stage starting February 20, 2025 at the Jazz Lab in Edmond Oklahoma. It is one of the two musicals being put on by the University of Central Oklahoma’s musical theater department. This is the first time for Luanda in the role of assistant director.
Assistant Directing
Luanda will be assisting director Billie Thrash who is an adjunct professor at UCO having directed, starred in, and choreographed local productions in and around Oklahoma City and beyond. In addition to being an adjunct faculty member at UCO, Thrash has developed relationships with many other local theater companies, including Carpenter Square Theatre, Jewel Box Theatre, Lyric Theatre and Edmond’s Summerstock Productions. She’s also directed productions at Art Park in Buffalo, New York, and the Jenny Wiley Theatre in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.
One of the many advantages of getting a musical theater degree is being able to get involved with jobs other than that of an entertainer on stage. Director obviously is one of them. Musical theatre majors are required to take a directing class in their senior year. Luanda, only a sophomore, couldn’t pass up this opportunity when asked.
Luanda at the time of this article has been performing as Bailey in the Polar Express Train production in Oklahoma City and has been taking acting class, musical theatre, and two advanced dance classes her sophomore year. Luanda’s last day performing as Bailey is December 29th, 2024 and has been performing regularly since mid November.
About City of Angels
“City of Angels” is a unique, film noir-inspired musical that intertwines the glamorous yet treacherous world of 1940s Hollywood with the gritty, fictional world of a private eye. The story follows Stine, a novelist struggling to adapt his detective story into a screenplay, and his creation, Stone, a hard-boiled detective navigating a city full of intrigue and deception. With its clever split-stage design, vibrant Cy Coleman score, and witty book by Larry Gelbart, “City of Angels” is a dazzling homage to classic Hollywood and detective fiction. The show masterfully blends humor, drama, and music, making it a captivating experience for both fans of traditional musicals and those seeking something a bit more avant-garde.
The second musical out on by the MT department in spring 2025 will be “9 to 5” directed by Michael Lomeka, the musical theatre dance professor at UCO.
Production Information and Tickets
UCO Musical Theatre presents “City of Angels” at 7:30 p.m., February 20th through the 23rd, at the UCO Jazz Lab. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 405-974-3375.
