by Frank O’Donnell, WPRO Contributor
Stephen DeAngelis was at a reunion of Classical High School’s Class of 1975. “People were asking me what I was up to. They asked, ‘When are you doing a concert in Rhode Island?’”
DeAngelis has been working in the entertainment industry for over 35 years. He’s cast over 3600 radio and TV commercials, and been involved with over 300 theatrical productions, both on Broadway and in other venues around the country.
On Monday, October 17, DeAngelis presents “Broadway Spotlight” at Ocean State Theatre Company in Warwick. “I got enough of a response from a little focus group” – the folks at his class reunion – that he said, “I should do that.”
He did a little research and some homework, and started a dialogue with Amiee Turner at OSTC. “I’ve known Amiee for years, from her performing days. I explained to her what I’ve been doing around the country, and she said it sounded like a great idea.”
So, he’ll be bringing in five Broadway performers for one very special performance. “Every concert I do is a different concert. It’s not a traveling show. Each is a totally different collection of performers, and a totally different collection of songs.”
Between them, Monday night’s performers have over 20 Broadway shows under their belts. Shows like “The Lion King,” “Wicked,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Mary Poppins” and more.
“They get to recreate their Broadway stuff in a more intimate setting. And we’re able to harness the energy as if it were an opening night. It’s the first time for all of them in front of this audience in this venue with this show.”
DeAngelis grew up in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Providence, and went to Columbia University. “I always had this burning interest in the entertainment industry,” he said in our recent phone interview. “I did shows at Classical, and I always loved the putting-the-puzzle-together element of it.”
He performed in national tours of “Godspell” and “Grease,” but found that the most rewarding part of the productions “was the rehearsal process, the problem-solving, how do we make this work.”
So he moved to the other side of the table, working as a director, and then taking on the role of producing artistic director at a theater in the Poconos. “People would call me all the time for casting recommendations.” People started to tell him he really should be in the casting business. “You have this memory for people, they said, and the ability to assess their talents and what people can do.”
His concerts came “out of a desire to help regional theaters get attention from audiences and recognition from audiences, and a give them a way to introduce new audience members to that venue.”
He’s really looking forward to presenting this show to a Rhode Island audience. “It’s important for me to acknowledge this state, my family. Rhode Island was wonderful to me, growing up as a kid interested in the arts.”
“No other audience will ever experience what (Monday night’s) audience will,” says DeAngelis. “There will be some lightning in the bottle moments.”
[Ocean State Theatre Company presents “Broadway Spotlight,” produced by Stephen DeAngelis, on Monday, October 17. For tickets and information, call the box office at 401.921.6800 or visit www.oceanstatetheatre.org.]
