"Marcus Cheong wants to introduce a new character in the Christmas story. Her name is Sera the Angel and she lives on top of your Christmas tree. How she got there is the subject of Cheong’s musical, Angels.

Sera is the Angel of Light. She is gifted by God with the power to control light and place the stars in the sky, but she aspires to a more heroic role. She wants to be a guardian angel – looking after humans. And she’ll break the rules to become one. Lucifer, the fallen angel, sees Sera’s pride and ambition and manipulates her, causing problems for Sera and the humans she is trying to protect. Only when Sera humbles herself and accepts the role she was made for does she realise she has power to defeat Lucifer, and discovers her “purpose”: to place the star in the night sky on the eve of the first Christmas – the star of Bethlehem.

It’s an epic story that comes with an equally epic origin story. Angels has been more than 20 years in the making, the brainchild of Marcus and his university friend Ken Lai, who composed the show. Marcus says he originally thought of first turning it into a feature film, but settled on music theatre as his chosen medium."

"As the mom of a young actor and musical-theatre buff, I was excited to preview the Original Studio Cast Recording of ANGELS The Musical. Now I want my son to have the chance to see the show.

In recent years, he’s seen musicals about the Founding Fathers, teen suicide and 9/11. He and his friends talk about the story lines, sing the songs, and dream of acting in shows like these. After listening to the cast recording several times, I’m intrigued by the story and would like to see my young thespian perform in it — or see it on Broadway.

It surprised me that the cast recording was released before the show opened on Broadway. Instead, the script and musical score have been released to schools, churches and community-theatre groups, according to an article in Sight Magazine.

Synopsis: ANGELS tells the epic story of the ancient war between the Angels and Lucifer’s fallen minions. This timeless tale of good versus evil, hope versus despair, angels versus demons, is told through the eyes of Sera, the Angel of Light. Though she is gifted with the power to control light, she aspires to a more heroic role. Lucifer opposes Sera, causing chaos for the Angels and the humans they protect. Sera must find the courage to rise in victory over Lucifer and fulfill her purpose."

"It’s usually the case that a cast album comes after the success of a Broadway musical. Not so with ANGELS, a stage production which tells the story of what happened among the angels – and the spiritual wrestle of one in particular - in the lead-up to Christ’s birth.

Ready for its debut on New York’s Broadway back in 2008, all was looking good for the production when the global financial crisis hit and funds needed to stage the show dried up.

While that meant the musical theatre project has sat on the shelf ever since, Australian Marcus Cheong says that last year he felt the time was right to bring out the album which was subsequently officially launched in Australia at Sydney’s Northern Beaches Christian School last week.

Mr Cheong - who co-wrote the script and lyrics for the musical with fellow Sydneysider Ken Lai (Mr Lai also wrote the music) - describes the album as a “tapestry of music” which stretches back to when a concept album was first recorded in 2006."

""ANGELS," the original studio cast recording released from Broadway Records, celebrates the Australian album launch with an exclusive event at the Northern Beaches Christian School in their performance space appropriately known as "Manhattan City" on Nov. 28.

The event, beginning at 7:30 p.m., will be opened by Hon. Anthony Roberts MP, Minister of Planning & Housing and Special Minister of State, and will feature live performances from "ANGELS" by the album creators with top Australian musicians and worship leaders from C3 Church Global."

"ANGELS, the original studio cast recording released from Broadway Records, celebrates the Australian album launch with an exclusive event at Northern Beaches Christian School in their performance space known as “Manhattan City,” on Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

The event will be opened by Hon. Anthony Roberts MP, Minister of Planning & Housing and Special Minister of State, and will feature live performances from “ANGELS” by album creators with top Australian musicians and worship leaders from C3 Church Global."

""ANGELS," the original studio cast recording released from Broadway Records, celebrates the Australian album launch with an exclusive event at the Northern Beaches Christian School in their performance space appropriately known as "Manhattan City" on Nov. 28.

The event, beginning at 7:30 p.m., will be opened by Hon. Anthony Roberts MP, Minister of Planning & Housing and Special Minister of State, and will feature live performances from "ANGELS" by the album creators with top Australian musicians and worship leaders from C3 Church Global."

With music by Ken Lai, lyrics by Marcus Cheong and a book by the pair, Angels is the “epic story of the ancient war between the Angels and Lucifer’s fallen minions.” The story is told from the point of view of Sera, the Angel of Light, who must find a way to overcome Lucifer and achieve her greater purpose."

Robert Cuccioli does a fine job with his material, particularly in the late-story "Fallen Angel."

"Let's Deal," a delicious duet between Young's Tyriel and Cuccioli's Lucifer, has shades of Les Miserables's "Confrontation" in the best possible way, and "Without You Here" is mournful and filled with genuine emotion.

"I Believe In Angels (Reprise)" and "One True Friend (Reprise)" - they both wrap up the album on a high note. Despite some meandering along the way, the finale ensures that we leave knowing what this story is about: loyalty, dreams, and hope for a better future"

With music by Ken Lai, lyrics by Marcus Cheong and a book by the pair, Angels is the “epic story of the ancient war between the Angels and Lucifer’s fallen minions.” The story is told from the point of view of Sera, the Angel of Light, who must find a way to overcome Lucifer and achieve her greater purpose."