made some progress getting MS Web API OAuth to work with angular.  looks like a token is being properly created on the server, passed back to angular, saved in local storage, and then passed back to the server by insertion in the headers by an angular http interceptor.  every line of code was difficult...
small, baby steps...
worked on form validations for signup.html
upgraded to angularjs 1.3
now showing server-side validation errors within angular client-side validation.
displays growl style messages
redirects to project page after signUp
finished client side form validation for signUp.html

busy day!