Guys and Dolls, the ‘musical fable of Broadway', kicks off Barrington Stage Company's 2011 Mainstage Season for a five-week run from June 15 through July 16. The award-winning regional theatre in downtown Pittsfield celebrates its 17th season in the Berkshires under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and TriStan Wilson, Managing Director. Directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando (Urinetown), the Guys and Dolls press opening is Sunday, June 19 at 5pm.
It all begins with a bet. Set in the colorful world of New York City in the mid 20th century, Guys and Dolls, the Tony Award-winning musical by Frank Loesser, Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, is based on characters and stories created by Damon Runyon. Nathan Detroit bets high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson that Sky cannot persuade Save-A-Soul Missionary Sister Sarah Brown to accompany him on a trip to Cuba. Guys and Dolls features one of the great musical scores in the history of the American theatre "Luck Be a Lady," "A Bushel and a Peck," "I've Never Been in Love Before," and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."
Guys and Dolls stars Michael Thomas Holmes (Oklahoma!/How The Grinch Stole Christmas) as Nathan Detroit, Morgan James (Wonderland/The Addams Family) as Sarah Brown, Leslie Kritzer (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair, Legally Blonde) as Adelaide, Matthew Risch (Pal Joey, Legally Blonde) as Sky Masterson, Daniel Marcus as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Timothy Shew as Benny Southstreet, Peggy Pharr Wilson as General Cartwright, and Gordon Stanley as Arvide Abernathy. Chelsey Arce, Evan Autio, Tommy Bracco, Sharona D'Ornellas, Sean Patrick Folster, Steve Konopelski, Chris LeBeau, Brooke Marinovich, Michael Nichols, Kellyn Uhl, Nicky Venditti, and Correy West complete the cast. Making their debuts are Taylor Anderson, Michael Hewitt, Hannah Richter, and Michael Wessells as BSC Musical Theatre Apprentices.
The Barrington Stage production will feature scenic design by Alexander Dodge, costume design by Alejo Vietti, lighting design by Rui Rita, and sound design by Ed Chapman, with choreography by Joshua Bergasse, and music direction by Darren R. Cohen. Renee Lutz is production stage manager.
Guys and Dolls premiered on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre, Nov. 24, 1950. Directed by George S. Kaufman, it starred Robert Alda, Sam Levene, Isabel Bigley and Vivian Blaine. The original production ran 1,201 performances, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. The musical received international attention thanks to the 1955 MGM motion picture adaptation featuring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Frank Sinatra. It was revived on Broadway in 1992 in a production that starred Nathan Lane and Faith Prince, under the direction of Jerry Zaks.
