A cast of 40 young actors will roll the dice on a production of Guys and Dolls Jr on Friday March 10th and Saturday March 11th in Wilson College’s Laird Hall. The cast ranges in age from 7 to 18 and brings all the enthusiasm and energy of youth to this adaptation of the classic Broadway musical comedy Guys and Dolls. Adapted for young voices, the show features some of Broadway’s most memorable songs like “Luck Be A Lady,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.” Guys and Dolls Jr is the second collaboration between Cumberland Valley School of Music (CVSM) and the Wilson College Performing Arts Series.
Considered by many to be one of the best-ever musical comedies, Guys and Dolls first opened on Broadway in 1950 during Broadway musical theater’s Golden Era. The show ran for 1,200 performances and won 5 Tony awards, as well as universal critical acclaim. Stars such as Frank Sinatra (whose “Luck Be A Lady” has become a jazz standard), Marlon Brando, Robert Guillaume, and, in a recent revival, Peter Gallagher, and Nathan Lane have all assumed leads in this classic.
Perfect for the family, Guys and Dolls Jr has been shortened to about an hour, while still featuring all the musical’s best- known songs. The show’s director, Laura Martin, encourages families to bring their children out to see the show and make it a family event. “I’m all about creating memories and experiences. The same way you might take your children to a sports event, their first baseball or football game, I would love to see families take kids to see their first production, especially to community theater where they can see other kids they may know in the show.” Martin was inspired as a child by theater and has made it her vocation as an actor, teacher, and director.
”Laura is amazing.” says the show’s music director Lindsay Owen. “Laura has a great rapport with the kids. This particular group seems like seasoned actors. They love being together. They are enthusiastic and very professional. They enjoy the craft of acting, singing, and dancing. It’s really fun for the kids, and it has been fun watching the kids perform.”
Guys and Dolls Jr plays Friday, March 10th at 7:00pm and Saturday March 11th at 2:00pm in Laird Hall on the campus of Wilson College. To purchase tickets please visit http://www.wilson.edu/performing-arts-series-0 or call (717) 262-2003. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 ages 6 to 16, free for children under 6 and the students, faculty, and staff of Wilson College. Guys and Dolls Jr is a collaboration between Cumberland Valley School of Music (CVSM) and the Wilson College Performing Arts Series.
