Of 'Guys and Dolls'

By Ashley Von Arx

Cardinal Staff

What do Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, rough New York underground gambling rings and Winona, Minn., all have in common? Saint Mary’s 2012 production of the musical “Guys and Dolls,” of course!

Students at SMU are preparing their performance of “Guys and Dolls” directed by Gary Diomandes, Ph.D., scheduled to perform Feb. 23-26 in the Page Theatre.

“Guys and Dolls,” first staged in 1950, has been acclaimed as the perfect musical comedy, spanning an impressive 1,200 productions at its debut. The play traces the stories of a couple of shady, two-bit gamblers “trying to reconcile their desire for money with a desire for human companionship,” said Alex Green, sophomore theatre major playing Nathan Detroit. Though extremely devoted to his fiancée of 14 years, Adelaide, played by sophomore Allie Kriz, Detroit is torn between his commitment to this burlesque beauty and his love for the game. Caught similarly in the tide of love for a woman and his passion for taking risks is Sky Masterson, played by senior Bryan Moore.

“A heavy influx of new theatre majors encouraged the department to go for an old-fashioned, classic, big show like ‘Guys and Dolls,’” explains Diomandes. “It just fit the department.”

Though there is a lot of material to learn barley a month and a half, Diomandes is confident that the production is right on schedule. He said he is delighted to report that the music for the production was learned in only four rehearsals.

Adult tickets are $10 and student and senior tickets are $5. Tickets are available at the Page Theatre Box office.