A stage full of assorted gamblers, gangsters, chorus girls and missionaries can only mean one thing: the classic Broadway musical “Guys and Dolls” is coming to town. Sterling High School Theatre will present the Frank Loesser masterpiece at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November 14, 15, and 16, in the school’s Theatre.
Based on the Broadway stories of Damon Runyon, “Guys and Dolls” tells the tale of Nathan Detroit, the organizer of the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York, who bets fellow gambler Sky Masterson that he can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with him. That “next girl” is Miss Sarah Brown, a pure-of-heart Salvation Army-type reformer. Meanwhile, Nathan is having trouble with his own girlfriend, Adelaide, who after 14 years of dating is ready for marriage. Featuring one of the most memorable scores in all of Broadway, the Frank Loesser songs include “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and “I’ll Know” among others. With a book by Jo Swerling and comedy legend Abe Burrows, the show is considered by many to be the perfect balance of story, dance, music, romance, and comedy.
A cast of 32 will bring the classic Broadway characters and music to life on the Sterling stage. Seniors Zach Brashear and Kinley Farney will lead the cast as Sky and Sarah with senior Kash Farney and junior Kendra Pattison as Nathan and Adelaide.
Solomon Dold, Luke Schweizer and Coby Comley will play the gambling trio of Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie. Other gamblers with names like Liver Lips Louie, Harry the Horse and Big Jule will be played by Micah Watney, Cameron Fair and Bobby Foster. Other members of the male ensemble include Brian Walker, Cole Slupski, Ian Stephens, Brayden Hossman, Zane Nichols, Erik Vogt, Kyler Comley, and Will Dutton.
The Hot Box nightclub chorus girls will be Mac Thrasher, Kaci Wilson, Holly Davis, Jody Gunther, Hannah Hendricks and Kylah Comley. The Save-A-Soul mission band will be made of Andrew McPherson, Keena Scweizer, Shelby Schroeder, and Maryn Robson. Other female ensemble members will be Jessica Thorpe, Bailee Maskil, Shelby Fenwick, and Christina Silva.
Sterling High theatre instructor Betsy Dutton is directing the show with vocal music director Clark Comley serving as music director. Cindy Anthony will be at the helm of the musical combo on keyboard.
Tickets for “Guys and Dolls” are $6 for adults and $4 for students and will be available at the door before each performance.
Sterling High School stages classic musical