Described as a triumph and a delight, a work of art and the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls brings Damon Runyan’s much loved New York underworld to life at Arts Centre Melbourne for a limited season from 19 July.
Premiering on Broadway in 1950, Guys and Dolls ran for 1,200 performances, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The 1955 film version starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons cemented it as a true Broadway classic.
With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, gangsters, gamblers, evangelists and showgirls inhabit this musical fable of Broadway which features the much loved songs: Luck Be A Lady, Fugue for Tinhorns, Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat, I’ve Never Been in Love Before and Adelaide’s Lament (A Person Can Develop a Cold).
Sky Masterson (Martin Crewes), a gambler loses a bet and his heart, to Sarah Brown (Helpmann Award winner, Verity Hunt-Ballard), an idealistic Salvation Army Missionary. Nathan Detroit (Adam Murphy) is the proprietor of the ‘oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York’ and the cabaret singer, Miss Adelaide (Chelsea Plumley) is his long suffering fiancée. Bobby Fox stars as Nathan’s sidekick, Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
Following her success with Gypsy in 2013, Gale Edwards returns with a new staging of this classic musical. Musical Director is the distinguished Guy Simpson (Gypsy), Choreographer is Nathan M. Wright (Rocky Horror Show, Sochi Winter Olympics, Avenue Q) with costumes by Academy Award winner Tim Chappel (Sweet Charity, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and scenery by Shaun Gurton (Ghosts, MTC).
Guys and Dolls
State Theatre – Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne
Season: 19 – 27 July 2014
Bookings: 1300 182 183 or online at: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
For more information, visit: www.theproductioncompany.com.au for details.
Image: Martin Crewes, Verity Hunt-Ballard, Adam Murphy and Chelsea Plumley