Musical classic opens tonight at SMC
Published 10:37 am Thursday, February 18, 2010
Ditsy Adelaide (Abby Hansen), who appears with 2008 Buchanan High School classmates Alex Gerard (Harry the Horse) and Ashley Riedel (waitress), has her debutantes, Mimi (Dori Prange of Niles, a freshman majoring in dental hygiene who will be transferring to IUSB); Allison (Jessica Hargett of Dowagiac, a freshman studying music education and in her 12th show); Ferguson (Terra Jackson of Niles, in her eighth and last SMC production before she moves to Las Vegas); and Vernon (Chelsea Whiteoak of Dowagiac, in her first SMC musical, a music education major planning to transfer to Hope College after earning her associate degree). From left: Terra, Jessica, Abby, Chelsea and Dori. Abby, an SMC psychology major, has performed at Barn Swallow Theatre in Cassopolis. She's been dancing since she was 3. (The Daily News/John Eby)
By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News
Southwestern Michigan College Theatre Department performs Frank Loesser’s funny musical production “Guys and Dolls” tonight, Feb. 19, 20 and 21 in the theater of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus.
Curtain time for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows is 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
Featured dancers will be members of Encore Dance Company of Dowagiac, including Leana Allen, Emily Clark, Tiffani Franco, Toni Marie Franco, Michala Froehlich, Katie Hale, Jessi Hannapel, Madison Martin, Samantha Mathews, Hayley Melvin, Hollie Olson, Bo Parsons, Katelyn Phillips, Bailey Reed, Bridget Reed, Rachel Rudlaff, Jillian Springsteen, Irene Steinke, Danielle Taylor, Alyssa Wainwright and Monica Ward.
The musical tells the tale of two New York couples who bet on love despite the odds.
Gambler Nathan Detroit and his fiancee, Adelaide, have been engaged for 14 years, although her mother thinks they’ve been married for 12.
Fellow gambler Sky Masterson, the fellow in the red suit, woos Sarah Brown, a Salvation Army missionary.
They are joined onstage by a cast of colorful characters who have become stage legends.
With its score of unforgettable songs, including “Luck Be A Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “Guys and Dolls” is the quintessential Broadway experience.
Tickets cost $7 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens. Individuals 18 and under are admitted free.
For ticket information, call the SMC Box Office at (269) 782-1280 or (269) 687-1600, ext. 1280.
The cast includes:
Beth Alton (Agatha), Niles High School junior.
Brian Beckwith (Big Jule), Niles.
Chris Branham (Sky Masterson), Ypsilanti.
Andrew Bussler (Calvin), Dowagiac.
David Carew (Rusty Charlie), Buchanan.
Thom Cooper (Society Max), Kalamazoo.
Alex Gerard (Harry the Horse), Buchanan.
Abigail Hansen (Adelaide), Buchanan.
Jessica Hargett (Allison), Dowagiac.
Terra Jackson (Ferguson), Niles.
James Jones (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Niles.
Ryan London (Benny Southstreet), Berrien Springs.
Elizabeth Martin (Amelia), South Bend, Ind.
Brett Mitchell (Nathan Detroit), Edwardsburg.
Mary Mitchell (Sarah Brown), Edwardsburg.
Dori Prange (Mimi), Niles.
Andrew Stuver (Angie the Ox/MC), Niles.
Jonny Reinhardt (Arvide Abernathy), Eau Claire.
Jacob Richcreek (Joey Baltimore), Watervliet.
Ashley Riedel (Waitress), Buchanan.
Sarah Riggs (Martha), Dowagiac.
Fawn Roberts (Gen. Cartwright), Three Rivers.
Chelsea Thompson (Gladys), Dowagiac.
Chelsea Whiteoak (Vernon), Dowagiac.
Based on a Damon Runyon short story, “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown,” it premiered on Broadway in 1950 and became a 1955 movie starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra.
Director Thom Cooper reportedly loathed the movie and had to be lobbied by Dave Carew, SMC choral director, and choreographer James Jones to give the stage version a chance.
The musical has made his actors grow as the entire cast finds itself singing and dancing.
