Guys & Dolls: An Extravaganza of Music and Dance – David Stringer, Publisher

The Friday night opening of Guy’s & Dolls at Yavapai College’s Performing Acts Center was an extravaganza 0f music and dance. An enormous cast of talented local performers presented the big production numbers from the award-winning Broadway musical with spirit and polish. A twenty four member orchestra under Music Director Chris Tenney filled the performance hall with such classic hits as Luck Be A Lady, A Bushel and a Peck, My Time Of Day, and More I Cannot Wish You.   Strikingly beautiful costuming and set design ensured the stage of the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Acts Center never looked better.

Photo: Music Director Chris Tenney and David Stringer

Guys & Dolls, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser,  and book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, entered the pantheon of classic American musicals in 1950,  running for 1200 performances and winning five Tony awards including Best Musical. The story is based on a collection of Damon Runyon short stories known as the ‘Broadway Stories’  which chronicle the raffish underworld of small time gangsters and gamblers of Depression Era New York City. Runyon’s rendition of this unique underworld culture of colorful characters such as Harry the Horse and Big Jules and their comical, semi-literate gangster argot gave rise to a literary genre known as Runyonesque. Guys and Dolls was made into a 1955 hit movie staring Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit and Marlon Brando, in which the famous dramatic actor both sang and danced the part of Sky Masterson. Guys and Dolls has had many revivals over the years and has become a staple of community theater.

With an abundance of local talent to chose from, Artistic Director Heather “Scottie” Scott,  divided the lead performers into two casts—Red and Blue.  Opening night featured the Blue cast. As an ensemble, they presented a well rehearsed and disciplined show that moved seamlessly from one big production number to the next.  JC Lawler as Sky Masterson was in particular good voice and seemed a natural for the part. Ruby Tomasovitch brought impressive vocal skills to the part of Sarah Brown along with a sense of control and dramatic growth to her acting.

Photo: Ruby Tomasovitch as Sarah Brown and David Stringer

Several supporting cast members also stood out  including Isaiah Taylor as Nicely-Nicely, Dustin Alcala as Benny Southstreet, and Frank Virginia as Arvide Abernathy. The Hot Box and Havana Dancers also deserve mention for the energy and colorful flair they brought to the production numbers. Ben Durre, Cloud Fenwick, and Colon Walters were particular standouts.

Photo: The main players in the Blue Cast

Guys And Dolls continues at the Yavapai  College Performing Acts Center through November 15^th. Tickets are available thru the box office HERE