Coming very soon, Live Oak Theatre is proud to present its main stage production of the musical comedy “Guys and Dolls.” Performances will take place over three weekends, Friday through Sunday, March 21 through April 6.
A musical gem, “Guys and Dolls” is so popular and well-known, it’s highly unlikely that most people haven’t heard of it. An American classic, with a long history of productions and adaptations, it remains memorably endearing and a longtime staple of community theatre worldwide.
Live Oak Theatre spokesman Vince Vanni explained, “We were able to choose this show because of the skills of the Conservatory students, the instructors, and the Adult Company members that convinced us that this was the year we could do it.”
“God has been good to us as we have grown both the theatre company as well as the Conservatory—especially the Youth Theatre, which has expanded to include two full-cast productions,” he said.
“Guys and Dolls” premiered on Broadway on Nov. 24, 1950, where it ran for 1,200 performances and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, it is based on “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown” (1933) and “Blood Pressure,” two short stories by Damon Runyon. It also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, such as “Pick the Winner.”
Set in Depression-era New York, and for a brief while in Havana, “Guys and Dolls” revolves around luck, money, and love. It’s a story about big-city gamblers, a strait-laced missionary, and a nightclub performer. Mix in a dollop of romance, and the show will hold you spellbound from start to finish.
“Talk about talent,” said Vanni. “Both Live Oak Theatre musicals this semester have their lead roles double-cast. Check out the ‘Guys and Dolls’ cast—we have two Sarahs and two Adelaides, two men who play Sky Masterson (played by Marlon Brando in the movie), as well as two men who play Nathan Detroit (played by Frank Sinatra in the movie).”
“Two of our teen Conservatory students, Rowan Wilson and Ian Moorehouse, are cast members in both ‘Guys & Dolls’ and our upcoming show ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’” said Vanni.
“Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., they play Lysander and Demetrius, respectively, at their Shakespeare Youth Theatre class, where they…do a masterful job with Shakespearian English. Then, with only a few minutes break, they’re off to the ‘Guys and Dolls’ rehearsal, where they play Damon Runyon gamblers with a New YAWK Runyon accent,” he said. “Now that’s skill!”
Another standout performer is Jackie Hirose, only 15, who takes on the role of Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” before transforming into a Hot Box Girl in “Guys and Dolls”—complete with a heavy New York accent.
The musical also features many memorable and popular songs, such as “Luck Be a Lady,” “If I Only Had a Dollar,” and “A Lady is a Tramp.”
“Guys and Dolls” is so popular that it has enjoyed several Broadway and London revivals, as well as a 1955 film adaptation starring Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, and Vivian Blaine, who reprised her role of Adelaide from Broadway.
“This show has very special meaning for Randi Olsen and me,” Vanni said. “”Guys and Dolls” was the first show I directed at the former Show Palace, now called the Suncoast Broadway. A very young Randi auditioned for it, and we have been friends ever since. Now I get to play her ‘Uncle Arvide,’ and we act in scenes together,” he smiled.
“Guys and Dolls” is considered one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time, and in 1998, Vivian Blaine, Sam Levene, Robert Alda, and Isabel Bigley, along with the original Broadway cast of the 1950 Decca cast album, were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
This is a show that never fails to shine. Live Oak Theatre seats are still available at $25 for adults and $10 for children 13 and under with the purchase of an adult seat.
All performances are at the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Boulevard, Brooksville, Florida 34601. The Friday and Saturday evening shows are at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. Doors open approximately 30 minutes before showtime.
To reserve seating, go to https://www.liveoaktheatre.org/current-production, email [email protected], or call 352-593-0027.
Live Oak Theatre Upcoming Productions
“Frozen Jr.”
Thursday–Sunday, May 1–May 11
Experience the magic of Frozen Jr., a heartwarming tale of love and sisterhood based on the 2018 Broadway musical. This enchanting production brings Elsa, Anna, and the world of Arendelle to life on stage, featuring beloved songs from the animated film along with five new songs written for the Broadway adaptation by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Thursday–Sunday, May 15–18
Step into a world of magic, mischief, and romance with William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Set in Athens and an enchanted forest, this timeless comedy weaves together the adventures of four young lovers, a troupe of amateur actors, and a mischievous fairy realm, creating a whimsical tale of love, transformation, and laughter.
