Michael Thomas Holmes, Matthew Risch, Leslie Kritzer, Morgan James to Star in GUYS & DOLLS at BSC

Guys and Dolls, the ‘musical fable of Broadway', kicks off Barrington Stage Company's 2011 Mainstage Season for a five-week run from June 15 through July 16. The award-winning regional theatre in downtown Pittsfield celebrates its 17th season in the Berkshires under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and TriStan Wilson, Managing Director. Directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando (Urinetown), the Guys and Dolls press opening is Sunday, June 19 at 5pm.

It all begins with a bet. Set in the colorful world of New York City in the mid 20th century, Guys and Dolls, the Tony Award-winning musical by Frank Loesser, Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, is based on characters and stories created by Damon Runyon. Nathan Detroit bets high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson that Sky cannot persuade Save-A-Soul Missionary Sister Sarah Brown to accompany him on a trip to Cuba. Guys and Dolls features one of the great musical scores in the history of the American theatre "Luck Be a Lady," "A Bushel and a Peck," "I've Never Been in Love Before," and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."

Guys and Dolls stars Michael Thomas Holmes (Oklahoma!/How The Grinch Stole Christmas) as Nathan Detroit, Morgan James (Wonderland/The Addams Family) as Sarah Brown, Leslie Kritzer (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair, Legally Blonde) as Adelaide, Matthew Risch (Pal Joey, Legally Blonde) as Sky Masterson, Daniel Marcus as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Tim Shew as Benny Southstreet, Peggy Pharr Wilson as General Cartwright, and Gordon Stanley as Arvide Abernathy. Chelsey Arce, Evan Autio, Tommy Bracco, Sharona D'Ornellas, Sean Patrick Folster, Steve Konopleski, Chris LeBeau, Brooke Marinovich, Michael Nichols, Kellyn Uhl, Nicky Venditti and Correy West complete the cast. Making their debuts are Taylor Anderson, Andrew Brubaker, Michael Hewitt, and Hannah Richter as BSC Musical Theatre Apprentices.

The Barrington Stage production will feature scenic design by Alexander Dodge, costume design by Alejo Vietti, lighting design by Rui Rita, and sound design by Ed Chapman, with choreography by Joshua Bergasse, and music direction by Darren R. Cohen. Renee Lutz is production stage manager.

Guys and Dolls premiered on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre, Nov. 24, 1950. Directed by George S. Kaufman, it starred Robert Alda, Sam Levene, Isabel Bigley and Vivian Blaine. The original production ran 1,201 performances, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. The musical received international attention thanks to the 1955 MGM motion picture adaptation featuring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Frank Sinatra. It was revived on Broadway in 1992 in a production that starred Nathan Lane and Faith Prince, under the direction of Jerry Zaks.

Guys and Dolls will be presented at Barrington Stage Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. Performance dates and times: Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday-Saturday at 8pm, Friday matinees at 2pm (excluding June 17), Sunday at 5pm. Additional Wednesday matinees held June 29, July 6 and July 13 at 2pm. There is no 8pm performance on Saturday, June 25. BSC Summer Gala performance held on Saturday, June 25 at 4pm, mezzanine seating available. Opening Night: Sunday, June 19 at 5pm. Tickets: $15-$60. Seniors: $35 all matinees. Youth 18 and under or students with a valid ID $15 all performances except Saturday evening. Guys and Dolls Family Weekend June 17-19, youth 13 and under are FREE when accompanied by an adult with full-price ticket (limit one free youth per paid adult). There will be a post-show discussion following the Tuesday, June 21, 7pm performance.

About Barrington Stage Company
Barrington Stage Company, a professional award-winning Equity regional theatre located in the heart of the Berkshires, in Pittsfield, MA, was co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd. Barrington Stage's mission is three-fold: to present top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to find fresh, bold ways to bringing new audiences into the theatre-especially young people. Barrington Stage garnered national attention in 2004 when it workshopped, and premiered William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin's musical hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which later transferred to Broadway's Circle-in-the-Square Theatre where it won two Tony Awards and played more than 1,000 performances. In 2009/2010 Barrington Stage produced the world premiere of Mark St. Germain's Freud's Last Session, which later moved Off-Broadway to the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, where it resumed performances on January 14, 2011. For more information, log on to www.barringtonstageco.org.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos