Young Players and Landers of Benton to Present GUYS AND DOLLS JR

The Young Players and Landers of Benton present Guys and Dolls JR at the historic Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market Street, in downtown Benton.

Show times are July 13-15 at 7 p.m. and July 16 at 2 p.m. On July 15 there will be a special 2 p.m. performance featuring the understudies in the lead female roles. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (60+) and military, and $5 for students (ages 3 - college age with a valid student ID). Tickets can be purchased online at www.theroyalplayers.ticketleap.com beginning June 30th. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. You may also call 501-315-LIVE to make reservations by phone.

Set in Damon Runyon's New York City, Guys and Dolls JR follows gambler Nathan Detroit as he tries to find the cash to set up the biggest crap game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Miss Adelaide, laments that they've been engaged for fourteen years without ever getting married. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown. Guys and Dolls JR takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, but everyone eventually ends up right where they belong.

The Young Players production features Will Porter as Nathan Detroit, Izzy Hammonds as Miss Adelaide, Luke Ferguson as Sky Masterson, and Makayla Shipe as Sarah Brown. Jack Clay is Lt. Brannigan. Hannah Grace Fritz plays a Hot Box Doll and understudies the role of Miss Adelaide, while Annie Harris is in the Mission Band and understudies the role of Sarah Brown.

Zachary Glover plays Nicely Nicely Johnson, Carson Clay is Harry the Horse, Mark Kennedy is Benny Southstreet and Reagan McCartney is Big Jule. Katie McCallister plays Aunt Arvide Abernathy and Rylee Woodard is General Cartright. The rest of the Mission Band is Beth Freudensprung as Agatha, Allie Bailey as Clara, Adelyn Eiler as Martha and Hattie Gore as Bertha.

Gamblers also include Addison Lumpkins (Angie the Ox), Caleb Burnett (Liver Lips Louie), Dylan Moore (Rusty Charlie), Elijah Harris (Society Max), Hayden Griffis (Stubby) and Sagan Kinetic (Lookout). Hot Box Dolls include Libby Golleher (Mimi), Daisy Medders (Polly), Amber Morton (Barb), Alainna Dunnahoo (Ruby), Mary Grace Wells (Bess), and Alexandra Lanier (Katy). Sascha Bass portrays a street vendor. Cadence Earles and Olivia Kreulen are New York City cops.

Under the direction of Daphne Shoppach, the creative team includes Matthew Glover as music director and Annslee Clay as student director. Actors come from Garland, Saline, Pulaski, Grant, Hot Spring and Perry counties.

Guys and Dolls JR is produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International, 421 W. 54th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019.