Guys and Dolls, Jr. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School
Dates: (11/7/2014 - 11/9/2014 )
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School |
5510 Double Oak Lane
Birmingham,AL 35242
Phone: 205-991-5963
Tickets: $5 students and seniors, $7 adults, ages two and under free
Running Time: 120 minutes
SUBMIT UPDATES
Our Lady of the Valley School Drama Department will present Guys and Dolls, Jr. on Friday, November 7 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, November 8 at 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, November 9 at 2 p.m. in the OLV Family Life Center (Gym). Michael R. Bridges directs the show. Tickets may be obtained at the door or by contacting Melanie Norman at melanie@thenormanclan.com. For further information, call 991-5963, ext. 239 or visit the school Web Site at www.olvbirmingham.com. Our Lady of the Valley School is located at 5510 Double Oak Lane at the corner of Highway 119 (Cahaba Valley Road) and Caldwell Mill Road in north Shelby County.
This classic is one of Broadway’s most hilarious shows and has been described as the perfect comedy. All the hot gamblers are in town, and they're all depending on Nathan Detroit to set up this week's incarnation of “The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York;" the only problem is, he needs $1000 to get the place. Throw in Sarah Brown, who's short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, who accepts Nathan's $1000 bet that he can't get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana; Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; Police Lieutenant Brannigan, who always seems to appear at the wrong time; and the music/lyrics of Frank Loesser, and you've got quite a musical. The show includes such memorable songs as: “Fugue for Tinhorns,” "Luck Be a Lady," “Bushel and a Peck,” “If I Were a Bell,” and "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat".
The cast features nearly ninety performers ranging from first through eighth grades. The production is headlined by four characters played by veteran OLV performers. C. J. Romano, an eighth grader, will play Sky Masterson, the suave, high-stakes gambler whose luck never seems to run out. His surprising romantic interest is a bright-eyed Sergeant for the local Mission—Sarah Brown to be played on alternating performances by eighth graders Olivia Fant and Emma Akerman. Their comic lead counterpart couple is Nathan Detroit, A good-hearted gambler and craps game organizer who could never hit the big-time, and Miss Adelaide, his outspoken, stubborn night club performer fiancée. The roles will be played by seventh grader Chandler Norman and eighth grader Cassie Ambrose. “This is a unique show in that it has four lead characters with totally equal billing. The roles of Nathan and Sky were made famous in the movie by Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando. I think C.J. Olivia, Emma, Cassie, and Chandler have had a great chemistry portraying their very diverse characters. They have musically brought their numbers to life and have added a great sense of comedy to make the show strong. The four have delighted audiences for years with their musical talents, acting abilities, and charm to play the character roles well,” said Michael Bridges, director.
Nathan’s right-hand accomplices provide much of the hilarity. Tanner Gray (6th grade), Joseph Parrozzo (6th grade), and Alecia Hobdy (8th grade) portray horse racing betters and gamblers Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Benny Southstreet, and Rusty Charley respectively. The “heavys” in the show Big Jule, a big time Chicago thug, and the crook who fronts for him, Harry the Horse, will be played by seventh graders Jaxon Bast and Justin Boackle. Rounding the character roles are James Ciamarra (8th grade) as the tough, no-nonsense Lieutenant Brannigan of the NYC Police department; Avery Martin (7th grade) as General Mathilda Cartwrith, the imposing leader of the Save-a Soul mission; and Jackson Shields (8th grade) and Alyce Voisin (7th grade) as Arvide and Arleen Abernathy—Sarah’s loving grandfather and aunt.
Rounding out the cast are the main high-rolling gamblers: Kirsten Hassinger, 7th grade (Brandy Bottle Bates); Leah Tkacik, 7th grade (Scranton Slim); Raquel Tambrello, 6th grade, (Angie the Ox); Zane Boackle, 5th Grade (Liver Lips Louie); Vinnie Portante, 5th grade (Society Max); John Daniel Rose, 5th grade (master of Ceremonies); Matthew Hosmer, 5th grade (the Greek); and Joshua Rauterkus, 4th grade (the Lookout). The talented singing and dancing Hot Box girls are: Aiden Roussel (7th Grade), Grace Spencer (7th grade), Ella Donahue (6th grade0, Sarah Buttrey (6th grade), Olivia Beland (6th grade), Madison Como (6th grade), McKenzie Higgins (6th grade), Jane Vaughn (6th grade0 Elizabeth Hayhurst (5th Grade), Anna Parmer (5th grade), Salena Marino (4th grade), and Lily-Ann Neumann (4th grade). Mission band members are fifth graders Abigail Buttery, Mary Caroline Gray, Elena Lynch, and Kaitlyn Shields; and fourth graders Brooke Wallace, Megan Stickley, Anna Hoffman, Kaitlin Fromhold, and Emily Brooks.
“This show is classic Broadway all the way,” Bridges continued. “The music is catchy and classic and the story is truly funny. It is one of those great shows where the audiences have several ‘oh, yeah’ moments when they realize they know the songs!”
He added, “The messages are not deep in this one, although it does teach us that we may find what our hearts desire when we least expect it. The characters are the slick types based in the famous Damon Runyon stories of New York City in the 1940’s and early 1950’s. We have had to learn how New York high-rolling gamblers talk, and even learn their expressions—it has been a truly fun experience.”
“We always seek to do a show that gives our students a myriad of opportunities in performing,” he added. “Our cast of close to ninety ranges from ages 6 to 14. We also had the challenge of bringing some slapstick comedy and improvisation and pantomime to life. This was an added treat for our cast to learn. And I have the best production team and parents bar none!”
“I think the audiences will enjoy this timeless story packed with great music, hilarious antics, and a New York flair, but full of heart.” Bridges concluded.
The Our Lady of the Valley School Drama Department holds a Junior Troupe membership in the International Thespian Society, an honor organization recognizing achievement in the dramatic arts in schools. It has a long-standing reputation of producing quality shows with its young casts. The Troupe has competed at the National, Regional, and other state Festivals over the past eight years copping a number of honors each time for its stage productions and individual events. OLV is one of only nine schools in the State of Alabama with the Junior Thespian designation and, of those, the only one of two to compete at the regional and national levels.
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Ages: All ages
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