Photo Flash: First Look at EPAC's GUYS AND DOLLS, Opening Tonight

In 1951, the infamous House Un-American Activities Committee blocked "Guys and Dolls" from receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Drama to punish an "uncooperative" Abe Burrows, who adapted its book from the short stories of Damon Runyon. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Guys and Dolls never got its Pulitzer Prize, but Burrowes and his artful collaborators, Jo Swerling and composer Frank Loesser, had the last laugh. Their 1951 musical and its 1992 revival both won Tony Awards; its 1955 film adaptation starring Broadway original Vivian Blaine along with Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons, was a smash hit; and, in July 2013, Entertainment Weekly declared Guys and Dolls the "Greatest Musical" ever!

This hilariously funny tune-fest, which also wowed critics and audiences at the Ephrata Performing Arts Center in 1997, is returning to the Ephrata stage July 25-August 10 to woo yet another decade of theater goers with its irresistibly sassy charms and its celebrated score: "Luck Be A Lady," "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat,' "I'll Know," "Bushel and a Peck," "My Time of Day/I've Never Been in Love Before," "If I Were a Bell," and the incomparable "Adelaide's Lament."

The show's antic action follows a group of tinhorn gamblers scrambling to find a safe haven for their illegal "Oldest Established, Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York.' Romance further complicates their quest when high-roller Sky Masterson falls for a crusading Salvation Army "doll," Sister Sarah; and the dicey Nathan Detroit maneuvers to keep his long-suffering fiancée, Adelaide, in unwed limbo.

Real-life husband and wife, Nick and Stacia Smith, star as Sky and Sarah. Bob Checchia and Lynne Demeres-Hunt co-star as Nathan and Adelaide. The shady characters sharing their Times Square turf include Benny Southstreet (Alex Bannon); Nicely-Nicely Johnson (Jim Rule), Angie the Ox (Matt Maser); Harry the Horse (Jeff Fisher), Rusty Charlie (Darren Wagner); and Big Jule (Gene Ellis).

Their opposition force includes Salvation Army soldiers Arvide Abernathy (John Kleimo) and Gen. Cartwright (Karen Cooper); and the beleaguered NYPD Lt. Brannigan (Evan Cooper).

EPAC artistic director Edward R. Fernandez directs, with Irving Gonzalez as choreographer/assistant director; J.P. Meyer as musical director of the celebrated score; Beth Lewis as production manager; S. Benjamin Farrar as scenic designer; Janell Berte as costume designer; Jeff Cusano as lighting designer; Josh Graber as sound designer; Rachel Snavely as stage manager; Steve Schelling as technical director.

Guys and Dolls is being presented under the sponsorship of 12:34 MicroTechnologies to benefit Clare House, which provides homeless women and children a temporary home in a caring environment, life skills programs and aftercare support leading to self-sufficiency.

All proceeds from "Guys and Dolls" gala preview performance, including a wine and cheese reception, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, will benefit this worthy charity. Tickets for this special event are $30 for adults and $15 for students.

Tickets to all other performances are $15-$27.50. Show times at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, and 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; today, July 25-Aug. 10, with a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday, Aug 10, for which any tickets unsold by1:30 p.m. go on sale for a pay-what-you-will donation. To reserve seats, visit ephrataperformingartscenter.com or call (717) 733-7966, Ext. 1.

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