BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – The West Virginia Wesleyan College Department of Theatre and Dance presents the classic Broadway musical, “Guys and Dolls” with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.
“Guys and Dolls” runs March 24, 25, and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and March 27 at 2 p.m. in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are available at the door, one hour prior to the show time: $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, $5 with Wesleyan ID.
Set in a mythical mid-20th century New York City, “Guys and Dolls” follows the antics of Runyonland crapshooter Nathan Detroit as he tries to secure a safe place to host the crap game while not alienating his showgirl fiancé of 14 years, Adelaide. Strapped for cash, Detroit makes a bet with visiting high-roller Sky Masterson about a date with “Mission doll” Sarah Brown.
Full of comedic hijinks and some of Broadway’s Golden Age’s most famous musical numbers, including “I’ve Never Been in Love Before”, “If I Were A Bell” and the show-stopper “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”
Guys and Dolls is directed by Thomas Schoffler, with music direction by Dr. R. Daniel Hughes, choreography by Lesa Dencklau, scenic and lighting design by Keith Saine, and costume design by technical theater major Jakob Spruce ’22. The show is stage-managed by technical theater majors Elizabeth Tweel ‘23 and Haley Wilson ’22.
The cast and crew of Guys and Dolls includes Ellery Brown ’24, Acting and Directing and History double-major as Martha and the Hot Box Waiter; Jackson Johnson ’23, Theatre Arts major as Arvide Abernathy; Anna Zurbuch ‘25 acting major as Agatha; Derek Hess ’23 acting & directing major as Nathan Detroit; Sydney Stewart ’25, Musical Theatre Major as Ally/Hotbox Girl;Jenna Ferrell ’25, Theatre Design/Tech as soundboard operator; Ashton Cork ’23, Educational Studies Major as Big Jule; Taylor Pugh ’22, Musical Theatre as Adelaide and costumes crew; Dominick Gray ’22, Musical Theatre major as Sky Masterson; Kotone Sakamura ’24, theatre major as Hot Box dancer Ferguson; Owen Hess ’24, Biochemistry major as Calvin and Crapshooter; Brennon Weese ’23, Athletic Training major as Rusty Charlie; Ripley Cottrell ’25, Exercise Science major, Light Board; Nicki Riley ’25, History and Gender Studies double major, Props; Sawyer Alderman ’23, Pre-Drama Therapy, Prop Team; Katherine Smart Hughes as General Matilda B. Cartwright; Spruce as Lt. Branningan; Felicia Cochran ’25, Technical Theater major and Sound Designer; Iris Lee Kolenich ’23, Communications Major, Junior as Drunk/MC/Gambler; Pippa McGinley ’22, Musical Theatre // Senior as Sarah Brown; Loren Keene ’23, Theatre arts major, Hot Box Girl (Vernon) and Havana couple and Anthony Damcott ’23, media communication major, Harry the Horse/Havana Waiter/Fight Captain.
