Guys and Dolls is a classic musical, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, about love, hate, and shooting craps, all set to lively music. With only some minor mic issues and interesting character interpretations the opening night performance of Guys and Dolls at Wolf Trap was well performed and included some excellent choreography by Patti Colombo.

Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown (Ben Crawford and Erin Davie) seemed like a good match and comfortable with each other. Davie’s projection was perhaps somewhat weak, but her solos were heartfelt and meaningful. Nathan Detroit’s fiancée of 14 years Adelaide played by Megan Sikora seemed to be channeling Lucille Ball. Her bright red hair and classic New York accent made Adelaide easy to pick out in a crowd. Her love and frustration for Nathan’s ability to evade the walk down the aisle finally came to an end and the two finally tying the knot. Steve Rosen as Nathan Detroit also gave a believable performance.

The Hot Box Dancer’s dances were well done. Their costumes (or lack there of) did not leave much to the imagination, but kudos for actually showing the women in a burlesque show as strippers. All of the ensemble really danced their hearts out Thursday night. “The Crapshooter’s Dance” and “Havana” were especially both full of high energy and high kicks.

The use of lighting in “The Crapshooter’s Dance” was also very creative. The flashes at just the right moment during the song really brought out the mood and heightened the tension of the evening. Technical Supervisor Don S. Gilmore did a masterful job getting all that coordinated. Since Wolf Trap is more or less an outdoor theatre the sound can disappear. But Sound Designer Michael H.P. Viveros kept everything up to be heard, but not over-powering.

A weather friendly evening made for an enjoyable performance.

Cast

• Nicely Nicely Johnson: Glenn Rainey
• Benny Southstreet: Garth Kravitz
• Rusty Charlie: Todd Horman
• Sarah Brown: Erin Davie
• Agatha: Wendi Bergamini
• Calvin: Eric Shorey
• Arvide Abernathy: Jamie Ross
• Harry the Horse: Adam Moreno
• Lieutenant Brannigan: Michael Scott
• Nathan Detroit: Steve Rosen
• Angie the Ox: Mark Campbell
• Havana Dancers: Taurean Everett and Arian Keddell
• Carmen the Bartender: Jan Neuberger
• Sky Masterson: Ben Crawford
• Mimi: Jesse Wildman
• Voice of Joey Biltmore: Mark Campbell
• Adelaide: Megan Sikora
• General Cartwright: Jan Neuberger
• Big Jule: Brendan Averett
• Hot Box Girls: Wendi Bergamini, Sarah Marie Jenkins, Christine Hedrick, Arian Keddell, Jesse Wildman, and Toni Elizabeth White
• Hot Box Waiter: Lee Wilkins
• Mission Band: Lee Wilkins, Sarah Marie Jenkins and Jesse Wildman
• Swings: Alissa Alter and Cameron Henderson

Understudies

• Sarah Brown and General Cartwright: Wendi Bergamini
• Sky Masterson and Lieutenant Brannigan: Mark Campbell
• Nathan Detroit: Garth Kravitz
• Nathan Detroit, Nicely Nicely and Big Jule: Todd Horman
• Arvide Abernathy: Lee Wilkins
• Benny Southstreet and Harry the horse: Eric Shorey
• Adelaide: Jesse Wildman

Crew

• Scenery Design: Kate Sutton-Johnson
• Costume Design: Charlie Morrison
• Costume Coordinator: Chad Jason
• Sound Design: Michael H. P. Viveros
• Wig/Hair Design: Chad Jason
• Musical Director: Mark Hartman
• Technical Supervisor: Don S. Gilmore
• Production Stage Manager: Kevin Brannick
• Casting By: Allison Franck
• General Management: Big League Productions, Inc. Mark Johnson
• Executive Producer: Daniel Sher
• Choreographed by: Patti Colombo
• Directed by: Gordon Greenberg

Orchestra

• Musical Director/Conductor: Mark Hartman
• Associate Conductor/keyboard: Micah Young
• Drums/Percussion: Mat Finger
• Trumpet 1: Tim Wendt
• Reeds: Ed Walters, Matt Belzer, Keith Daudelin, Charlie Young, Kyle Coughlin
• Horn: Greg Miller
• Trumpet: Craig Taylor
• Trombone: George Allen
• Violin: Bruno Nasta
• Cello: Kerry van Laanen
• Bass: Jeff Cooper

Disclaimer: We were given Wolf Trap gift certificates as a gift from a family member.