slides: Top 5 Reasons Why “Guys and Dolls” is the Perfect Classic Musical

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Byron Beck, GoLocalPDX Features Editor

Guys and Dolls

Lauren Weinberg as Miss Adelaide and the Cast of the National Tour of GUYS AND DOLLS.

Bustling with gamblers, gangsters, and sassy showgirls, “Guys and Dolls” celebrates Broadway’s golden era. With a score written by the legendary Frank Loesser the classic musical zooms in the on the glorious Damon Runyon’s comic book world of 1940s Times Square New York City.

See Slides Below: Top 5 Reasons Why "Guys and Dolls" is the Perfect Classic Musical

The show originally conquered Broadway in 1951 running for over 1200 performances and was the winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best New Musical, and again in 1992 with 4 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical.

Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, “Guys and Dolls” introduces audiences to a cast of characters who have become legends in the musical theatre world: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight "mission doll," out to reform the evil-doers of Time Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet to Cuba and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she's been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiancé, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating crap game.

Frank Loesser’s toe-tapping score, including fan favorites such as “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.

In 1955 Frank Sinatra appeared in the film version of the musical opposite Marlon Brando. Channing Tatum is rumored to be in the line to do a new version of the film. But for now we have the touring show that will appear over the next week at the Keller Auditorium.

US Bank Broadway in Portland presents “Guys and Dolls.” 7:30 pm Tues-Sat.; 2pm Sat.,1 pm and 6:30 pm Sun., March 10 -15, Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., Tickets can be purchased: BroadwayInPortland.com.

Portland Opera Box Office: 503- 241-1802 or toll free at 866-739-6737
Portland’5 Box Office: 800-273-1530, All TicketsWest locations

Related Slideshow: Top 5 Reasons Why “Guys and Dolls” is the Perfect Classic Musical

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Frank Loesser’s toe-tapping score is heralded as one of the greatest ever written for a musical, and includes some of the most iconic show tunes, including "Luck Be A Lady," "Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat," and "I’ve Never Been in Love Before."

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The characters in Guys and Dolls are among the best known, and most beloved in Broadway history, most notably the high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson, who falls in love with the puritanical missionary Sarah Brown, con man Nathan Detroit, notorious for his floating crap game, and Nathan’s long-suffering fiancé show girl Miss Adelaide.

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A celebration of Broadway’s golden era, Guys and Dolls features big splashy production numbers with amazing choreography that are sure to delight audiences of all ages.

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The colorful characters are complemented by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case’s imaginative costumes – from zoot suits to show girls to the Salvation Army – bringing audiences back to 1940s and the mythical “Runyeonland.”

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A true Broadway classic, Guys and Dolls has stood the test of time, and continues to be adored by audiences of all ages. The show premiered in November 1950 – a production that won five Tony Awards including Best New Musical – and has been revived many times, both on Broadway and London’s West End. It was also the inspiration for the 1955 film starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra.