By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
“I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven. And by some chance, I had brought my dice along…”
If you found yourself singing the rest of “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat,” you’re not alone… and you’re in for a treat. Pennsauken High School is proud to announce that this year’s spring musical is the classic, Tony award-winning, Broadway hit, “Guys and Dolls.” Filled with great musical numbers like “Luck Be a Lady,” “Adelaide’s Lament,” and “Guys and Dolls,” along with wonderfully colorful characters, this show brings a smile to a lot of people’s faces.
“I like the modern shows, but there’s something about ‘Guys and Dolls.’ It is the perfect show,” says Kate Brown, vocal music director at Pennsauken High School. “It’s a show that every one of the directors and production staff has a memory of. It’s a warm, happy, fuzzy show.”
An adaption of several short stories by author Damon Runyon, “Guys and Dolls” follows the paths of small time gamblers as they try to hold the “oldest, established, permanent, floating crap game in New York.” Add in a high-stakes player, a pretty girl, the Salvation Army and a trip to Cuba, and you’ve got all the makings of an entertaining and comical romp through 1930s Americana.
“I just like the fact that [the play] is really the total opposite of the shows I’m used to doing,” says Alyza Alix, a PHS sophomore who plays Adelaide. “I usually take part in the more dramatic, sadder shows; this is a happily-ever after type of show.”
This show, and the type of acting opportunities it fosters, is what attracted PHS senior Noah Alzarez, who plays the role of Nathan Detroit. “Nathan has a lot of moments where he’s just over the top; very charismatic, very energetic,” says Noah. “That’s the kind of role that I can really sink my teeth into.”
This year’s cast has once again offered some surprises. Out of a 26-person cast, you’d expect a lot of “dolls;” turns out, almost half are “guys.” In addition, many students auditioned for the first time.
“Some of the kids I knew, but others just decided to come out and audition and just blew us away,” says Brown.
“It’s really cool to see the amount of new people that we have,” adds Jess Money, a PHS senior who plays Sarah Brown. “There are a lot of freshman in the show. It’s really cool to see them open up.”
Once such new addition is junior Evan Boyle, who portrays Sky Masterson. According to Boyle, he was “strongly encouraged” by Money to try out. “I’m excited. I did a lot of acting when I was really young. This is my first ‘official’ play.”
“Guys and Dolls” will be performed at Pennsauken High School’s auditorium, located at 800 Hylton Rd., from March 26-28 at 7 p.m. There will also be a matinee performance on Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m., which will be held in conjunction with the Senior Citizen Prom. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. Group tickets rates are available this year and tickets will also be sold at the door. For more information or to buy tickets in advance, call 856-662-8500 x5273.
