New York City Broadway Theater Guide

Guys and Dolls

Broadway Musical

Previews  February 5 2009
Opened  March 1 2009
Closed  June 14 2009

Run  28 previews & 121 performances

Producers

Howard Panter, The Ambassador Theatre Group, Tulchin/Bartner Productions, Bill Kenwright, Northwater Entertainment, et al
Creative

Damon Runyon original story & characters
Abe Burrows & Jo Swerling book
Frank Loesser music& lyrics
Bruce Coughlin orchestrations

Des McAnuff director
Sergio Trujillo choreographer

Paul Tazewell costume design
Howell Binkley lighting design
Robert Brill scenic design
Steve Canyon Kennedy sound design

Synopsis

When you get down to it, Guys and Dolls. is simply a love story. Or more correctly, two classic love stories. Set in the hustling, bustling New York City of the 1930s, the story introduces one couple who have been engaged for 14 years. A gambler and a saloon singer, it's the usual story, the guy just hasn't gotten around to it as yet. The other story is the old "opposites attract" plot, this time the gambler and the young Salvation Army lass. There's plenty of room for misunderstandings as the story moves among the City streets, the Hot Box Club, Havana, Cuba, a City sewer and the Save-A-Soul Mission. All is resolved and two couples are in love at the end

Broadway Show History

The original production of Guys and Dolls was a little more successful than this one. Opening at the 46th Street Theater Friday evening, November 24, 1950, it went on a 1,200 performance run, a goodly number at that time. The show won five 1951 Tonys®: Robert Alda as Sky Masterson for best actor, Isabel Bigley as Sarah Brown for best featured actress, Michael Kidd for choreography, George S Kaufman for direction, and the show itself as best musical

The first major Broadway revival was the 1976 239-performance run at the Broadway Theater that featured an all-Black cast. Robert Guillaume played Nathan Detroit, Norma Donaldson was in the role of Miss Adelaide, with James Randolph as Sky Masterson and Ernestine Jackson as Sarah Brown

The April 1992 revival at the Martin Beck Theater starring Nathan Lane as Nathan Detroit was very successful, closing in January 1995 after 1,143 performances. Directed by Jerry Zaks, the production featured Peter Gallagher as Sky Masterson, Faith Prince as Miss Adelaide and Josie de Guzman as Sister Sarah. The show won the 1992 Tony® for best revival as well as for Jerry Zaks' direction. MS Prince took home the prize for best actress and Tony Walton for scenic design

In the Movies

Joseph L Mankiewicz directed the 1955 film adaptation of Guys and Dolls. Marlon Brando appeared as Sky Masterson, Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit and Jean Simmons as (now sergeant) Sarah Brown. Vivian Blaine reprised Miss Adelaide as did Stubby Kaye for Nicely-Nicely Johnson

Notes

While many of Damon Runyon's stories are set on Broadway, it is mostly not the theater-related Broadway of which he is speaking. Runyon's Broadway was the sports- and gambling-oriented Broadway in the area around the Madison Square Garden of that era that fronted on 8th Avenue

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