West Hartford Summer Arts Festival To Present 'Guys & Dolls'

The musical comedy Guys & Dolls, a favorite of many community theater producers, will premiere Thursday at Hall High School as the culmination of four intense weeks of practice by participants in the West Hartford Summer Arts Festival, now in its 37th year.

Guys & Dolls is the love story of New York City gambling legend Sky Masterson (Andy Colburn) and "Mission Doll" Sarah Brown (Brigid Lucey) and their friends Nathan Detroit (Tyler Lauretti) and Miss Adelaide (Shelby Davis), set in Damon Runyon's mythical version of New York City. The musical features many recognizable songs, including “Luck Be a Lady,” “If I Were a Bell,” and “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat.”

"It's a classic show that gets done a lot, but [in this version] each number is being treated differently than usual while still keeping it classic," said choreographer Kate Morran. "The dancing is key, and it's good to remain true to the style of the time, but we also used modern influences."

"[Sky Masterson] is the first romantic role I've ever played," said Colburn, a rising sophomore studying theater at NYU's Tisch School. "It's different – an intense feeling of dependency on one person."

Davis, who previously played Adelaide during her sophomore year at Newington High School, said hers is a tough character to play because she is constantly popping in and out of the show. But that's also a good thing, said Davis. "I love that Adelaide gets to act with pretty much everyone on stage."

This is the third time (1993 and 2004) that the SAF has performed Guys & Dolls in its 37-year history. "It's a show that people do a lot, but [Artistic Director] Sara [Demos Avery] really wanted to put another twist on it," said Kate Williamson, Summer Arts Festival manager.

There are a total of 32 cast members ranging in age from 13 to 22, and 17 of those from West Hartford representing Conard, Hall, Northwest Catholic, and Kingswood Oxford. Cast members also come from Bloomfield, Farmington, Simsbury, Newington, Wethersfield, and Windsor. 

Most members of the 25-member pit orchestra, that actually sits suspended above the stage, are West Hartford students.

The Summer Arts Festival is led by founder and Executive Producer Haig Shahverdian, Artistic Director Sara Demos Avery, Music Director Emmett Drake, and Choreographer Kate Morran    

Tickets are available Wednesday at the Hall High School box office from 6-8 p.m., and beginning at 6 p.m. on the nights of the show. Tickets are general admission and are $15 each. For more information visit the website www.westhartfordsaf.com or email westhartfordsaf@gmail.com

Performances of Guys & Dolls will be held on July 25, 26, and 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Hall High School in West Hartford.  

The West Hartford Summer Arts Festival is a collaborative effort between the Town of West Hartford's Department of Fine & Performing Arts and the Human & Leisure Services Department.