Published April 04. 2023 01:52PM
by Lori Patrick Special to the Bethlehem Press
“Guys & Dolls,” a romantic comedy with a twist set during the Roaring 20s in Manhattan’s Times Square and Havana, Cuba, was performed at Notre Dame HS in Bethlehem Township. Stage director Caitlin Bach, music director Ben Stefan and choreographer Erin Griffith brought to life the story first premiering on Broadway in 1950.
Mixing evangelical women with high rolling gamblers and conmen placing bets and playing craps as love interests, the story takes you through a negotiation of love and living the straight and narrow lifestyle. The performances were March 24, 25 and 26 on the new addition 19,000 square-foot auditorium that seats 600.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LORI PATRICK Notre Dame cast members of the production “Guys & Dolls” argue over where to hold the next craps game with the thought that the police are on to them. The scene includes a full length stage backdrop of Times Square, making it colorful and vibrant.
6725 Puritanical missionary and showgirl Miss Adelaide (Mackenzie Hughes) finally gets her ‘Guy' notorious crap game manager Nathan Detroit (Dylan Stroppa) after years of negotiation, even by telling her own mother they had several children together and were already married.
Evangelist Sergeant Sarah Brown (Alessandra Hurd), head of Broadway's Save-a-Soul Mission, confuses high rolling gambler Sky Masterson (Daniel Carroll) after they end up in Havana on a bet that Sky can't take the ‘Dame' of his choice there. The mostly reserved Sarah had a little too much liquor infused cake and became tipsy, making Sky uncomfortable and ready to head back to New York. A love match eventually ensues between the unlikely pairing.
The gamblers of “Guys & Dolls” can't find a place to shoot craps so they head to the underground New York City sewer system to avoid detection by police. Benny Southstreet (Keegan Ramsay) leads the games with a throw. The production was held in the new auditorium addition at Notre Dame in Bethlehem Township.
During the Notre Dame production of “Guys & Dolls,” cast members listen and sing back up. With the ensemble song, “Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat,” Nicely Nicely Johnson (Nathaniel Urquiza) explains a dream at Save-A-Soul Mission where the gamblers and evangelists come together for a meeting.
