'Guys & Dolls' to open Putnam Playhouse season Thursday

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

A 14-year engagement comes to a crossroads for Nathan Detroit (played by Scott Armitage) and Miss Adelaide (Ashlee Anne Vitz) in a scene from the Putnam County Playhouse production of "Guys & Dolls." The musical opens Thursday at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre with additional shows Friday ands Saturday and June 11-14. (Photo by ERIC BERNSEE)

The 53rd season of Putnam County Playhouse will open with a production of the Tony Award-winning musical "Guys & Dolls."

The musical will be presented Thursday through Saturday, June 5-7 and again June 11-14.

The Playhouse box office is open 5-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Reservations can be made by calling 653-5880 during those hours.

All performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the musical are $10.

The musical is sponsored by First National Bank.

Director-choreographer is Jack Randall Earles with Sandi Rossok serving as assistant director and Alison Howard as production stage manager. Vocal direction is by Geoff Price, while pit conductor-pianist is Marilyn Burdsall.

The musical's lyrics and music were written by Frank Loesser. The book is by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, based on the writings of Damon Runyon. "Guys & Dolls" won five Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 1951. The 1992 revival went on to win four Tonys.

The lead roles of Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown are being played by real-life married couple Dustin and Sarah Bond. Their comic counterparts, Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide, are played by Scott Armitage and Ashlee Ann Vitz.

Other roles are taken by Jim Poor (Arvide Abernathy), Eleanor Howard (General Matilda B. Cartwright), David Roberts (Nicely Nicely Johnson), Chris Wurster (Rusty Charlie) and Craig Armitage (Benny Southstreet). Craig is playing the part that his father Scott played in the last PCPH production of "Guys & Dolls" in 1995.

The cast also includes Elijah Brattain, Clarence Long, Dylan Bodnarick, TJ Tincher and Jacob Peterman. The distaff side is represented by Annie Weltz, Elise Merrell, Michaela Semak, Jerica Bean and Hannah Brattain. Brattain is playing roles that her mother, Kim, played in the 1995 production.

Bryan Schroeder is technical director and lighting designer. Set design and special painting is by Linda Gjesvold.

Other musicians joining Burdsall in the pit are Michael McClaine, percussion; Drew Brattain, bass; and Marcia Boswell, reeds.

Stage crew for the production are Sydney Cassida and Alex Asbell. Brenda McClaine will run the sound/light board.