Photo Flash: First Look at GUYS & DOLLS at Mesa Encore Theatre

Mesa Encore Theatre presents Guys and Dolls, a musical fable of Broadway, now through November 18th, at the Mesa Arts Center. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, Guys and Dolls is rich with classic tunes such as “Fugue for Tinhorns,” “Take Back Your Mink,” “I’ve Never Been In Love Before” and “Luck Be a Lady,” and is considered one of the greatest musicals in American Musical Theater.

Based on short stories by famed writer Damon Runyon, Guys and Dolls is a singing and dancing extravaganza that spans the gritty streets of 1950s New York City to the nightclubs and casinos of decadent Havana.

Runyon was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era—humorous tales of gamblers, hustlers, actors and gangsters. His stories were in a distinctive vernacular style: a mixture of formal speech and colorful slang, almost always in present tense and always devoid of contractions.

This production features Jared West as Sky Masterson, Elizabeth Nitge as Sarah Brown. Marisa Peck as Miss Adelaide and Glenn Parker as Nathan Detroit. Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Tim Shafer and Joe Navan play Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie, respectively.

Rounding out the cast is Wayne Peck (Arvide), Carrie Canty (General Cartwright), Marc Openchowski (Lt. Brannigan), Matthew La Blanc (Big Jule), Ryan Seckman (Angie the Ox) and Anthony Chavez (Harry the Horse). The Hot Box Girls are Katie Bandy, Shannon Ryan, Allie Goldstone, Mckenna Raquel Seckman, Ariana M. Lucius, Kate E. Cook, Tania Wiseman and Kate Ponsiek. Completing the Guys and Dolls ensemble are Nick Nobs, Chris Rodriguez, Cody Duke, Edgar Torrens, Marc Rodriguez, Aaron Ford, Matthew Coates, Charles Blessing, Kamy Renee Johnson, Andrea Head, Lisa Yantis, Emilie Doering, Cathie Jones, Kelly Fulcher, Kiley Bishop, Jessilina Nhieu, BriAnna Lee, Chantel Haughton, Dominique Haughton and Camryn Haughton.

Directed and choreographed by Kyle C. Greene (MET’s Hairspray and The Music Man), with musical direction by Jared West, Guys and Dolls will be performed at the Mesa Arts Center Thu Nov 15 @ 7:30 PM, Fri Nov 16 @ 7:30 PM, Sat Nov 17 @ 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM, Sun Nov 18 @ 2:30 PM. Pam Pershing produces.

Tickets are available online HERE or by calling (480) 644-6500. Advance Tickets: Adults-$27; Students/Seniors/Teachers $24; Group discounts for 10+. Tickets day of show: Adults-$29; Student/Seniors/Teachers $26.

For more information on Guys and Dolls, visit www.MesaEncoreTheatre.com.

Glenn Parker as Nathan Detroit with Nathaniel Tennenbaum as Nicely Nicely, Tim Shafer as Benny Southstreet and crapshooters in The Oldest Established. Photo by StepOnMe Photography.