Posted by 66
on 8/23/2009, 12:03 pm
“GUYS AND DOLLS – IN CONCERT” TO BE PERFORMED AT HOOGLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Hoogland Center for the Arts is pleased to announce its 2009 Gala Fundraiser will be a spectacular concert version of GUYS AND DOLLS, one of the greatest American musical comedies of all time. The concert will feature a lush on-stage orchestra, a cast of 60, and Eddie Mekka from the classic ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley starring as Nathan Detroit. GUYS AND DOLLS – IN CONCERT will be presented in the LRS Theatre at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on August 28-30.
All the hot gamblers are in town, and they're all depending on Nathan Detroit to set up this week's incarnation of "The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York.” The problem is that Nathan needs $1,000 to find a place for the game. Throw in Sarah Brown, who's short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, who accepts Nathan's $1,000 bet that he can't get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana; Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; and the music/lyrics of Frank Loesser, and you've got a great musical!
The Gala Event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 28th with a glamorous "Havana Nights" fundraiser. The evening will feature a lavish hors d’oeuvres reception, silent auction, cash bar, the show, and a post-performance dessert reception with cast and Eddie Mekka, who will sing some songs from his nightclub act. The post-show reception will also feature the music of the Jane Hartman trio and a rumba lesson from Grace Nanavati and Gary Shull. Regular performances of GUYS AND DOLLS – IN CONCERT will be presented at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 29 and 2 p.m. on August 30.
Eddie Mekka is best known to television audiences for his role as Carmine Ragusa, “the Big Ragoo,” on the hit ABC-TV sitcom Laverne & Shirley. Mr. Mekka has guest starred on The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Moonlighting, Family Matters, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, 24, The Jamie Fox Show and many more. He has appeared in such films as Beaches, A League of their Own (as Madonna’s boyfriend), Taking the Heat, Dear God and Dreamgirls.
In 1974, Eddie got his big break on Broadway in the Vietnam War-themed rock opera The Lieutenant, a performance that earned him a Best Actor nomination by both the Tony and Drama Desk committees. Eddie also appeared in such shows as Jumpers, The Magic Show with Doug Henning and Damn Yankees with Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston.
Eddie has starred in the first National tour of The Goodbye Girl, the national tour of Grease (starring opposite Cindy Williams) and productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Chess, Jake's Women, Little Shop of Horrors, They're Playing Our Song and the recent Off-Broadway comedy My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy.
As an added bonus, the Hoogland Center for the Arts has been granted permission by the Frank Loesser estate to perform the song “Adelaide” in our production. This song was written by Loesser for Frank Sinatra to sing in the movie version of Guys and Dolls, and is only occasionally performed in select productions of the show.
The cast also includes Mary Jo Curry as Miss Adelaide, Matthew Vala as Sky Masterson, Brittney McLaughlin as Sarah Brown, Grant Estes as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Brett Rutherford as Benny Southstreet, Joshua Ratz as Rusty Charlie, Steve Sykes as Arvide Abernathy, Pat Foster as Harry the Horse, Flynn Hanners as Big Jule, Johnny Molson (of ALICE 97.7) as Lt. Brannigan and Jennifer Jones as General Cartwright. The show also features 50 of the best singers and dancers in town in the ensemble and chorus and a 20-piece orchestra.
Gus Gordon will direct the production, with musical direction by Karen Ferguson and Doug Hahn. The staff also includes Cheryl Sakris (costumes), Don Russell (set), Kevin Zepp (lights), Melody Sheehan (props) and Diane Hoots (makeup).
GUYS AND DOLLS – IN CONCERT is part of the non-profit Hoogland Center for the Arts 2009 Performance Series. Ticket sale proceeds from this fundraising effort will help pay expenses for the 80,000 square foot community arts center, which is enjoyed by more than 10,000 people each month.
The Gala event on Friday, August 28th includes a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for opening night are $75 per ticket for the pre-show cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres, the show and the post-show dessert reception. $50 tickets are also available for just the show and post-show activities.
Regular performances of GUYS AND DOLLS – IN CONCERT will be presented at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 29 and 2 p.m. on August 30. Tickets for the regular performances are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and children. All tickets are available by phone (523-2787) and online at www.scfta.org. Performances will be in the LRS Theatre at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth Street, Springfield. Free parking is available in the adjacent ramp.
The show is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, the State Journal-Register and Arena Food Service, Inc.
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