As the new West Coast correspondent for BroadwayWorld.com, it was a thrill to be invited to the final dress rehearsal of Guys and Dolls in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, and to be allowed to film footage.
The production played 3 nights - July 31, August 1 and August 2 to cheering crowds, but the crazy part is - the final dress is done at 10am, in broad daylight and is open to the public, as the venue is a county-owned facility. People showed up in droves, for the run-through and cheered on the actors, the Hollywood Bowl orchestra and conductor Kevin Stites, who you will see is wearing a black, casual shirt for the rehearsal. The show's director, Richard Jay-Alexander, made a brief speech before the run, welcoming everybody, and in this exclusive footage, I was also able to catch him, in his dressing room, before the Opening Night performance.
Guys and Dolls in Concert at The Hollywood Bowl was a one-of-a-kind production by the same creative team behind last summer's Les Misérables in Concert, led by director Richard Jay-Alexander and with musical direction by Kevin Stites, conducting the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Joining the team this year, as choreographer, was Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie.
Stars and notables spotted in the audience over the three days included: Justin Timberlake (at every performance to support his girlfriend, Jessica Biel), Marilu Henner, Jimmy Smits, Marc Cherry, creator of Desperate Housewives, Kristin Chenoweth, Jonathan L. Burrows (Abe Burrows' nephew), Kim Fields and her Mom Chip Fields, Scott Mauro, Bryan Fuller (creator of Pushing Daisies), Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks (producers of Milk and American Beauty), Jason Gould, Emmy nominated Conductor/Arranger William Ross, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, Michael Kerker (ASCAP), Jo Loesser, Actors' Fund Executive Director Joe Benincasa, Legendary Actor Hugh O'Brian (who played Sky Masterson in a touring production and revival of Guys & Dolls), Jessica Alba, Marty Erlichman, Jay Landers, Suzanne de Passe, Frank Oz, Freddie Gershon of MTI, producers Steve Linder and Brian Grohl, Jenna Green, Eden Espinosa and many more.
Casting directors Majorie Simkin and Michael Donovan were also there nightly, as well as the winners of the Guys & Dolls package from BC/EFA - Lisa Montalbano, Helene Kaplan Barbara Pilnick and Tom & Janice Scheifler - with Frank Conway as their guide. It should also be noted that the Hollywood Bowl orchestra's contractor is Brian Miller, who is married to Carol Burnett.
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessica Biel, Scott Bakula, Ellen Greene, and Beau Bridges starred in Guys and Dolls in concert at the Hollywood Bowl. The cast also included Ken Page (Nicely-Nicely), Ruth Williamson (Gen. Mathilde Cartwright), Herschel Sparber (Big Jule), Jason Graae (Benny Southstreet), Bill Lewis (Harry the Horse), Danny Stiles (Rusty Charlie), Amir Talai (Angie the Ox/Joey Biltmore), Jody Ashworth (Lt. Brannigan), Cindy Benson (Agatha) and Grace Wall (Martha). The Hot Box Girls will be Sandahl Bergman, Chelsea Field, Jane Lanier, Valarie Pettiford, Tracy Powell, and Kathryn Wright.
