Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced today that Craig Bierko (Tony Award nominee for The Music Man; Scary Movie 4) will star as "Sky Masterson" and Kate Jennings Grant (Proof) will also star as "Sarah Brown" in the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS. They join previously announced stars Oliver Platt as "Nathan Detroit" and Lauren Graham appear as "Miss Adelaide". Directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys) and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys), GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is set for March 1, 2009.
Packed with such classic hits as "Fugue for Tinhorns," "A Bushel and a Peck," "Adelaide's Lament," "I'll Know," "Guys and Dolls," "More I Cannot Wish You," "Luck Be A Lady," and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," GUYS AND DOLLS features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure," two short stories by Damon Runyon, it also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably "Pick the Winner".
The musical comedy was first produced on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre, opening on November 24, 1950. It was directed by George S. Kaufman and starred Robert Alda, Sam Levene, Isabel Bigley and Vivian Blaine. The musical enjoyed an initial run of 1,201 performances, winning five 1951 Tony Awards including Best Musical.
Craig Bierko returns to the Broadway stage after his critically acclaimed role in Thou Shalt Not and his Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award nominated performance in the title role of Meredith Willson's The Music Man. He also performed in Daniel Goldfarb's hit off Broadway play Modern Orthodox. A beloved actor known for both his dramatic and comedic talent, Bierko recently launched a web series "Bathing with Bierko," in which he serves as star and producer. The first episode features Bierko interviewing John Malkovich while giving him a sponge bath and has been viewed well over 100,000 times. This past year Bierko starred in the Farrelly Brother's Fox series "Unhitched," alongside Rashida Jones. He was also featured in FX's "Nip/Tuck," as well as "Boston Legal". His other notable film & TV credits include Cinderella Man, Scary Movie 4, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Larry David's Sour Grapes, The 13th Floor, Bill, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Suburbans, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, "Ally McBeal", "Mad About You" and "Sex and the City". 
