If you're on the Internet today, it's all abuzz with last night's debut of what appears to be a dazzling production of Guys & Dolls in Concert at the legendary Hollywood Bowl. Weekend attendees will list like a "who's who" of Hollywood and theatre folk. Lots of stars and celebrities have already attended, as well as industry insiders. Abe Burrows' daughter, Laurie Burrows Grad, with her husband Peter, visited rehearsals and Jo Loesser will be attending as well - with MTI head honcho Freddie Gershon.
BroadwayWorld.com was there to witness the instant standing ovation and will be posting video performance footage as well as exclusive interviews, but in the meantime, we're happy to bring you some of the earliest images of last night's premiere dazzler of this unique staging by
Richard Jay-Alexander, with choreography by
Donna McKechnie in the world famous venue.
Guys and Dolls in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl is 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, is Tony award-winner Donna McKechnie.
One of the musicals that defined the Golden Era of Broadway, Guys and Dolls, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, made its Broadway premiere in 1950, ran for 1,200 performances, and won 15 Tony awards, including Best Musical. The show brought "Runyonland," the world of author Damon Runyon, to life - and did for those characters what Spamalot does for Monty Python or Hairspray does for the world of John Waters. The Frank Loesser score includes some of the most popular songs of the era including "I'll Know," "A Bushel and Peck," "If I Were A Bell," "Guys and Dolls," and "Luck Be a Lady."
This original, fully-staged production especially adapted for the Hollywood Bowl stage, is 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, is Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie.
The cast also includes 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.
Tickets ($28 - $116) are on sale now at HollywoodBowl.com, at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office (Tuesday-Saturday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.), or by calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850.2050 for further details or group sales. For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.
Photo Credit: Craig T. Mathew/ Mathew Imaging.
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