Photo Flash: Opening Night of Godspeed's GUYS & DOLLS!

Goodspeed Musicals kicks off its 2015 season at theGoodspeed Opera House with the Broadway classic Guys and Dolls. Roll the dice on this winning musical comedy running April 10 - June 20 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Check out a first look at the opening night below!

They have just announced the cast: Sky Masterson will be played by Anthony Roach who Connecticut audiences may recognize from Darko Tresnjak's critically acclaimed production of Hamlet at Hartford Stage this past fall. Nancy Anderson from Goodspeed's By Jeeves, Fanny Hill, Dorian, and most recently City of Angels will play Miss Adelaide. Ms. Anderson's Broadway credits include A Class Act and Wonderful Town. Sarah Brown will be played by Manna Nichols whose credits include the National Tour of Miss Saigon. Nathan Detroit will be played by Mark Price who returns to Goodspeed where he previously played Dennis in All Shook Up. Mr. Price's Broadway Credits include Chicago; You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown; Mamma Mia!; Wonderful Town; All Shook Up; and Mary Poppins. Nicely-Nicely Johnson will be played by Scott Cote.

Jerry Gallagher will play Big Jule. Mr. Gallagher was last seen at the Goodspeed Opera House as Big Six in City of Angels. Jerry has performed in the National and European tours of Guys and Dolls. Lt. Brannigan will be played byDavid Sitler who performed in the Broadway production of An Inspector Calls. Arvide Abernathy will be played by John Jellison whose Broadway credits include Sunday in the Park with George, The Wind and the Willows, Me And My Girl, Phantom of the Opera, Crazy For You, Titanic, Oklahoma, Memphis, Motown the Musical and many more. At Goodspeed he performed in All Shook Up then reprised his role as Sheriff East in the Broadway production. Benny Southstreet will be played by Noah Plomgren who performed in last season's The Circus in Winter at Goodspeed'sNorma Terris Theatre. Karen Murphy who played Parthy in Goodspeed's critically acclaimed production of Show Boat, will play General Matilda Cartwright. At Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre she performed in the premiere of Annie 2. Ms. Murphy's Broadway credits include Titanic, 42nd Street, All Shook Up, 9 to 5, and A Little Night Music.

The ensemble includes Paul Aguirre (Goodspeed's Li'l Abner, Singin' in the Rain,), Michael Biren (Goodspeed's A Funny Thing...Forum), Michael Callahan (Broadway's Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella), Jordan Grubb, Carlos Lopez (Broadway's A Chorus Line, Grand Hotel, Guys and Dolls, Grease, Annie Get Your Gun, Man of LaMancha and more), Kate Marilley (Goodspeed's Li'lAbner, Half a Sixpence, Amazing Grace, Good News!), Katya Preiser, Rod Roberts (Broadway's Beauty and the Beast and Goodspeed's Half a Sixpence), Kim Sava (Goodspeed's Mame), Ian Saunders, and Christine Cornish Smith. The swings will be Michael Bullard and Jayme Wappel.

Guys and Dolls will be directed by Don Stephenson. Mr. Stephenson has directed numerous productions regionally including Lend Me a Tenor and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Paper Mill Playhouse, and productions of Titanic at Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Hall, MUNY Opera, Hangar Theatre and Westchester Broadway Theatre. As a performer he played Peter McCourt in Goodspeed's Silver Dollar and appeared on Broadway in Titanic, Parade, The Producers, By Jeeves, Rock of Ages and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. His upcoming project will be directing the award-winning Buyer and Cellar at Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

Choreography will be by Alex Sanchez. Mr. Sanchez served as Choreographer for the Off-Broadway productions of Far From Heaven, Fiorello, Giant, Where's Charley? and more. As a performer his Broadway credits include Can Can, Follies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Once Upon a Mattress, Wonderful Town, Big, and Fosse.

Scenic Design will be by Paul Tate dePoo lII who most recently served as Associate Designer for Broadway's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. Costumes will be designed by Tracy Christensen whose Broadway credits include Associate Designer for Wonderful Town, Fiddler on the Roof, The Constant Wife, The Little Mermaid, Shrek and A Little Night Music as well as Assistant Designer for Bells Are Ringing, Beauty and the Beast and Damn Yankees. Ms. Christensen has been Costume Designer for many Goodspeed favorites including Red Hot and Blue, City of Angels, Something's Afoot and Good News!. Lighting Design will be by Stephen Terry who served as Associate Designer for the Broadway productions of Sixteen Wounded, The People in the Picture and Glengarry Glen Ross. Sound Design will be by Jay Hilton, who is in his 30th season at Goodspeed.

The Music Director for Guys and Dolls will be Michael O'Flaherty who is in his 24thseason as Goodspeed's ResidentMusic Director. William J. Thomas will be assistant music director. Orchestrations will be provided by Dan DeLangewho has created the orchestrations for numerous Goodspeed productions.

Guys and Dolls features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, and is based on the story and characters of Damon Runyon. This classic American musical that really swings will be sponsored by Liberty Bank, The Shops at Mohegan Sun, and Essex Meadows.

Tickets are available through the Box Office (860.873.8668), open seven days a week, or on-line at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us onFacebook,Twitter @goodspeedmusicl, Instagram and YouTube.

Photo Credit: Diane Sobolewski

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