GUYS & DOLLS JR. Opens this Weekend at Columbia Children's Theatre

Often called the "greatest American musical," Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows' Guys and Dolls is undoubtedly a classic. Columbia Children's Theatre will present this YouTheatre production Nov. 14-16 with shows Friday at 7:00 pm, Saturday at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. General admission tickets are $10 regular admission and $8 for active military and seniors with proper ID. Advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended, and may be purchased securely on-line at columbiachildrenstheatre.com. All shows take place at Columbia Children's Theatre on the second floor of Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive in Forest Acres. CCT's 2014 YouTheatre season is sponsored by Staymobile.

Performed by CCT's YouTheare Company reaturing student actors in grades 6-12, this rollicking, heart-warming musical will have you singing along to favorites such as "Luck Be a Lady Tonight," "Sue Me," and "A Bushel and a Peck." The production is directed by veteran CCT actor Paul Lindley and marks his directorial debut. Crystal Aldamuy choreographs, and the show features over 30 young Midlands' area peformers including Jessica Bradley, Zarina Cameron, Dominick Campbell, Micayla Claibourn, Joshua Diveley, Noah Diveley, Taylor Diveley, Ella DuBard, Miriam Fischer, Isabella Fleischer, Kaitlyn Fuller, Tanner Green, Georgie Harringon, Anthony Harvey, Sophie Jackson, Sarah Krawczyk, Isabel Lessley, Laurel MacCallum, Jaida Mack, Cole McFaden, Ally Montgomery, Lily Montoya, Elizabeth Morris, Baker Morrison, Raleigh Norris, Joshua Quay, Nathaniel Riley, Imani Ross-Jackson, Grace Smith, Mary Smith, Olivia Smith, Riley Smith, and Corin Wiggins.

Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend, nightclub performer Adelaide, laments that they've been engaged for 14 years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown. Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950. It received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics and won a bevy of awards, including TONY Awards, Drama Desks, and Oliviers. Frequently revived, the show has been done with numerous all-star casts including productions/concerts featuring Ewan McGregor, Jane Krakowski, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Jessica Biel.