Clare Foster, Jamie Parker and More to Star in GUYS AND DOLLS at Chichester, Aug 11-Sept 21

Guys and Dolls - a joyous and vibrant celebration of Prohibition-era New York - marks a series of firsts when it bursts onto the Festival Theatre stage at Chichester this summer, running 11 August - 21 September 2014.

Not only will it be the first time that Guys and Dolls has been staged at Chichester during its 52-year history, it will be the first musical to open in the Festival Theatre following its £22 million redevelopment. The musical also marks debuts at Chichester for director Gordon Greenberg and choreographer Carlos Acosta.

This hugely popular and multi award-winning production first premiered on Broadway in 1950, capturing the optimism and energy of post-World War Two America. The musical was based on the colourful stories by Damon Runyon, an American journalist and author celebrated for his vivid fictional depictions of the gamblers, hustlers and actors of New York.

The music and lyrics are by Frank Loesser, whose credits include How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and the song Baby, It's Cold Outside.

The book is by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Burrows' credits include How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Swerling's credits include the seminal film It's A Wonderful Life.

Clare Foster plays Sarah Brown. Her previous Chichester credits include The Master and Margarita and Out of This World. Other credits include West End productions of Merrily We Roll Along, Crazy for You and Avenue Q.

Jamie Parker plays Sky Masterson. His Chichester credits include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (also West End). Other credits include Proof (Menier Chocolate Factory), Henry V, Henry IV Part I and Henry IV Part 2 (all for Shakespeare's Globe), and The History Boys (National Theatre, Broadway and Australia and Hong Kong).

Peter Polycarpou plays Nathan Detroit. His Chichester credits include The Pajama Game, Sweeney Todd and Love Story, all of which transferred to the West End. Other credits include West End productions of LES MISERABLES, Miss Saigon and The Secret Garden, Oklahoma! for the National Theatre, and the popular BBC sitcom, Birds of a Feather.

Sophie Thompson plays Miss Adelaide. Theatre credits include Clybourne Park (Royal Court), Into the Woods (Donmar Warehouse) for which she received an Olivier Award and Company (Donmar Warehouse and West End). She is well known to TV viewers for her role as Stella Crawford in EastEnders.

The Guys and Dolls cast also includes Karen Aspinall, Lucy Banfield, Miles Barrow, John Brannoch, Stephanie Bron, Nic Greenshields, Mark Heenehan, Ian Hughes, Daniel Ioannou, Melissa James, Anabel Kutay, Melanie La Barrie, Lucinda Lawrence, Adam Margilewski, Neil McCaul, Harry Morrison, Michael Peters, Carl Sanderson, Matthew Whennell-Clark and Nick Wilton.

American director Gordon Greenberg makes his Chichester debut with this quintessential American production. Current projects include the stage adaptation of Tangled for Disney, and a new musical project with multi award-winning composer and lyricist Jerry Herman. Credits include critically acclaimed productions of Stud Terkel's Working, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well..., Pirates! Or Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd (created with Nell Benjamin) and Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn for Universal Stage Productions.

Design is by Peter McKintosh whose Chichester credits include Festival 2012's Uncle Vanya and Love Story (which later transferred to the West End). Other credits include The 39 Steps (West End and Broadway) and Hello, Dolly! (Open Air Theatre Regent's Park).

Choreography is by Carlos Acosta, also making his Chichester debut. Credits include Romeo & Juliet (Queensland Ballet) and Cubania (Royal Opera House), both being performed during July 2014. Other credits include numerous performances with The Royal Ballet and as an international guest artist with companies throughout the world.

Co-choreographer is Andrew Wright whose Chichester credits include Barnum, Singin' in the Rain (West End and UK tour) and 42nd Street. Other credits include Once Upon A Time In The Adelphi.

Gareth Valentine is the Musical Supervisor and Musical Director, and is also responsible for the Dance Arrangements. Chichester credits include The Pajama Game and Kiss Me, Kate (which both transferred to the West End). Other credits include Olivier Award-winning productions of Crazy for You (Open Air Theatre Regent's Park and West End), Company (Donmar Warehouse) and Anything Goes (National Theatre and West End).

Orchestration is by Larry Blank whose credits include Chichester's Singin' in the Rain (West End), US productions of La Cage Aux Folles, A Little Night Music, The Drowsy Chaperone, the stage and film productions of The Producers and the South Park TV series.

Lighting Design is by Tim Mitchell, Chichester's Associate Lighting Designer. Chichester credits include The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (also West End), Kiss Me, Kate (also West End), Singin' in the Rain (also West End and UK tour), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (also West End) Bingo (also Young Vic) and Yes, Prime Minister (also West End and UK tour).

Sound Design is by Paul Groothuis, Chichester's Associate Sound Designer. Chichester credits include The Pajama Game (also West End), Kiss Me, Kate, Sweeney Todd and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, all of which transferred to the West End. Other credits include His Dark Materials, Edmond, Henry V and A Streetcar Named Desire (all for the National Theatre).

Events:

Director Gordon Greenberg will be in conversation with author and broadcaster Kate Mosse on Thursday 14 August at 5.45pm. Tickets free, but advance booking is essential.

Singing or dancing workshops inspired by Guys and Dolls take place on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August. Tickets £100, including a top price ticket for the Saturday matinee performance.

16 - 25s LIVE NIGHT! Tour the set, visit backstage and meet the company with this 'bolt-on' Tickets: Free for 16 - 25 year old £8.50 ticket holders. Thursday 11 September, 6.25pm. Booking essential.

There will also be the chance to meet some of the Guys and Dolls company at a post-show discussion on Tuesday 16 September.

Guys and Dolls will be at the Festival Theatre, Chichester from 11 August - 21 September. Evenings 7.30pm (except for the Press Night, Thursday 21 August, 7.00pm), matinees 2.30pm. Tickets: Previews/Press Night from £10. All other performances from £15. To book, go to cft.org.uk or contact the Box Office on 01243 781312. Special Prices for 16 - 25s. An allocation of tickets for 16 - 25 year olds priced at just £8.50 for all performances of Guys and Dolls will be on sale from Monday 14 July. These may be booked on 01243 781312, online at cft.org.uk/850 or in person.

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