WIS Production Isn't Your Grandparents' Guys & Dolls, It's Better!

BRANFORD, CT — Prepare to be transported to the New York City of the 1950s, authentic with practiced New Yawk accents, with intermediate school-age kids in a full-scale production of the classic musical 'Guys and Dolls' at Walsh later this month.

A Patch reporter (native New Yorker born in the 1950s) sat in on a recent rehearsal run-though of the production at the intermediate school on Damascus Road.

Set in Damon Runyon’s New York City, 'Guys and Dolls' follows gambler Nathan Detroit as he tries to find the cash to set up the biggest crap game in town as authorities are breathing down his neck. Meanwhile, his girlfriend and off-off-off Broadway performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years without ever getting married. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson to fund the game as Sky is chasing a straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown.

From the 1950s Times Square to Havana, Cuba cafés, "everyone eventually ends up right where they belong."

The play is directed by Chris Lemieux with musical director Gavin Hartney.

Given the musical is set in the 1950s, the show, not unlike many films, books, plays and the like from a bygone era, some themes, including in this case sexism and stereotyping, cannot be avoided. When asked how Lemieux handled that, he said they adapted.

"'Guys and Dolls' was written in a very different time period in American history. But the writers of the musical describe it as a fable, a fantastical story set in a fictional version of New York and that is the concept that Gavin and I wanted to latch onto," Lemieux said. "In order to combat some outdated notions of the 1950s, casting was a big help."

Auditions were held last November, with a first rehearsal last December. And once classes resumed in January, rehearsals began in earnest.

"Many of the lead roles in this show are typically played by men, but not in our production. Roles such Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Big Jule, Lieutenant Brannigan, and countless others are played by girls in our show," he said. "While this isn't the only thing we have altered in the production, it is the biggest aspect."

Lemieux said the WIS production of 'Guys and Dolls' is "incredibly light-hearted."

"It also helps that we are performing a version written for family-friendly audiences," he noted.

And, the cast and crew consists of kids who range in age from 10 to 14. A 10-year-old kid and a 14-year-old kid are likely very different. How is it working with students, five days a week, on this production?

"We pride ourselves in the WIS Performing Arts with the various degrees of experience each member of the cast and crew brings to the table. Many of our older cast and crew members have risen to the occasion of taking younger cast and crew members under their wing," Lemieux said.

"While this is a production, it is also a learning experience, and we are trying to teach all involved what it takes to come together to put on something great. The cast has been energetic and absolutely fearless in the choices that they have been making onstage," he said.

"It's also worth noting that many of the students in our production crew are younger, 5th and 6th graders, but that does not make them any less mighty," the director said. "Under the leadership of stage manager Becca Law, the production crew has been working very hard to make this show look absolutely stunning, moving some very big set pieces with what seems to be no effort at all. Everything these students are doing is incredibly impressive and takes a lot of courage, stamina, and care. Regardless of their age, all of these students have come together as one to present a really entertaining production."

Lemieux said that given most of the set is on one New York City block, the set designers, Mike Martone Jr. and Jim D'Addio "have gone above and beyond in getting a fantastic team of parent volunteers to aid in building and creating the pieces needed to pull something like this off."

"When the curtain opens, the hope is that audiences are transported to this block of a fictional version of New York City," Lemieux said. "Mike, Jim, and countless volunteers have been working since January to make this vision a reality."

Speaking of parent volunteers, Lemieux noted that an "incredible number of absolutely amazing parent volunteers run many aspects of the production," Those include publicity, providing cast lunches and dinners, costuming, make-up and hair, and more.

"Without the remarkable support of these parents, guardians, friends, and families, this process would be nowhere near as smooth as it has been," he said.

What to know if you go (you should!)

Located at Walsh Intermediate School in the WIS Auditorium, the production of Guys And Dolls are Friday, March 31 at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, April 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Click here to purchase advance tickets.

Who's who?

Student Cast:

Nathan Detroit: Jacob Shumway
Adelaide: Halle Peterson
Sky Masterson: Nathan Frohlich
Sarah Brown: Lily Coppola
Nicely-Nicely Johnson: Nadya Jones
Benny Southstreet: Matthew Lenox
Harry the Horse: Louis Manzo
Big Jule: Doriana Figueroa
Lieutenant Brannigan: Vesa Bejleri
Arvide Abernathy: Tessa Vallen
General Cartwright/Waiter: Penelope Benson
Angie the Ox: John Baklik
Joey Biltmore: Joseph Schettino
Mimi: Tessa van den Pol

Student Ensemble:

Abby Brown
Leo Brown
Ella Durand
Catalina Giannotti
Evelyn Huggler,
Peyton McKenna
Charlotte Kenney
Paityn Nelson
Hanna Nerone
Meredith Paine
Sloane St. Pierre
Shelby Tarry
Paola Villanueva
Viggo Vulinovic
Atorah Walker

Student Production Crew:

Stage Manager - Becca Law

Assistant Stage Manager - Kenzie Medina

Student Crew:

Helen Abbot
Jayden Bonilla
Angelina Brown
Celia Burke
Tyler Campanelli
Isabella Cooper
Zachary Cudgma
James D’Addio
Keegan Dingus
Ryan Keeney
Lucy Mitchell
Liam Murphy
Julia Nerone
Samanta Rey
Landon Watkins

Guys & Dolls WIS production team bios

Chris Lemieux, Director

The production is Lemieux's first as the director of the Walsh Intermediate School spring musical. Some of his first musical experiences as a performer were at WIS. A 2009 Branford High School graduate, he earned his BFA in Acting at Pace University. He still performs professionally and is a Actor's Equity Association member. Since returning to Connecticut, he's performed at the Legacy Theatre, appearing in "Christmas Carol" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." And is set to be in "A Play That Goes Wrong" at Legacy in the fall. His directing credits include productions with Shoreline Theatre Company, through Branford Parks and Recreation. Some of his past favorite productions have been Wizard of Oz, Puffs!, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Alice and Wonderland Jr.

Gavin Hartney, Musical Director:

Gavin has been music directing the WIS musical for the past five years. She teaches Band and Chorus at WIS and previously taught at Mary T. Murphy Elementary School and Clintonville Elementary School in North Haven. She holds a Master's of Music and Music Education from Columbia University and received her Bachelor's of Music and Bachelor's of Education from McGill University in Montreal. Some of her past WIS music directing credits include: "Seussical," "Into the Woods," and "Honk!"

Alex Hernandez, Producer:

She is an alum of Branford Public Schools and the performing arts and works as a paraprofessional at Branford High School. This year also marks Alex's first year as producer, and she has been doing an absolutely phenomenal job spearheading the hardworking volunteer committees of the musical.

Cathyann Roding, Rehearsal Accompanist:

Lemieux said, "Having her working on this production is like a full circle moment." Cathyann Roding had a fantastic career at Branford High School before retiring as their choral director and musical director/choreographer of the spring musical. "For me specifically, Cathyann was one of my mentors and first directors as a performer. I was a student in her time as a teacher and to be able to work with her in this capacity is very special," he said.

Chelsea Dacey Choreographer:

She served as the choreographer for the Legacy Theatre's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and as a performer she is set to appear in Legacy's production of "The Tales of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh."