Verona Actress sings and dances up a storm in Guys and Dolls at Westminster Arts Center

Being less than 25 miles from New York City means that Verona has some pretty talented residents that call the town home. Laura Fortgang is one of them. This businesswoman, wife and mother, is also a talented singer, and actress. Her latest role, keeps her close to home, performing in 4th Wall Theatre's production of the classic Broadway musical Guys and Dolls in Concert, at the Westminster Arts Center at Bloomfield College.

Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy. The story concerns Gambler, Nathan Detroit, as he 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. Frank Loesser's brassy, immortal crowd pleaser will get a fresh look in 4th Wall's "Off The Wall Series" concert version.

Fortgang plays the nightclub performer, and long-suffering girlfriend, Adelaide. The show has personal meaning for her, as it is her mother’s favorite movie musical, and Fortgang has dreamed of playing Adelaide since her home town high school, in New Providence, NJ, produced the show when she was in the eighth grade. “I’ve never had a chance to do this show, and now, I’m doing it!

Fortgang believes that while Guys and Dolls is an older, classic musical, the show still holds up. She explains it this way, “Yes, we are glad women have evolved, and the story concerns gamblers, but the book is funny, and at its heart, it’s still a charming and hopeful story about love.”

Guys and Dolls has an strong Broadway pedigree, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser (Where's Charley?, The Most Happy Fella, and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying; and book by writers, Jo Swerling (The Pride of the Yankees, It's a Wonderful Life) and Abe Burrows (Can Can, Cactus Flower, Silk Stockings). The show first premiered on Broadway in 1950, and has enjoyed several successful revivals over the years.

Fortgang is excited for audiences to see the show. “The experience has been great fun. Our director, Kate Swan, is a pro, and the entire cast is very talented and impressive. There are some seriously amazing voices in this group.” She continues “In addition to the voices, I think audiences will be amazed by the movement and choreography—so much more than I’ve ever seen in a concert production.”

Fortgang is joined by Michael Barthel, Allison Macri, Bob Russell, Jarad Benn, Peter Downing, Rich Maloy, Tom Schopper, Warren Carr, Sharon DeRosa Smolen, Danny Egan, Beatriz Esteban-Messina, Samantha Ferrara, Jodi Maloy, Laurice Grae-Hauck, James Lopez, Patrick McLaughlin and Mark Saylor.

Guys and Dolls in Concert is directed by Kate Swan, music directed by Markus Grae-Hauck and has a 3 night limited run of September 30 and October 1 at 8:00 pm, and October 2 at 3:00 pm at the Westminster Arts Center in Bloomfield, NJ. More information, is available at www.4thwalltheatre.org. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or reserved at 973-996-8484.