There was dancing in the Lobby!

_{Hayley Podschun in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.}

Guys and Dolls – the quintessential feel-good play – hopeful, energetic; dynamic. The performance inspired patrons to dance with big smiles on their faces.

From a technical and performance perspective, the play lived up to its Broadway roots. In many ways it surpassed them. On my drive home, I turned on the Broadway cast soundtrack.  Accounting for recording and broadcast quality, its energy and enthusiasm did not compete with STC. Well done!

Top left – bottom: T^{he cast of Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Lawrence Redmond, John Syger, Julie Benko, Jimena Flores Sanchez, and Katherine Riddle in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Calvin McCullough and Kyle Taylor Parker in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. The cast of Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.}

After months of attending powerful productions at the Shakespeare Theatre Company, I found myself at a Preview that offered something refreshingly different. The company was opening Guys and Dolls at Harman Hall. The beloved American musical is presented here with remarkable vibrancy. I was fortunate to see it before the official opening, catching the energy of a nearly sold-out house. It opened to such acclaim and demand that four additional performances were added.

This is not critique. This is anticipation. This is the excitement building toward what promises to be a joyful and spirited theatrical experience, perfect for the season of hope and joy. The live music set outside the picture windows of the Salvation Army, with the perfectly attired band leader, created the ideal atmosphere for the memorable performance.

The artistic team behind this production is impressive. Director Francesca Zambello, Artistic Director of Washington National Opera, brings operatic sensibilities to Damon Runyon’s stylized world. Choreographer Joshua Bergasse, whose Broadway credits include On the Town, delivers legitimate musical theater dancing that feels both classic and fresh. STC continues to expand its presentation range while maintaining its exacting artistic standards, thanks in great part to the vision of Artistic Director, Simon Godwin.

^{Top Left to Bottom: Julie Benko in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Hayley Podschun in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Nick Alvino, Tommy Gedrich, and the cast of Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. The cast of Guys and Dolls}

What makes Guys and Dolls endlessly enjoyable is its ‘plausible relatability’ in the world it creates – the gamblers, the nightclubs, the dance scenes, the romance, and the comedic timing that lands perfectly again and again. There are no ‘bad guys.’ Some just had a few ‘bad habits.’ Damon Runyon’s language and characters form a theatrical universe that is playful, distinct, and instantly recognizable. Frank Loesser understood this when he composed the score in 1950. He did not try to naturalize Runyon’s style; he amplified it. He gave it music, and that music carries the story with humor, color, and emotional lift.

^{Top Left to Bottom Right: Hayley Podschun and Julie Benko in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Jacob Dickey and Julie Benko in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Hayley Podschun and Rob Colletti in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Jacob Dickey and Julie Benko in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.}

At Harman Hall, I experienced this world take shape. Sarah Brown was uncompromising, Sky Masterson made impossible bets, Nathan Detroit ran the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York, and Miss Adelaide developed psychosomatic colds from fourteen years of broken marriage promises. It was all there: the charm, the humor, the rhythm, the dancing, the romance, and the fun. The performance quality of acting, singing, and dancing was exceptional. See for yourself –  buy your tickets and make it a holiday event for your family. You too can walk out with a big smile.

Luck be a Lady Tonight – Roll the Dice!

^{Left: Graciela Rey, Aria Christina Evans, Hayley Podschun, Jessie Peltier, and Jimena Flores Sanchez in Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography. Right: The cast of Guys and Dolls at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.}