A musical must be amusing if a two-and-a-half hour show retained our attention and kept us laughing throughout. What’s more fun to start things off than dancing gamblers in suits and slick fedoras during the overture? This energetic opening number made it obvious that we were in for a treat.
Premiering in 1950, Guys and Dolls boasts a familiar score including “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sue Me,” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat. ” Director Sasha Gerriton writes in her notes that she “fell in love with the show’s rich, lush score and the vibrant dances” when she was 14 years old as a high school student and saw a production in downtown Chicago. In addition to the Tony-winning score by Frank Loesser, the show has a hilarious script with great characters penned by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.
The entire cast does an admirable job with the singing, acting, and entertaining choreography. Standouts are Callan Roberts as a very funny Nathan Detroit, Kristin Brintnall is delightful as the patiently-forever-waiting-to marry-Nathan Miss Adelaide, and Jeffrey Charles is charming as reformed sinner Sky Masterson.
“Sue Me/I Could Die” duet between Brintnall and Roberts brought applause in the middle of the song for their wonderful repartee. Cecilia Iole as Sarah Brown, the determined missionary, and Brintnall had a fantastic duet as the frustrated but resolute girlfriends in “Marry the Man Today.” Also of note are Cary Lovett as Nicely-Nicely and David Geinosky as Benny Southstreet, Nathan’s goofy henchmen. I really enjoyed Ian Reed’s Irish-cop accent as Lt. Brannigan. Andrew Freeland adds a *huge* presence as Big Jule, the intimidating gangster from East Cicero outside of Chicago who carries his own questionable dice to New York for the game of “Crap.” We were thrilled to recognize Peter Ruger from one of our favorite theater companies, Hell in a Handbag, where he was Rudolph in their recent Christmas production.
Clayton Cross’ choreography is very inventive and creative and adds so much lightheartedness to the show. Our first impression of the set was seeing the orchestra above the stage in a big-band style. We complimented scenic designer Ben Lipinski at intermission, and he said placing the orchestra in full view was one of his first decisions. Kudos to Pianist and Conductor Kevin Disch for his musical direction. It’s cool to be able to watch the instrumentalists in action; so often they are relegated to being behind-the-scenes. Special shout-out to costume designer Bob Kuhn for his inspired ensembles. The dancers’ garden dresses and vegetable-themed hats at the Hot Box Club were amazing! “She has carrots on her head!” I whispered to my sister. :-)
So, head to the suburbs where there is FREE parking and a lovely evening of musical theater awaits. As Benny declares: “I’ve always been a bad guy, and a bad gambler. From now on, I would like to be a good guy, and a good gambler.” Take a gamble and head to Skokie for this enjoyable show. Odds are, you will love it.
Music Theater Works is proud to kick off its 2025 season with Guys and Dolls, in the North Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, March 6 - 30, 2025. Guys and Dolls, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, is directed by Sasha Gerritson, choreographed by Clayton Cross and music directed by Linda Madonia.
(center) Alex Villaseñor and members of the cast of GUYS AND DOLLS, from Music Theater Works
The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 2 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30
p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., with additional performances on Saturdays, March 15, March 22
and March 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $89 with tickets for guests
25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling
the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Group
discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more by contacting 847.920.5360.
Music Theater Works’ season kicks off with what many believe is the “perfect musical” with
every song in its score a part of the American musical classic. Guys and Dolls whisks
audiences from Manhattan to Havana and back again with career gambler Sky Masterson,
“Save-A-Soul” missionary Sarah Brown, Miss Adelaide, Nathan Detroit and others in this
exuberant, big, brassy musical. Join Music Theater Works at the Hot Box Club onstage for
an unforgettable time.
The cast of Guys and Dolls includes, in alphabetical order: Brandon Acosta (he/him,
Liver Lips/Ensemble/US Nathan Detroit/fight and intimacy captain); Jordan Beyeler
(she/her, swing); Kristin Brintnall (she/her, Miss Adelaide); Caron Buinis (she/her,
General Cartwright); Jeffrey Charles (he/him, Sky Masterson); Jenny Couch (she/her,
ensemble); Emma Jean Eastlund (she/her, ensemble); Andrew Freeland (he/him, Big
Jule/ensemble); David Geinosky (he/him, Benny Southstreet/ensemble/US Nicely
Nicely); Joe Giovannetti (he/him, ensemble/US Sky Masterson); Isabella
Gomez-Barrientos (she/her, Agatha/ensemble/US Sarah Brown); Ben Harmon (he/they,
Angie The Ox/ensemble); Emily Holland (she/her, ensemble/US Miss Adelaide); Cecilia
Iole (she/her, Sarah Brown); Dee Kimpel (she/her, Martha/ensemble/US General
Cartwright); Kyle Kite (he/him, ensemble); Miguel Long (he/him, Rusty
Charlie/ensemble); Cary Lovett (he/him, Nicely Nicely Johnson/US Arvide Abernathy);
Matthew Millin (he/him, swing); Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor (she/her, ensemble);
Adam Raso (he/him, Harry the Horse/ensemble/US Lt. Brannigan); Ian Reed (he/him, Lt.
Brannigan); Callan Roberts (he/him, Nathan Detroit); Peter Ruger (he/him,
Calvin/ensemble/US Big Jule); Bob Sanders (he/him, Arvide Abernathy) and Alex
Villaseñor (he/him, ensemble/Non-Equity Deputy).
(L to R) Cecilia Iole and Jeffrey Charles
The Guys and Dolls orchestra includes Kevin Disch (piano/conductor); Alison Tatum
(she/her, violin); Cara Strauss (she/her, reed 1); Eva Lewis Butcher (she/her, reed 2);
Amy Nelson (she/her, trumpet); Stephanie Lebens (she/her, trombone); Eric Von Holst
(he/him, bass) and Lindsay Williams (she/her, drums).
Guys and Dolls’ creative team is Sasha Gerritson (she/her, director); Clayton Cross
(he/him, choreographer); Linda Madonia (she/her, music director); Amber Wutke
(she/her, intimacy and violence choreographer); Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach);
Rachel Rock (she/her, stage manager); Ethan Colish (he/him, assistant stage manager);
Ben Lipinski (any with respect, scenic designer); Nga Sze Chan (she/her, properties
designer), Bob Kuhn (he/him, costume designer); Kristen Brinati (she/her, wardrobe
head); Alice Salazar (she/her, hair/wig/makeup co-designer); Melanie Saso (she/her,
hair/wig/makeup co-designer); Andrew Meyers (he/him, lighting designer); Forrest
Gregor (he/him, sound designer); Kimberly Carbone (she/her, production sound
engineer) and Andersonville Scenic Studios (scene shop).
(L to R) Bob Sanders and Cecilia Iole
(L to R) Bob Sanders, Isabella Gomez-Barrientos, Cecilia Iole, Dee Kimpel and Peter Ruger
Binny’s Broadway Lounge
Music Theater Works’ donors of any level and subscribers are welcome to access Binny’s
Broadway Lounge before the performance and at intermission of Guys and Dolls. Binny’s
Broadway Lounge, sponsored by Binny’s Beverage Depot, is located on the second floor
at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie offering complimentary drinks
and snacks and does not require reservations. The Lounge is available during Guys and
Dolls, Saturday, March 8 (opens at 6:30 p.m.) and Saturday, March 15 (opens at 1 p.m.).
ASL Interpreted PerformanceThe Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. performance will be ASL interpreted by Michael
Albert and Laurie Waldeck.
ABOUT SASHA GERRITSON, DIRECTOR
Sasha Gerritson is an opera and musical theater stage director who directs shows for many local and regional companies. Most recently having directed the critically acclaimed Music Theater Works’ production of Carousel, in addition to previous Music Theater Works’ shows Brigadoon and Irving Berlin's White Christmas, she is proud to return for Guys & Dolls. Known for her expertise in the standard repertoire, Gerritson is also a highly sought after opera director, having most recently directed Puccini's Manon Lescaut and Il Assassinio Nella Cattedrale for The Opera Festival of Chicago, where she serves as general director. In addition to her work as a stage director, Gerritson is a choral conductor and serves as the director of Music Ministries for the Park Ridge Community Church.
Previous work as a choral conductor included positions with the Chicago Children's Choir
and Merit School of Music. Gerritson is a proud board member of Music Theater Works, in
addition to The Goodman Theatre, the Brookfield Zoo and DePaul University, where she
serves as vice chair of the Board of Trustees. She served as the opera and music theatre
director of Northeastern Illinois University from 2010-2022, has directed for Musica Nelle
Marche (Urbino, Italy), Opera Piccola, DePaul University, the Cherub Music Theatre
program for Northwestern University, in addition to various other summer programs in the
area. She lives in Glenview with her husband Eugene Jarvis and their two sons, Nate and
Josh.
(L to R) Jenny Couch, Catherine Rodriguez O’Connor, Kristin Brintnall, Emily Holland and Emma Jean Eastland
ABOUT CLAYTON CROSS, CHOREOGRAPHER
Clayton Cross works nationwide as a choreographer, performer and dance
instructor. Cross was most recently in the ensemble and dance captain of Rock Of Ages
with Mercury Theater Chicago, with Drury Lane in the ensemble and dance captain in
Grease as well as in the ensemble in Evita. He most recently choreographed Brigadoon
for Music Theatre Works. He was last seen on the Music Theater Works stage as “Scuttle”
in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, in the ensemble of Mamma Mia!, as choreographer for
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Billy Elliot The Musical. He was choreographer in
residence with Music Theater Works under the direction of Rudy Hogenmiller for seven
seasons where he choreographed and/or performed in Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat as “Benjamin”, Hunchback of Notre Dame, How to Succeed in
Business Without Really Trying, Into The Woods, Anything Goes as “ensemble”, Pirates of
Penzance as “ensemble”, Peter Pan as “Nana/Croc”, Gypsy as “Tulsa”, Mame as “ensemble”, Candide, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Die Fladermanus, The Fantasticks as “Mute,” Damn Yankees as “Eddie” and in A Chorus Line as “Greg” with Porchlight MusicTheatre. Cross also performed at Marriott Theatre in La Cage Aux Follies as “Mercedes”.
He is an instructor and choreographer for M.A. Dance Nation, a Texas based traveling
convention circuit, where he has been choreographing, teaching and judging since
1999. Cross has five times been a consultant and contributed choreography for the Capital
One Bowl’s “All American Halftime Show.” Throughout his 25 year career as a dancer he
has worked with Robert Battle, Fernando Bujones, Sherry Zunker, Paul Taylor and Anne
Reinking. Cross’s television credits include “Every Dancer Has a Story,
” a PBS special on the River North Chicago Dance Company, where he was a company member for 10
seasons and toured nationally and internationally. He is originally from Midland, Texas
where he received his early training from La Petite Dance Co., Coleman Academy and the
Midland Community Theatre as a member of the Pickwick Players. He holds a double
B.F.A. in Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University.
(L to R) Kristin Brintnall and Cecilia Iole
ABOUT LINDA MADONIA, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Linda Madonia is thrilled to be back at Music Theater Works where she has previously
music directed Legally Blonde:The Musical, Shrek: The Musical, Mamma Mia! and
Camelot. Other recent projects include; Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and Sister Act at
Mercury Theater Chicago. Anything Goes, Cabaret and A Chorus Line at Porchlight Music
Theatre. Madonia also serves as the contractor for the Chicago Federation of Musicians
for Porchlight Music Theatre, Music Theater Works and Teatro Zinzanni. She is the vocal
coach for the Master’s Degree program in Music Theatre Pedagogy at Carthage College
and owns American Eagle Productions, which has been at the forefront of Theatre
Education in the Chicago area for the past 35 years.
(L to R) David Geinosky, Cary Lovett and Miguel Long
in GUYS AND DOLLS, from Music Theater Works, now playing through March 30 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.
Music Theater Works 2025 Season
The 45th season includes Guys and Dolls, March 6 - 30; Fiddler on the Roof, August 7 -
17; Godspell, October 23 - November 16 and Annie, December 18, 2025 - January 4,
ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKSMusic Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in 1980. During its 45-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden
Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics.
Show dates and times:
Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge (opens at 6:30 p.m. )
Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 12 at 2 p.m.
Friday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge (opens at 1 p.m.)
Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 19 at 2 p.m.
Friday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. – ASL Interpreted
Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26 at 2 p.m.
Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $19.50 to $89, tickets for guests 25 years old and younger are available for half- price.
Music Theater Works Box Office: (847) 673-6300
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