Guys and Dolls! (LAArtsOnline.com)

^{Guys and Dolls opens at The Wallis December 4th}

Guys and Dolls!

By Ken Werther
Photo Courtesy of The Wallis

This classic American musical is one of my absolute favorites! The original Broadway production of Guys and Dolls opened in November 1950, ran for 1200 performances, and won five Tony Awards including Best Musical. A little remembered fact: Guys and Dolls was selected as the winner of the 1951 Pulitzer Prize for Drama but because of book writer Abe Burrows’ troubles with the House Un-American Activities Committee the Trustees of Columbia University vetoed the selection and no Pulitzer for Drama was awarded that year. Not the finest moment in American history.

Through the years there have been countless revivals and new productions of the show in the US, London, Australia, and around the world. I was lucky enough to see the 1992 revival on Broadway — an evening of theatre I will never, ever forget. That production ran for 1143 performances (only 57 less than the original!) and won the Tony Award for Best Revival. Pretty amazing history for a Broadway musical.

The critically acclaimed Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Guys and Dolls arriving at the Wallis this month follows their celebrated version of Into the Woods which I found extraordinary (and ITW is a show I had never really ‘gotten’ before). Directed once again by Tony Award-winner Mary Zimmerman, this Guys and Dolls promises to be another unforgettable theatre experience!

For tickets and show times for Guys and Dolls, click here.