Howard Payne University kicks off Homecoming weekend with their production of the musical Guys & Dolls.
Guys and Dolls can be described as a musical fable of Broadway, and Howard Payne University’s production is giving life to the story as the characters gamble on love. Frank Loesser set this fable to music, bringing the story and characters of Damon Runyon to the stage. Here in Brownwood, it is a team of faculty, staff, students, and alumni who bring this show to the stage, demonstrating the theatrical and musical partnership through the HPU School of Music and Fine Arts.
The cast includes some familiar faces, as well as those who will make their Brownwood debut this weekend. The show includes vibrant characters, great tunes that stick with you, and dancing that is just fun to watch. You will hear favorites like Luck Be a Lady Tonight, If I Were a Bell, Sit Down You’re Rockin the Boat, and Adelaide’s Lament.
Guys & Dolls is set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City and this oddball romantic comedy – considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy – soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters who have become legends in the canon: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight “mission doll,” out to reform the evildoers of Time Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she’s been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiance, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating crap game.
The musical is great for the whole family with a 90 minute first act and 60 minute second act with a brief intermission.
HPU’s production of Guys & Dolls will run October 22nd – October 24th at 7:30pm and Sunday, October 25th at 2:30 at the HPU Theatre. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students, children under 4 are FREE.
The HPU Music Department says that tickets are selling fast, especially for Saturday night, so those interested are encouraged to reserve tickets now. Call 325-649-8516 for ticket information or visit the Howard Payne’s Homecoming section of their website
Sky & Sarah: Josh Helms and Samantha Fenwick
Adelaide & Dolls: (left to right) Marci Journey, Cara Craggett (Adelaide), Hilary Hogan
Cast List
(In Order of Appearance)
STREET TRAFFIC……………….………………………*Bill Ellis, *Brad Johnson, *Mark Tew, Jessica Davis,
Sarah Turner, Alyssa Brown, Sarah Church, Becca Church, Dwayne Grooms, Barbara Grooms, Molly Marriott, Pattie Dunlap, Caitlan Coffey, Rebecca Clark, Ram Garza, and Jessie Smith
NICELY-NICELY JOHNSON………………………………………………………………………..…..…….David Watson
BENNY SOUTHSTREET………………………………………………………………………………………..David Stewart
RUSTY CHARLIE……………………………………………………………………………..………………..Darren McElroy
SARAH BROWN………………………………..…………………………………………………………Samantha Fenwick
ARVIDE ABERNATHY…………………………………………………………………………………………..Tyler Cureton
MISSION BAND
AGATHA………………………………………………………………………………………….……Danielle Reding
CALVIN……………………………………………………………………………………………….Cortney Johnson
MARTHA………………………………………………………………………………….…..………Denise Wathen
CHORUS..…………………………………………………………………………………………Tabitha Livingston
HARRY THE HORSE…………………………………………………………………………………………………….Joe Shaw
LT. BRANNIGAN…………………………………………………………………………………………….…Rivers Shotwell
NATHAN DETROIT…………………………………………………………….…………………………………….Drew Ervin
ANGIE THE OX……………………………………………………………………….…………………………..Angel Journey
CRAPSHOOTERS…..…………………………………………………Blake Anderson, Jimmy Cuellar, Eric Littell
MISS ADELAIDE…………………………………………………………………..……………………..………Cara Craggett
SKY MASTERSON…………………………………………………………………………………….………………Josh Helms
MASTER OF CEREMONIES…………………………………………………………………………………….Stephen Cox
HOT BOX GIRLS……………………………………………………………….Amanda Shaw, Maddi Daugherty,
Morgan Bryant, Alli Mattice, Hilary Hogan
MIMI/HOT BOX GIRL…………………………………………………………………………………………Marci Journey
JOEY BILTMORE/CRAPSHOOTER..……………………………………………………………………Paul Iaquaniello
GENERAL MATILDA B. CARTWRIGHT…………………………………………………………………Kandice Ford
BIG JULIE..…………………………………………………………………………………………..………Brandon Thomasy
DRUNK………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………..…Justin Keys
WAITER/POLICEMAN………………………………………………………………………….……………Zach Arambula
*denotes HPU Faculty/Staff
PRODUCTION TEAM
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/STAGING………………………………………………………………………..*Celeste Church
MUSICAL DIRECTOR/CONDUCTOR…………………………………………………………………*Gregory Church
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR……………………………………………………………………………………..*Nicholas Ewen
CHOREOGRAPHER…………………………………………………………………………………….*Nancy Jo Humfeld
STAGE MANAGER……………………………………………………………………………………………….Josh Sherman
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER…………………………………………………………………………..Molly Marriott
LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR…………….……………………………………………………………………Cody Lockhart
SET CONSTRUCTION………….……………………………………..Tyler Cureton, Josh Sherman, Josh Helms
STAGE CREW……………………………Zach Arambula, Blake Anderson, Eric Little, Brandon Thomasy
LIGHT CREW………………………………………………………………………….…………..Josh Sherman, Eric Little
COSTUMES……………….……………………….………….Rebecca Clark, Denise Wathen, *Celeste Church
BOX OFFICE…..…………………………………………………………………………*Miranda Marsh, Amber Ewen
HOUSE MANAGER………………………………………………………………………………..Samantha Martin
POSTER/PROGRAM DESIGN…………………………………………………………………………….*Nicholas Ewen
ORCHESTRA
PIANO KEYBOARD
*Elizabeth Wallace *Allen Reed
WOODWINDS BRASS
*Stephen Goacher (Clarinet, Saxophone) Pedro Maldonado (Trumpet)
Nicole Wilson (Saxophone, Flute) Talitha Cook (Trumpet)
Stephen Cox (Saxophone, Clarinet) Alex Scholz (Horn)
Leanne Bledsoe (Oboe) Tyler Matthews (Trombone)
STRINGS DRUMS
Christopher Bell (Violin) Jason Smith
Gannon Phillips (Bass)
SPECIAL THANKS
Stan Pena and the Maintenance Staff Dan Garrett
Southside Baptist Church Becky Keith
