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WESTON, Conn. - Here are the top eight reasons to see this weekend's production of "Guys and Dolls" by Company, the Weston High School drama department.
8. The costume crew, led by Liz Armbruster, has worked hard on some fabulous costumes. The 1950s attire featured in the play provides us costumers with great liberty for bright color and less conservative outfits, says Lindsey Hover, head student costumer. There's an excellent underground dance-gambling scene, which I'm very excited about, in which we have all the males dressed in bright pastel shirts, each with contrasting suspenders and bow-ties. It's all very stimulating to watch, Hover says.7. This is director Damian Longs 12th show for Company. This one of those old tried-and-true stories, said Long, who teaches English at Weston High. The show is so well-known to the general public, but every generation of kids deserves their 'Guys and Dolls.' Im glad this group is getting theirs, and theyre embracing the opportunity with a lot of style and a sense of excitement.6. You have the chance to see some old faces for the last time. One senior -Xander Landen, who plays Nicely-Nicely Johnson - has been in eight main-stage shows. Company President Lisa Maddox has been in seven. Out of all eight main stage productions I've been a part of during high school, 'Guys and Dolls; is my favorite," says Landen. "It's a phenomenal show, and Company is making sure we perform a high quality final product: the set looks professional and the cast and crew is dedicated like never before."
5. Youll get to see some new faces, too. More than 15 first-time actors will make their debut. I'm friends with a lot of actors, and from what I had heard from them [being an actor in the show] seemed like a fun time, says Steve Friedman, a rookie actor who used to be on the tech crew.4. The cast and crew have put countless hours into the show. From building sets to managing lights and sound to learning new dance moves, more than 70 students have participated in the production. After every rehearsal I get more and more excited to see how its going to look on opening night and I dont think anyones going to be disappointed," says senior and assistant director Taylor Ellis-Sayegh.3. Choreographer Rudd Anderson was the lead dancer in "Guys and Dolls" when he was at Weston High School. A longtime supporter of Company, Anderson has never failed to transform even the most uncoordinated of students into dancers. I think that the choreography this year is really great, especially in the Hot Box numbers, says Annabelle Shea, who plays Adelaide. Mr. Anderson did a really good job creating dance numbers that were able to get the theme across to audience members while remaining age appropriate. 2. Youll have the chance to hear the school's singers and musicians perform some great songs: Sit Down, Youre Rockin the Boat, If I Were a Bell, Luck Be a Lady" - any of these ring a bell? Playing in the pit this year is incredible, says trombonist Daniel Muller. "We have so many talented musicians, almost all of them either from Weston High School or from Weston, and we all work well together. The music is a lot of fun to play, and we even sometimes sing along if we're not playing." Ross Cohen, a musician who plays Nathan Detroit, adds, Frank Loesser has written one of his catchiest yet most complex scores for 'Guys and Dolls.' Its chunky chords underneath the catchy melodies create a truly compelling piece of theater."
1. COMPANY has never failed to put on a great show. Whether youve seen every single production or this is the first (of hopefully many), "Guys and Dolls" is sure to entertain. Says Ellis-Sayegh, 'Guys and Dolls' is a classic, so people will want to see what weve done to recreate the magic. I think we really captured the spirit of the show and the music and choreography is amazing.Directed by Damian Long, "Guys and Dolls" opens Friday at 8 p.m. in the auditorium at Weston High School, 115 School Road. Additional performances are Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m., March 30 at 8 p.m. and March 31 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at whscompany.com and cost $10 for adults and $6 for students and seniors.
Sarah Gruen is a student in the Weston High School class of 2014. If you would like to write an article for TheDailyWeston.com, contact editor Matt Zalaznick at mzalaznick@thedailyweston.com.
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