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Rose-Hulman
Drama Club Presenting Delightful ‘Guys and Dolls” Musical on March
17-18/24-25
While many college students are spending a portion of
March in Spring Break excursions, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s
Drama Club will take local theatergoers on a whimsical tour of the
high-rolling undercurrent of New York City and the sinful pleasures of
Havana in a production of the popular musical “Guys and Dolls” during
the next two weekends.
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| Smiling Face: Senior Alicia Gehlhausen is
featured as Adelaide, a night club singer, in the Rose-Hulman Drama
Club's production of the musical "Guys and Dolls" during the next
two weekends in the Hatfield Hall Theater. In this scene, Gehlhausen
performs a musical number with the Hot Box Dolls. |
Performances are scheduled Friday and Saturday (March
17-18), along with March 24-25, in the Hatfield Hall Theater. All shows
begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for all adults, $8 for non-RHIT
students and free for Rose-Hulman students. Tickets should be available
at the door for all shows. However, persons can call (812) 877-8544 to
reserve tickets.
Based on characters created in a series of short stories
about the "lowlife" in New York City during the 1950s, Frank Loesser’s
classic “Guys and Dolls” boasts glittering showgirls, an extravagant set
and, most importantly, a number of lovable characters just itching to
dazzle their way onstage.
The plot follows the typical guy-meets-girl,
guy-falls-in-love-with-girl fashion. There’s the 14-year engagement of
Adelaide (senior Alicia Gehlhausen), a night club singer who dreams of
settling down, and Nathan Detroit (senior Justin Jennings), who runs
illegal dice games throughout midtown, in which he doesn’t gamble
himself but takes a cut of the action.
Nathan Detroit bets his big-time pal Sky Masterson
(junior Eric Volz) $1,000 that he can’t make the next woman he sees fall
in love with him. When the next “doll” happens to be the neighborhood
missionary Sarah Brown (Megan Greenwell), the stage is set for an
evening of high-spirited entertainment.
How the two couples settle seemingly irreconcilable
lifestyle differences is the solid core of the story that makes “Guys &
Dolls” the classic it is.
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| Romance Blooms: Junior Eric Volz (left) stars
as Sky Masterson and freshman Megan Greenwell is the neighborhood
missionary Sarah Brown -- a couple that finds romance and intrigue
during the Rose-Hulman Drama Club's production of "Guys and Dolls". |
Other key characters include Nicely-Nicely Johnson
(junior David Bander), Benny Southstreet (freshman Adler Edward) and
Police Lieutenant Brannigan (junior Christian Gage).
Such catchy musical numbers as “Luck Be A Lady” and “Sit
Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”, featuring well-choreographed dancing,
creates an atmosphere where the characters are tearing up the stage.
Production values, led by veteran director Bunny Nash,
are top-notch with a versatile scenic design, by technical director/set
designer Greg Stump, and flashy costumes and dazzling lighting create an
enticing atmosphere of sinful pleasure. The vocals have been refined by
Rose Chorus Director David Gibbs and the orchestra, directed by Gary
Turner, set an appropriate mood for the production, which includes
approximately 65 students.
“Musicals are a blast because they require so much from
so many,” conceded Volz, who has appeared on the Hatfield Hall Theater
stage in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Lucky Stiff”
and “Brigadoon.” “The singing, acting and dancing experience is both
challenging and rewarding. Also, the pit (orchestra) plays amazing live
music and gorgeous sets accent the entire show. Simply, it’s a wonderful
experience.”
Gehlhausen, another Drama Club veteran, added, “The
costumes definitely make the musical, with a top-noted set and superior
leadership. It’s easy to get excited about performing and showcasing
what you’ve put so much of your time into.”
Practice began in mid-December and this week’s tech
rehearsals have required cast members and musicians to spend as much as
five hours each night preparing for Friday’s opening night. The students
also carry demanding academic schedules at the top-ranked engineering
college.
“To make it all work, you have to have very good time
management skills,” stated Gehlhausen, who is also a resident assistant
in her residence hall and a member of the varsity track team. “Yes,
Rose-Hulman is a school of engineering. However, people that come to a
drama club show will be dazzled by the amount of theatrical talent
hidden away amongst our students. The shows are a fun release from
school work, and it’s our job to pass that fun onto the audience.”
Volz, who is also a resident assistant, added, “There is
an amazing range of talent at Rose-Hulman in many facets, including
theater. In fact, some students, like myself, considered theater as a
major after high school, but went the engineering route instead. I am
just pleased to be at a college where I can enjoy both worlds -– theater
and engineering -– and put out an amazing performance time and time
again.” |
