Sit down, you’re rocking the boat! The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) will embark on a three-city tour of Guys and Dolls in Concert Friday, October 20 at 7:30pm at the Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at Southern Connecticut State University; Saturday, October 21 at 2:30pm at Hamden Middle School, and Sunday, October 22 at 3:00pm at Shelton High School. NHSO Music Director William Boughton will lead the NHSO and an all-star cast of vocalists in the music from Frank Loesser’s Tony Award-winning musical, including “Luck Be a Lady,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” “Take Back Your Mink,” and “A Bushel and A Peck.”
Director Wendy Morgan-Hunter says, “What I love about Guys and Dolls is the uniting humor through which we see love triumphing over those who have lost their way, as well as love triumphing over those who are righteous and steadfast in their convictions. In the end, love conquers us and changes us all. Adelaide and Sarah, both from vastly different worlds, end up commiserating together over their respective loves and similar paths, as we hear in ‘Marry the Man Today.’ Such tongue-in-cheek humor!”
The show’s cast will be led by Megan Osterhaus [Broadway: Mary Poppins (Winifred Banks), Mamma Mia! (Sophie u/s). National tours: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins, Winifred Banks)] as Sarah Brown; up-and-coming Steve Valenzuela [WCSU graduate, current student at Louisiana State University] as Sky Masterson; Alia Hodge [National/International Tour: Rent (Seasons of Love Soloist/Joanne u/s). Off-Broadway: The Apple Tree] as Miss Adelaide; and Curt Olds [Original German Company of Cats, NYC’s Lortel Theatre, NYC’s York Theatre, Boston’s North Shore Theatre, Broadway company of Riverdance.] as Nathan Detroit. They will be joined by Brian Cheney as Nicely Nicely Johnson, Gary Harger as Arvide and Harry the Horse, and Charlie Widmer as Benny Southstreet.
NHSO CEO Elaine Carroll says, “The Lyman Center at SCSU is a wonderful and easily accessible venue for our audience to listen to and watch the Symphony. The unique ‘thrust’ design of the stage will allow audiences to surround the orchestra; every seat is a great seat and offers an individualized listening experience.” (Carroll will play the cameo role of General Cartwright in the performances.)
As part of the welcome to the SCSU campus, SCSU President Joe Bertolino will make a special cameo appearance as “Angie the Ox” for teh October 20 performance, and the SCSU Musical Theatre department will lend their talent in the chorus as Hot Box Girls and Crap Shooters for all three performances.
Tickets: Adult tickets to the October 20 performance at SCSU are $15 – $74. Adult tickets to the October 21 and 22 performances in Hamden and Shelton are $35-49. College student tickets are $10 and KidTix (kids under 18) are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Blue Star tickets for active military personnel and their immediate family are free. For tickets and information call 203.865.0831 or visit www.NewHavenSymphony.org.
Pre-Concert Activities (October 20 only):
Symphony Supper: Audience members can indulge in a delicious Symphony Supper with other music lovers at Café Amici in Hamden prior to the performance; tickets for this dinner are $35/pp and include tax and tip. Visit NewHavenSymphony.org or call 203.865.0831 to book a reservation.
Prelude: Join the NHSO for an intriguing free pre-concert discussion with Director Wendy Morgan-Hunter from 6:30-7:00pm the night of the concert. The talk will take place in a building adjacent to the Lyman Center and there will be signs to direct patrons to the location.
The October 20 performance is co-sponsored by Southern Connecticut State University. The Hamden Pops Series is sponsored by The Whitney Center. The Shelton Pops Series is sponsored by R.D. Scinto. The Classics Series media sponsor is the New Haven Register. KidTix and Blue Star Tix are sponsored by Frontier Communications. The October 20 magazine sponsor is Seasons Magazine. The Hamden Pops Series radio sponsor is WQUN.
