By Scarlett Tarango
Benicia High School’s spring musical, Guys and Dolls, was officially announced for the first time about a month ago by the drama director Nikki Clark. Now that we’re entering the second semester, auditions have already approached. Here’s what to know about this upcoming show.
Auditions were held January 7th through 9th, and rehearsals for the musical have already begun as cast and crew are working away to put everything together. The show will debut this spring on March 20 and will close the following weekend, the last show taking place on March 28. This is far earlier in the semester than previous years, with the spring production usually finishing in April.
What is Guys and Dolls? This golden age musical was first released in 1950 and it takes a comedic take on illegal gambling and forbidden romance. The story follows gambler Nathan Detroit and high rolling gambler Sky Masterson. Nathan is determined to find a new location for his crap game after being discovered by police.
Desperate for money, Nathan bets Sky he can’t get a date with uptight sergeant Sarah Brown. Things turn south when Sky falls in love with Sarah for real and Nathan faces backlash from his girlfriend, Adalaide for not marrying her.
The show has been highly rated for decades, considered the perfect musical comedy. This production will be particularly special to Benicia High because for the first time since 2019, the Benicia band will be involved in playing the score for the show. The drama and band department will be working together to bring this show to life.
This show will also be special to the school because it will be the last show ever for the drama department in the current performing arts building. The building is set to be demolished and remodeled over the next couple years beginning this summer. The future shows and performing arts classes will be forced to be held somewhere else while the remodel is taking place.
While the PAB is long overdue for a remodel, it will be sad to see it go. Don’t miss one of the last shows in this building and look out for ticket sales to support our theater and band students this spring who will be working hard.
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