PHOTOS: EMS Students to Stage Guys & Dolls: Gangsters, Gamblers, Showgirls Abound

The Eastern Middle School 2023-2024 Drama Club will perform the classic musical Guys and Dolls in the school’s Lee Book Auditorium on February 1 (at 4:30 pm), 2 (at 7:00 pm), and 3 (at 4:30 pm). Thursday’s tickets are $10, and Friday and Saturday’s tickets are $20.

 

Assigned seat tickets can be purchased online at easternmiddleschool.ludus.com.

Guys and Dolls is produced by Eastern Middle School (EMS) teachers Jennifer Badillo and Julia Fama, is directed by Fama, and features choreography by Scott Sisbarro of St. Saviour’s School of Dance. All students in grades 6 through 8 were invited to participate, and approximately 100 responded to form the cast and crew.

With its memorable characters inspired by the stories of Damon Runyon and recognizable songs like “Luck be a Lady” and “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat,” Guys and Dolls transports audiences back to a bygone era. The musical romantic comedy tells the story of con man Nathan Detroit’s (Jack Kosinski) struggle to find the cash to hold the biggest craps game in town.

At the same time, Lieutenant Brannigan (Conor O’Brien) breathes down his neck, and his fiance of 14 years, Adelaide (Olivia Vairo), continues to wonder when they will finally be married. Enter Sky Masterson (Kyler Woerz), a high-rolling gambler. Nathan attempts to get the dough he needs by making a bet with Sky, causing Sky to chase the tight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown (Lyla Salvatore).

This bet takes audiences from the bustle of Times Square, the cafes of Havana, and the sewers of New York City and surprises the independent Sky as he finds himself falling in love with Sarah.

Producer (and 7th-grade social studies teacher) Jennifer Badillo has been producing shows for EMS for ten years.

“This production has been a labor of love from every individual involved. I am excited for audiences to see all of the hard work put into it from the students, teachers, and volunteers,” Badillo said.

“I feel so lucky to work with such an extraordinary group of young performers. It has been such a privilege to watch them develop their talents on stage,” said producer and director (and 7th-grade English teacher) Julia Fama.

Guys and Dolls will be performed on Feb 1 at 4:30pm, Feb 2 at 7:00pm, and Feb 3 at 4:30pm at Eastern Middle School, 51 Hendrie Avenue, Riverside, CT FIND TICKETS

Run time: Approximately 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission

Lobby opens 45 minutes before show time and features a concession stand with home-baked goods.

GUYS AND DOLLS CAST:

SKY MASTERSON: Kyler Woerz

SARAH BROWN: Lyla Salvatore

NATHAN DETROIT: Jack Kosinski

MISS ADELAIDE: Olivia Vairo

NICELY NICELY JOHNSON: Ned Davis

BENNY SOUTHSTREET: Lo van de Rotte

ARVIDA ABERNATHY: Coco Liu

RUSTY CHARLIE: Fiona Stetsenko

HARRY THE HORSE: Rylan Hurst

BIG JULE: Jack Wade

1. BRANNIGAN: Conor O’Brien

GENERAL CARTWRIGHT: Bella Bisagni

DOLLS: Kashya Aeron, Ella Corticelli, Amalia Ibarzabal, Molly Moy, Eliana Orlosky, Ansophi Otto, Saylor Palmer, Harper Rao, Belen Salvarredi, Rhea Sharma, Sara Tirana

Gamblers: Isha Bharti, Eva Csatorday, Spencer Cuneo, Jasper Davis, Robert Dolan, Tate Farnum, Zain Haque, Olivia Henin, Jack Klosinski, Aaron Levine, Noelle Marten, Caoilinn Moroney, Lane Redlien, Nick Sabeti, Raghav Sharma, Delaney Thomas, Sofia Zamora

MISSIONARIES: Lila Christensen, Fiona Davis, Isabella DeVita, Niamh Histon, Zoey Hunter, Marina Ibarzabal, Kaitlyn Joseph, Ilana Meth, Laurel Sedgwick, Veera Singh, Ally Skuratovsky, Diya Subramanian, Elizabeth Wait, Olivia Wilmot, Siena Zawrotny

HOT BOX CHICKS: Audrey Andrews, Shia Arenas, Goldie Cosloy, Bella Habeck, Liv Hadley, Lottie Hardwick, Bia Hirsch, Camille Lunt, Rose McLean, Cora Ramakrishnan, Avi Rickert, Lucia Sepulveda, Paulina Sepulveda, Maya Solomon, Angeliki Tyreli

Guys and Dolls Production Staff: 

PRODUCERS: Jennifer Badillo, Julia Fama

DIRECTOR: Julia Fama

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Jennifer Badillo

CHOREOGRAPHER: Scott Sisbarro

STAGE MANAGER: Jennifer Badillo

STUDENT STAGE MANAGER: Albin Zieme

COSTUME COORDINATOR: Laura Petit

PROP MASTERS: Jennifer Badillo, Julia Fama, Scott Sisbarro

SET COORDINATOR: Kevin Gillespie

SOUND DESIGN & TECHNICIAN: Jim Durkin, InPhase Audio

PLAYBILL: Jennifer Badillo

LIGHTING DESIGN: Jennifer Badillo, Andrew Stedman

SPOTLIGHT COORDINATOR: Joanna Savino

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT OPERATORS: Derek Shah, Louw Otto

TICKET SALES MANAGER: Lori Lattarulo

HOUSE MANAGERS: Jillian Harriman, Theo Gittens

REHEARSAL ASSISTANT: Alyssa Tripi

COSTUME COMMITTEE: Isabel Ballesteros, Amy Dolan, Katherine Gentile, Sandra Hurst, Erin Woerz

POSTER DESIGN: Jennifer Badillo

PUBLICITY: Tracy Salvatore, Ann Stedman

LOBBY DÉCOR: Theo Gittens

STUDENT CREW: Luigi Carratelli, Frida Davis, Vidya Dhruvakumar, Cameron Dianis, Tyler Ernst, Connor Hirst, Ella Hujeroura, Rayla Jiang, Vanya Kapur, Lily LaRosa, Coco Liu, Cleo Lorenzon, Grace Miranda, Vivan Partridge, Carson Rodgers, Senna Saelens, Thomas Sides, James Slater, Evitt Straub, Eliana Tsatsonis