KU News Release

April 12, 2007
Contact: Charla Jenkins, University Theatre, (785) 864-2684.

University Theatre closes season with ‘Guys and Dolls’

LAWRENCE — University Theatre, the Department of Theatre and Film and the Department of Music and Dance at the University of Kansas, along with Capitol Federal Savings, will present “Guys and Dolls” at 7:30 p.m. April 27 and 28 and May 3, 4 and 5 and at 2:30 p.m. April 29 in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall.

The musical fable of Broadway based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The KU production is based on a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is directed by John Gronbeck-Tedesco, KU professor of theatre and film. Co-music director and choreographer is John Staniunas, associate professor of theatre and film, and the choreographer for the “Crap Shooters’ Ballet” is Leslie Bennett, assistant professor of theatre and film. Vera Volchansky, Volgograd, Russia, doctoral student, is co-music director and conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra performing in the production. Scenic designer is by Delores Ringer, associate professor of theatre and film; lighting design is by Tim Boeshaar, Mission Hills senior; costume designer is by Christina Montgomery, Manhattan senior; and diction coach is Paul Meier, professor of theatre and film.

Runyon was born in Manhattan, Kan., in 1880, lived in Pueblo Colo., where he went to work for the Evening Press at age 15, then moved to New York in 1910 to work for William Randolph Hearst’s New York American. A night owl who spent much of his time observing the nightlife on Broadway, Runyon became a cultural celebrity and his fiction became a kind of official chronicle of contemporary life in New York City.

Set during the Depression, “Guys and Dolls” tells the story of Nathan Detroit, who is desperate to find money to pay for his floating crap game. He bets Sky Masterson $1,000 that Sky will not be able to convince a local Salvation Army girl, Sergeant Sarah Brown, to go to Cuba with him. When Sky eventually is able to convince Sarah to join him, he ends up falling in love with her. When he returns to New York, he bets all the members of his crap game that if he wins a roll of the dice, they will all have to go to the mission. If he loses, he will give them each $1,000. He ends up winning and all the gamblers end up visiting the mission and repenting their sins.

“Beyond their sometimes-cynical edge, Runyon’s stories were frequently hopeful,” said Gronbeck-Tedesco. “He was fond of capturing his male characters in a moment that presents them with a chance for redemption by means of a good deed that benefits others more than it does themselves. The creators of ‘Guys and Dolls’ have chosen to feature guys who are willing to swallow a full dose of redemption usually from the hands of good, tough-minded dolls whose welfare ends up meaning more to the guys than their own identities.”

The Saturday, May 5, performance is a benefit in memory of Thomas Bondank, father of Candice Bondank, who plays Sarah Brown in the production. Thomas Bondank died of AIDS in December in Lee’s Summit, Mo. All proceeds from the benefit will go to the Douglas County AIDS Project.

Reserved-seat tickets for “Guys and Dolls” are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; and Student Union Activities box office, 864-7469, or online at the University Theatre Web site. Tickets are $18 for the public, $10 for students and $17 for senior citizens and KU faculty and staff. All major credit cards are accepted for phone and online orders.

Members of the cast are listed below by hometown, level in school and major, parents’ names, high school and role.

DICKINSON COUNTY
From Chapman 67431
Kelsie DeNaze Clark, senior theatre major, daughter of Jim and Debby Clark, Chapman High School, Miss Adelaide.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Pearson Skepnek, senior history major, son of Bill and Susan Skepnek, Lawrence Free State High School, Lieutenant Brannigan.

From Lawrence 66046
David Stogsdill, junior theatre/voice major, son of Mark and Sheila Stogsdill, Lawrence High School, Benny Southstreet.

From Lawrence 66049
Christopher Trepinski, sophomore theatre/voice major, son of Robert and Celeste Trepinski, Lawrence Free State High School, Calvin and American-Cuban Dancer.

FINNEY COUNTY
From Holcomb 67851
Logan Walker, sophomore theatre/voice major, son of Lynn and Cindy Walker, Holcomb High School, Body Guard.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From DeSoto 66018
Lucas Walker, freshman theatre/voice major, son of Rick and Monica Walker, DeSoto High School, Body Guard.

From Leawood 66224
Courtney Schweitzer, senior theatre and film major, daughter of Ken and Linda Schweitzer, Blue Valley High School, Allison.

From Lenexa 66215
B. Michael Ford, senior theatre major, son of Victor and Shelly Walker, Olathe East High School, Joey Biltmore and MC.

From Olathe 66062
Amy Cahill, junior voice major, daughter of Richard and Sharon Cahill, Olathe South High School, Fergusson and American-Cuban Dancer.

Meghan L. Puhr, freshman voice major, daughter of Alicia Puhr, Olathe South High School, Riley.

From Overland Park 66207
Candice Bondank, senior theatre/voice major, Shawnee Mission South High School, Sarah Brown.

From Overland Park 66213
Lara C. Thomas, junior theatre and English major, daughter of Blue Valley Northwest High School, Martha.

From Roeland Park 66205
Andrea “Andi” M. Porter, junior theatre major, daughter of Scott and Carol Porter, Bishop Miege High School, Mimi.

From Stilwell 66085
Matthew Crooks, sophomore theatre and film and English major, son of Mike Crooks and Nancy Wunderlich, Blue Valley High School, Harry the Horse.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Lansing 66043
Lawrence P. Henderson, senior theatre major, son of Terri L. Harris, Lansing High School, Nicely-Nicely Johnson.

From Leavenworth 66048
Jonathan Matteson, junior theatre major, son of Mr. and Mrs. Matt Matteson, Leavenworth High School, Drunk, Policeman and Guest.

RICE COUNTY
From Little River 67457
Lance Bradley Hill, senior theatre and film major, son of Richard and Joni Brown, Central Christian High School, Angie the Ox.

SALINE COUNTY
From Salina 67401
Lauren R. Marshall, senior theatre/voice major, daughter of Eric and Barbara Marshall, Salina High School South, General Cartwright.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66604
Adam R. Burnett, junior theatre major, son of Russell Burnett and Vicki Fulmer, Topeka High School, Arvide Abernathy and Waiter.

From Topeka 66617
Stephen A. Ferrell, senior theatre major, son of Alfred and Barb Ferrell, Perry-Lecompton High School, Rusty Charlie.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY
From Kansas City 66103
Erin Jevons-Lee, senior theatre major, daughter of Dr. Sharon Lee and Dr. Robert Jevons, Leigh.

MAINE
From Falmouth 04105
Carter Royce Waite, senior theatre and film major, son of Debbe Waite, Falmouth High School, Nathan Detroit.

MINNESOTA
From Lakeville 55044
Justin Knudsen, senior theatre and English major, son of Ken and Barb Knudsen, Lakeville Senior High School, Big Jule.

MISSOURI
From Kansas City 64113
Erik LaPointe, sophomore theatre major, son of Michelle LaPointe and Dan White, Rockhurst High School, Sky Masterson.

From Kansas City 64145
Megan Leigh Reardon, senior theatre/voice major, daughter of Jerry and Joanne Reardon, St. Teresa’s Academy, Vernon.

OKLAHOMA
From Stillwater 74075
Amy Virginia Buchanan, sophomore theatre and film major, daughter of David and Cindy Buchanan, Stillwater High School, Agatha and Waitress.

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