JCA to Stage 'Guys and Dolls'

In the 1955 film adaptation, Frank Sinatra starred as Nathan Detroit, Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson, Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide and Jean Simmons as Sarah Brown in the classic musical Guys and Dolls.

At that time, they were known as the best of the best in Hollywood or on Broadway. Likewise, many of the best from the Joliet Catholic Academy Drama Club — moderated by Jennifer Szynal — will be on display as the college preparatory high school for boys and girls stages its annual spring musical, Guys and Dolls.

Wilmington’s Nick Humbles will handle the role of Nathan Detroit, while Naperville’s Sam Juveland steps in as Sky Masterson. Alessa Smith, a senior, is Miss Adelaide and Naperville’s Theresa Gallo, also a senior, is Sarah Brown in the JCA production that runs from March 15-17 at 7 p.m. in Joliet.

Billed as a musical fable of Broadway, JCA’s version of “Guys and Dolls” will be held at the Bicentennial Park Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson Street. Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and children under 12. Junior high students can preview the production on Wednesday, March 14 at 7 p.m.

Szynal, in her sixth year as a teacher at JCA, will be helped by assistant director Tim Vollmer, vocal director Jamie Szynal and choreographer Jeni Donahue-Smith. Joe Burke, the Religion Department chair at JCA, will make an appearance as Angie the Ox. Burke’s son was once a part of the drama program.

Also appearing in JCA’s spring musical, listed in alphabetical order with hometowns:

Joseph Alvarez (Romeoville), Robert Babich (Channahon), Antoniao Bouie Jr. (Joliet), Mary Rose Bruno (Frankfort), Kirsten Carlson (Joliet), Andrew Casey (Joliet), Regan Dougherty (Naperville), Francesca Embrey (Romeoville), Lauren Faber (Joliet), Alyssa Folino (Romeoville), Victoria Ford (Romeoville), Colleen Fritz (Naperville), Rafael Garcia (Joliet), Anthony Gomez (Plainfield) and Jessica Gnutek (Joliet).

Also, Megan Lemke (Plainfield), Junica Lugod (Romeoville), Peter McWherter (Plainfield), Elizabeth Minarich (Joliet), Michelle Poplawski (Joliet), Katie Rejsek (Bolingbrook), Mary Ronchetti (Joliet), Sam Ryan (Wilmington), Shannon Ryan (Minooka), Jasmine Smith (Joliet), Cailea Styx (Joliet), Modesty Tan (Joliet), Tiffany Taylor (Joliet), Lucas Tyler (Joliet), Damian Wahl (Joliet) and Meagan Williams (Bolingbrook).

The music and lyrics were written by Frank Loesser and the book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. The musical is based on a story and characters by the legendary newspaperman and writer Damon Runyon.