Classic musical comedy featuring a cast entirely 60 & up!
Submitted
On Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, Feb. 28, Summer Stock Stage’s Encore program for seniors will present Guys & Dolls Sr. a condensed 60-minute version of the beloved musical comedy.
Starting last September, 34 participants aged 60 and up have attended weekly rehearsals for music, staging, and choreography. Performances will take place at Shelton Auditorium on the campus of Butler University, 1000 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis. Tickets are available now at summerstockstage.com.
“Summer Stock Stage believes that theater inspires and connects people of all ages,” Managing Director Mike Berg Raunick said. “Research shows that singing, dancing, and learning new skills create fresh neural pathways, keeping minds sharp and spirits thriving. With our Encore program, we celebrate that it’s never too late to learn, grow, and shine. This new initiative invites seniors and emerging older artists to step into the spotlight, build community, and experience the joy of live performance together.”
In addition to Berg Raunick, the creative team for Guys & Dolls Sr. includes Director Emily Ristine Holloway, Choreographer Lily White, Costume Designer Allison Jones, Properties Designer Cindy Hancock, Lighting Designer Michael Moffatt, Sound Designer Zach Rosing, Intimacy Director Claire Wilcher, Set Construction Lead Rick Powis, Technical Coordinator Spencer Elliott, and Production Manager Kelli Thomas.
“Many of our cast members, whose ages are 60 to 93, haven’t had theatre experience or haven’t participated since high school,” Ristine Holloway said. “They have been driving in from all over – Indianapolis, Carmel, Greenwood, Lebanon – to join this free program. The most common sentiment that drew them to join was that it was always something they had wanted to do so they couldn’t pass up the opportunity. We are thrilled to see how much theatre brings people together.”
Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls Sr. is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend and nightclub performer, Adelaide, laments that they’ve been engaged for 14 years. Nathan turns to fellow gambler, Sky Masterson, for the dough, and Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown, as a result. Guys and Dolls Sr. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong – all in 60 minutes!
Photos provided