A cast of student actors from 14 Triangle-area schools will perform the Tony Award-winning musical “Guys & Dolls” July 15-25 for the PlayMakers Summer Youth Conservatory (SYC) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. High school actors and technicians began work on the production June 15.
PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional theater in residence in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences, will present the musical as the culmination of its popular SYC program.
“Guys & Dolls,” a musical fable of Broadway, is based on a story and characters created by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. The New York Times called “Guys & Dolls” the “show that defines Broadway dazzle.”
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. July 15-18, 24, 25 and 2 p.m. July 19 in the Paul Green Theatre inside the Center for Dramatic Art located on Country Club Road. Tickets, $15 for adults and $10 for students and children under 18, may be purchased by calling 919.962.7529, online at www.playmakersrep.org or at the PlayMakers box office.
With a cast of colorful characters straight off the streets of 1930s New York, “Guys & Dolls” is one of America’s greatest musicals. Searching for the next best place to host his “oldest established permanent floating crap game,” Nathan Detroit makes a bet that high roller Sky Masterson can’t land a date with a straight-edged Salvation Army dame. Not only that, but his fiancée of 14 years is threatening to walk if they don’t tie the knot. Bet your bottom dollar, this is summer entertainment not to be missed.
PlayMakers’ Associate Artistic Director Jeffrey Meanza directs. He has appeared in numerous PlayMakers productions including “Into the Woods” and “Assassins.” His directing credits include “Crimes of the Heart” (Theatre Raleigh) and “The Mountaintop” (assistant director, PlayMakers and Triad Stage). Meanza has been with PlayMakers since 2007, managing the Summer Youth Conservatory since its inception.
Matthew Steffens serves as choreographer and associate director, as he did for last summer’s SYC production of “Hairspray.” Among other credits, he is associate choreographer for immersive theater hit “Queen of the Night” (Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience) and served as associate choreographer for the recent Broadway production of “Doctor Zhivago.”
SYC is a unique, award-winning educational and performance opportunity for young people, which includes working with professional directors, choreographers, musical directors, designers and production personnel at PlayMakers.
Recognized as “a model program for youth theatre in North Carolina” by the North Carolina Theatre Conference, the Conservatory features three programs: Theatre Intensive and TheatreTech for high school students and Theatre Quest for middle schoolers.
Beginning this week, high school actors in the Theatre Intensive program train, rehearse and perform in PlayMakers’ professional theater space. At the same time, participants in TheatreTech begin a program in scenic, costume and lighting production. TheatreTech includes technical coursework followed by a month-long apprenticeship with PlayMakers.
During Theatre Quest, middle school students participate in a series of week-long classes from June 15 to July 24. Students train with professional artists in a variety of subjects including Principles of Acting, Musical Theatre, Acting for the Camera, and Improv and Clowning.
For more information, visit playmakersrep.org/outreach/syc.
Images: SYC photos and “Guys & Dolls” poster art are available on request.
PlayMakers contact: For press information, interviews, photos or poster art,, contact Connie Mahan, (919) 962-5359, cmahan@email.unc.edu.