Theatre--Performance

Guys and Dolls!, the Broadway and movie hit, will be presented by the Iberia Performing Arts League opening Friday, March 5th and running Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through March 21st. Evening performances are at 7:30 and Sunday matinees are at 3:00. All performances will be at the Essanee Theater, IPAL’s Art Deco home. Ticket or other information can be obtained by calling the theater at (337)364-6114, e-mailing ipal@cox.net, or by checking the IPAL website. Tickets can also be obtained in New Iberia at Paul’s Flower Shop, Delaune’s Pharmacy, or Accentrics on Main Street. All seats are reserved and are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

The production is directed by Katherine Caffery, and stars Brett Leblanc (Sky Masterson), Ruth Diaz (Sarah Brown), Michael LaBiche (Nathan Detroit), Kim Monroe (Miss Adelaide), Michael Caffery (Nicely-Nicely), Audie Comeaux (Rusty), Milton Resweber (Benny), Cindy Hebert (General Cartwright), and Mike Vidallier (Arvide Albernathy).

Guys and Dolls! opened on Broadway in 1950 and ran for 1200 performances. It was awarded eight Tony Awards and the 1955 movie was the highest grossing movie of the year. The show is funny and melodious and the score by Frank Loesser contains several standards including “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “Luck be a Lady Tonight” and “Bushel and a Peck.”

In the tradition of recent IPAL musicals, Guys and Dolls! will have a large cast--over sixty singers and dancers, and will be accompanied by a sixteen piece orchestra conducted by Bob Morgan. Choreography is by Marie Broussard and Marika Murry, and music direction is by Hellon Hodge.

According to director, Katherine Caffery, “The forties and the fifties were a golden age in New York. This play captures the spirit and the fun of Broadway then. It is full of humor, spectacular dances, and a captivating romantic story. We’re working the usual IPAL magic and we are expecting to have a great show.”

This performance is supported, in part, by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Acadiana Center for the Arts.