Students from the Southwick-Tolland Regional High School drama club perform a dress rehearsal for the upcoming performance of Guys and Dolls which will be staged in the school auditorium, November 21-23. The Friday and Saturday performances will open at 7 p.m. with a Saturday and Sunday matinee performance at 1 p.m. General admission is $9 and $7 for senior citizens and students. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School students will perform the classic “Guys and Dolls” this weekend.
Director Peter Follet said he chose the show because it would give a number of students “a chance to shine.”
“It has a large cast and since I’ve been here I haven’t done a classic Broadway show,” said Follet.
Senior Rachel Grzelak plays Sarah Brown and said she loves the role.
“This is one of the best shows we’ve done,” she said. “You don’t question your character. You know who it is.”
Grzelak is a four-year member of the school drama club who plans to pursue acting after college. She said “Guys and Dolls” is her “hands-down favorite” production the school has performed.
Fellow actor Joe Sullivan plays Nathan Detroit and agreed the show is a favorite for him.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said.
Cassie Peterson, a senior, portrays Benny Southstreet and said there’s an improv quality to the script.
“The characters really bounce off each other,” said Peterson, who plans to major in a theater program in college.
Erica Paul choreographed the show and said after graduating she hopes to return to the school to continue to help choreograph productions.
Follet praised Paul for being able to create dance numbers with little notice. ‘Guys and Dolls” has a 50s style to it but Paul mixed in more modern dance moves and created something the group agreed was fun.
For inspiration, Paul said she watched Follet’s own high school production of the show and several dance numbers online, then changed them up a bit.
“It’s 50s style with Erica flair,” said Follet.
“Guys and Dolls” runs Nov. 21 and 22 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 22 and 2 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $9 for general admission and $7 for students and seniors.
