Guys and Dolls Brings High-Stakes Fun to Classic Theatre of Maryland

Classic Theatre of Maryland closes out its season with a colorful, high-energy production of Guys and Dolls, the beloved 1950 Broadway musical featuring music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Directed by Sally Boyett, the production runs through July 26, 2026, in Annapolis.

Step into the vibrant streets of New York City, where fast-talking gamblers, lovable showgirls, and charming con men navigate love, luck, and high-stakes bets. Nathan Detroit needs cash to secure a spot for his long-running illegal craps game, so he wagers with smooth, high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson that Sky cannot win a date with Sarah Brown, the straitlaced leader of the local Save-a-Soul Mission. Meanwhile, Nathan's longtime girlfriend Adelaide has spent fourteen years waiting for a wedding ring, and her patience is wearing thin. What follows is a story full of romance, humor, and some of the most unforgettable songs in the American musical theatre canon, including "Luck Be a Lady," "A Bushel and a Peck," "Adelaide's Lament," and the rousing showstopper "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."

Tommy Malek leads the cast as Nathan Detroit, playing the scheming gangster as a quick-witted comic rogue who always has an explanation at the ready. Monica Ricketts brings sharp comic timing to Adelaide, the nightclub singer whose chronic cold may have more to do with her stalled engagement than any germ. Alec Brashear plays Sky Masterson with a cool exterior that gradually reveals genuine vulnerability, while Stephanie Meadowcroft gives Sarah Brown a tough resolve and a powerful, nearly operatic singing voice. Her transformation during an eventful evening in Havana, complete with an ill-advised "Cuban milkshake," is a comic highlight.

The supporting cast delivers plenty of laughs and heart of its own. John Pruessner shines as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, joining Tommy Dougherty and Kyle Donovan for the delightful "Fugue for Tinhorns" and anchoring the joyous "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat." Brian Davis pulls double duty as the kindly Arvide Abernathy and the intimidating gangster Big Jule, and Nancy Krebs, Dexter Hamlett, and Kyle Donovan round out the featured players. An ensemble of nightclub dancers, gamblers, and Mission workers fills the stage with movement throughout.

The production values match the energy of the performances. Sally Boyett's costume designs, paired with wig designs by Tommy Malek, capture the era with fedoras and striped suits for the guys and showgirl glamour for the dolls, from Adelaide's pearls and mink stole to Sarah's prim red jacket. Adam Mendleson's lighting shifts the atmosphere from the green glow of a sewer craps game to the bright flash of Adelaide's nightclub numbers, while William K. D'Eugenio's sound design and Maureen Codelka's music direction keep every voice clear and every note in balance. Boyett's choreography is a standout, packed with tap, spins, and leaps, and "The Crapshooters' Dance" is a genuine highlight, with each gambler tossing the dice in his own signature style.

Mixing humor and heart in equal measure, this Guys and Dolls is exactly the kind of crowd-pleaser that sends audiences out humming. With a running time of approximately two hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission, it makes for a perfect summer night at the theatre.