Romantic gangsters define scene of musical performance

Students, parents and community members showed up to support the debut of the College of Visual and Performing Arts play "Guys and Dolls" Wednesday at the Langworthy Theatre.

"Guys and Dolls" is set in 1950 in New York City. The stage set is mainly an abstract view of the city near and under Broadway. It is a romantic comedy about two gambling men, Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson, who are afraid to get married because it would subject them to total loss of control, as well as their undercover games of craps; however, their significant others, Miss Adelaide and Sarah Brown, are ready for everything that marriage has to offer.

"I had high expectations for the show, and it completely surpassed them," said Danielle Conklin, a freshman theater studies major. "The acting was phenomenal, and the chemistry between the actors was evident."

Conklin said is the first collegiate-level musical she has attended, and said it was better than the version she saw in high school. She also said her favorite parts were the big group numbers, especially the musical number "Luck Be a Lady."

Adam Fontana, who plays Nathan Detroit's companion Nicely-Nicely Johnson, said this is his first big role in a college production. As a sophomore musical theater major, he said he is ecstatic.

"This was one of the best productions I've done," Fontana said. "The attitude of the actors was great, and it was a lot of fun."

He also said one of the best things he got out of the production was becoming really good friends with all the actors.

His past UNC credits include "Assassins," "Dames at Sea," "Holes," "Chess" and "Forever Plaid."

Ashley Hagler, a senior musical theater major who played Nathan Detroit's girlfriend Miss Adelaide, said the sets and costumes were beautiful and the cooperation from everyone was phenomenal. She also said she played the same role in her high school production.

"There was a lot more training this time around," Hagler said.
Hagler's past credits include "Assassins," "The Taffetas," "Chess" and "Into the Woods."

Megan Beyer, a freshman theater studies major who was on the wardrobe crew, compared working with college theater productions to those of her high school productions.

"The difference with college-level productions and high school productions is there is more funding and supplies," Beyer said. "If an outfit rips, it can be fixed right away."

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.arts.unco.edu or call 970-351-2200.