PLAYBILL WESTMINSTER THEATRE

A Musical Fable of Broadway Based on a Story and Characters by Damon Runyon

Thursday, March 4–Saturday, March 6, 2021, 7 p.m. wcastl.org/guysanddolls

Book by: Music and Lyrics by: and

Guys and Dolls is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com DIRECTOR'S NOTE “SKY: You know why I took you to Havana? I made a bet! That’s how you met me in the first place. I made a bet.”

You know why we selected this musical? It was fun! That’s why we chose it in the first place. It was fun!

There wasn’t a whole lot else on my mind in 2020 when we were thinking about what musical we’d do this year. It was the beginning of a pandemic; we had finished a musical with a weighty second half; we were entering a contentious election season; and we were feeling the effects of racial discord. Is it any wonder that we gravitated toward something that was simply fun?

I mean, is not just fun. It’s also widely regarded as one of the best musicals ever written and a classic from the Golden Era of Broadway. Its songs, dialogue, and characters are so vibrant, fun, and interesting — it’s a delight to be in, a joy to direct, and (I hope!) entertaining to watch. I’m so happy my students get to sing these songs, dance in these show-stoppers, and interact with these scrappy characters. I got to when I was in high school, and I’m very glad to provide the experience to my beloved high school students.

Of course, I think there is something to be learned and gained from all art. So what is here for us? In this time when some are literally siloed away from other people, when most feel emotionally siloed from friends and strangers alike, and when many are ideologically siloed by their identity or politics, I find it instructive that the characters discover that they don’t just have to be one thing. They also don’t have to betray who they are and become someone different in order to be accepted. The solution is somewhere in the middle: they can adapt to the situation that life brings them and find strength, love, and peace by learning and changing while still holding tightly to their sense of self. That balance seems pretty laudable and necessary right now.

SPECIAL THANKS • We thank Carrie Gillen for her last five years of work at Westminster. She has been a real team player and creative asset. We wish her the best in her continued art-making. Follow her on Instagram @carriegillenstl. • A huge thank you to Cherie Woods for her hours and hours of alterations. • We are so thankful for Kathy Eichelberger and her work organizing us all. Anything not directly related to what’s going on onstage (and some stuff onstage), she had her hands in. She’s amazing. • Thanks to the parents who are supporting their children’s love of theatre even through this very difficult time. We thank you for your sacrifice and extra effort. • Thanks to all the colleagues (at Westminster and abroad) who helped to audition the students for their roles. They helped to put the “education” in “educational theatre.” • All the support from administration as well as the maintenance staff and the nurse was essential this year. With many problems to figure out, their partnership was crucial. • I love that my family — Sara, Gideon, and Aden — “get,” love, and support what I do here. To talk to them after the show is really a delight. • God, You don’t change, but You do cause us to become better versions of ourselves. Help us adapt to each new circumstance while still keeping our identity fixed solidly in Your love.

— Allen Schwamb WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY’S PRODUCTION OF

MARCH 4–6, 2021 7 P.M.

A musical fable of Broadway Based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon

Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows

Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser

Guys and Dolls is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. mtishows.com Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. PROGRAM

ACT ONE

Scene 1 Daytime, on a street on Broadway, early 1950s Runyonland Fugue for Tinhorns (Nicely, Benny, Rusty) Follow the Fold (Sarah and the Mission Band) The Oldest Established (Nathan, Nicely, Benny, and the Gamblers)

Scene 2 Immediately afterwards, the Save-a-Soul Mission I’ll Know (Sky and Sarah)

Scene 3 That night, a phone booth

Scene 4 Immediately afterwards, The Hotbox (Adelaide and the Hotbox Girls) Adelaide’s Lament (Adelaide)

Scene 5 The next morning, a street on Broadway Guys and Dolls (Nicely and Benny)

Scene 6 Immediately afterward, the Save-a-Soul Mission

Scene 7 That afternoon, a street on Broadway

Scene 8 That afternoon and evening, various places in Havana Havana

Scene 9 Later than night, a street in Havana (Sarah and Sky)

Scene 10 Even later that night, a street in New York My Time of Day (Sky) I’ve Never Been in Love Before (Sky and Sarah) ACT TWO

Scene 1 The Next day, The Hotbox Take Back Your Mink (Adelaide and the Hotbox Girls) Reprise: Adelaide’s Lament (Adelaide)

Scene 2 Immediately afterwards, a street in New York More I Cannot Wish You (Arvide)

Scene 3 A sewer under New York Crapshooter’s Ballet (Sky and the Gamblers)

Scene 4 Later, a street in New York Sue Me (Adelaide and Nathan)

Scene 5 Immediately afterward, Save-a-Soul Mission Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat (Nicely and the Company)

Scene 6 Immediately afterward, a street in New York Marry the Man Today (Adelaide and Sarah)

Scene 7 Weeks later, a street in New York Reprise: Guys and Dolls (The Company) CAST

Sky Masterson...... Stewart Geisz Sarah Brown...... Ava Berutti Nathan Detroit...... Sam Parker Stillman Adelaide...... Elizabeth “Zibby” Nolting Nicely Nicely...... Xavier May Benny Southstreet...... Zach Leeker Arvide...... Patrick Park General Cartwright...... Ajé Jones Big Jule...... Hayden Turley Lt. Brannigan...... Jonah Zell Harry the Horse...... Luke Laughlin Gamblers...... Vaughan Goff, Patrick Howard, Jack St. John, Adam Schelker, Morgan Schulte, Isaiah Tucker Hotbox Girls...... Grace Andrews, Sarah DeClue, Lucy Knerr, Katherine Kurop, Anna Minichiello, Marisa Penner, Sarah Sadtler, Libby Thuro Mission Band...... Christopher Bauer, Abbie Cannon, Lily Evans, Quentin Farquharson, Poppy McCauley, Jordan Preis, Annessa Shively, Miriam Smith Rusty Charlie...... Patrick Howard Joey’s Voice...... Jack St. John Announcer...... Adam Schelker Mimi ...... Marisa Penner Agatha...... Lily Evans Waiter...... Jack St. John

Understudies Sky Masterson...... Zach Leeker Sarah Brown...... Sarah DeClue Nathan Detroit...... Patrick Park Adelaide...... Marisa Penner Nicely...... Patrick Howard Benny...... Jack St. John Arvide...... Hayden Turley General Cartwright...... Lily Evans Big Jule...... Adam Schelker CREW

Audio-Visual...... Luke Coco, Tommy Davidson, Addie Draper, Ian Gilbert, Ian Henderson, Abby Johler, Han Kim, Jackson Loehr, Logan Mann, Mike Rohlfing, Triston Scales, Izzy Trost, Jay Yousef, Adam Zell Costumes...... Beth Andrews, Brooke Carter, Kathy Eichelberger, Suzanne Goff, Lew Murray, Heather Nolting, Tina Thuro, Anneka VanderVelde, Gwen Wardenburg, Cheri Woods Choreography...... Lisa Hoover Grove Dance Captain, Assistant Choreographer...... Grace Andrews Assistant Dance Captain...... Katherine Kurop Director...... Allen Schwamb Makeup...... Brooke Carter Music Director...... Allen Schwamb Orchestra...... Sebastian Buhts (Percussion), Matthew Burgess (Trombone), Eric Gargrave (Reeds), Brian Garrison (Trumpet), Stephen Hanrahan (French Horn), Daniel Hoover (Bass), Kristin Nyenhuis (Flute), Carrie Roberts (Violin), Carrie Benton Smith (Piano) Photography...... Kelly Park, Mike Rohlfing, Tammy Stevenson Program Cover Art...... R.J. Walker Publicity...... Carter Hickel Props...... Katherine Anderson, Elizabeth Bauer, Audrie Bockman, Allen Schwamb Sets...... Carrie Gillen (Design and Build), Jim Butz, Kathy Eichelberger, Kaitlyn Mann, Kyra Schelker, Jay Yousef, Matteo Zavaglia Stage Crew...... Katherine Anderson, Elizabeth Bauer, Audrie Bockman, Ginger Cox, Sayva Phillips, Belle St. John Stage Manager...... Belle St. John CAST BIOS

Ava Berutti, junior, is excited to be playing the role of Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls. Some of her favorite roles include Marian Paroo in The Music Man at CBC, Belinda in Noises Off at SLUH, and Mrs. Smith in Meet Me in St. Louis at Westminster. She would like to thank Mr. Schwamb for his amazing directing. Also, she would like to dedicate this performance to her amazing mother who has also performed the role of Sarah Brown. (Psalm 91:2)

Sarah DeClue is excited to be in her fourth musical at Westminster as a Hotbox girl and an understudy for Sarah. You might have seen her as a Pick-A-Little-Lady in The Music Man Jr. or a Mersister in The Little Mermaid Jr. Last year she sang "On the Willows" in the amazing production of Godspell. Sarah has also participated in many Westminster talent shows as a soloist. She hopes you enjoy the show!

This is Stewart Geisz’s eighth production at Westminster. His previous favorite roles include Harold Hill in The Music Man Jr., Sebastian in Twelfth Night, and a cast member in Godspell. Stewart has enjoyed using his extra time in quarantine to focus on music production. He has been very blessed to work with such an encouraging cast and hopes that God is glorified through this production.

Patrick Howard, sophomore, is very excited to participate in this year’s musical as Rusty Charlie and the understudy for Nicely Nicely Johnson. Patrick has found it fun and exciting to be such a help to his castmates. This is his fourth production at Westminster, and he is excited to participate more in the future. Patrick’s favorite part of being in Guys and Dolls is the new relationships he has built with the cast and crew, and he would like to thank Mr. Schwamb for sticking with this year’s musical through difficult circumstances.

Ajé Jones, senior, is very excited to be a part of such an amazing production of Guys and Dolls. She would like to thank her parents, family, and friends for supporting her throughout her musical career at Westminster. She would like to also thank everyone at Westminster who believed in her. Overall, she hopes you enjoy the show that this cast has been working very hard on.

I know what you’re thinking: “Is that the guy who played Trashcan #3 in The Wiz?!” Luke Laughlin’s answer would be a simple, yet tasteful, “Yes indeed.” In all seriousness, Luke, a senior, is thrilled to saddle up as Harry the Horse for this production. Luke has previously lassoed spots in The Wiz and Meet Me in St. Louis. He wants to thank Mr. Schwamb and others for their constant encouragement and patience. Shoutout to Sam Parker for making Luke audition with him every year; he’s truly an inspiration. Luke hopes you enjoy the show. Maestro, your dice. Zachary Leeker, sophomore, is proud to be playing the part of Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls. You may have seen him in other Westminster productions, such as Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid Jr. and The Spoon River Project. He would like to recognize his parents for always pushing him to do his best, as well as his director, Mr. Schwamb, for putting on such an amazing show even amidst difficult times. He is hoping to continue his work in the amazing theatre department at Westminster in his next two years.

Xavier May, junior, is ecstatic to be playing the role of Nicely Nicely. He’s grateful that he can still be involved in theatre at a time when it’s so hard to do so. He thanks Mr. Schwamb for all his dedication to making this show happen, and hopes you enjoy!

Elizabeth “Zibby” Nolting, senior, is so honored to play someone who is perpetually sick, which is ironic given the past year. Guys and Dolls has three nights of performances, which means that (spoiler alert) Zibby will get married at least three times before her older sister, Sarah, does. After graduation, Zibby will study musical theatre at the top performing arts college in the country according to Niche — The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Thank you to Mr. Schwamb, Mr. Butz, and Mrs. Eichelberger for six years of top-notch arts education, as well as Lisa Campbell Albert and Cynthia Benavides. Enormous thanks and praise goes to her wonderful and talented parents. Please enjoy the show! Patrick J. Park, a senior, is filled with gratitude to present to you the role of Arvide in Westminster’s Guys and Dolls. This is his eighth show on the Westminster stage — you may have seen him in The Spoon River Project, Godspell, and Peter and the Starcatcher. As always, Patrick would love to thank his family and friends for their ongoing support. He also extends his recognition to the cast; he couldn’t have asked for a more encouraging and hard-working cast. Finally, Patrick would like to give a special thanks to the director and crew — thank you all for your incredibly hard work. All glory be to God. Enjoy the show.

Marisa Penner, junior, is beyond grateful for this opportunity to be a dancer and understudy in another Westminster production. You may have seen her in Meet Me in St. Louis and Twelfth Night a few years ago. She would like to thank the cast for all the fun times and all the coordinators, directors, and teachers who went above and beyond to give Westminster such a wonderful production during a difficult time.

Sam Parker Stillman, senior, is excited to star as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls. If you recognize him, you might have seen him as one of the disciples in Godspell or as John Truitt in Meet Me in St. Louis, or especially as Munchkin #3 in The Wiz his freshman year. This year, in particular, he is grateful to Mr. Schwamb for his dedication to making this year’s production as normal as possible. Hayden Turley, senior, is incredibly excited to play the role of Big Jule. This is his first-ever appearance in a Westminster theatre production, and he has had an incredible experience getting to work with so many talented people. In addition to theatre arts, Hayden runs cross country and track for Westminster. Hayden would like to thank all the actors, stage management, and director Mr. Schwamb for their immense encouragement and support! Enjoy the show!

Jonah Zell, a sophomore, is glad to perform the role of Lieutenant Brannigan in Guys and Dolls. You may have also seen Jonah in other Westminster performances as Scuttle in The Little Mermaid Jr., Marcellus in The Music Man Jr., Mr. Zuckerman in Charlotte’s Web, and various roles in The Spoon River Project. He is thrilled to work alongside many talented castmates and friends. Enjoy the show!