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Study Guide for Teachers “Luck Be a Lady” The gamblers: (L to “Take Back Your Mink” Hot Box R) Rob Hatzenbeller, Noel Anthony & Girls: (L to R) Melody McArtor, Joven Calloway. Photo: David M. Allen Melissa Reinard and Brittany Ogle. Photography Photo: David M. Allen Photography American Musical Theatre of San Jose 1717 Technology Drive San Jose, CA 95110 (408) 453-1533 [email protected] Table of Contents Meet the Writers 3-5 Meet the Directors 6 Guys and Dolls: Plot 7 Guys and Dolls: Characters 8 Guys and Dolls: Settings 9 Guys and Dolls: Songs 10 Social Studies: Research Team Reports 11 Theatre: Character Biography Worksheet 12 Math: Probability for Throwing Dice 13 Character Analysis: Venn Diagrams 14 Guys and Dolls: Vocabulary 15 Guys and Dolls: Vocabulary Journal 16 Guys and Dolls: Vocabulary Quiz 17 English/Theatre: Play Review 18 Theatre: Set Design Project 19 Theatre: Character Study 20 Further Reading 21 Meet the Writers The story for Guys and Dolls comes for the most part from Damon Runyon’s short story, "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown,” but has some characters and plot development from Runyon’s other slick stories, like "Pick the Winner." The book for the musical was adapted by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Damon Runyon Damon Runyon was born as Alfred Damon Runyan on October 4, 1884. In 1910 he moved to New York City and began the career he is known for today. He began his career as a news man, sportswriter and journalist. Mainly know as a short story writer, his influence on Broadway and theater is everlasting. The Great musical “Guys and Dolls” is based on some of his short stories. He died of cancer December 10, 1946. He was rumored to be buddies with American Gangster Al Capone. His legacy continues today with The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation that has been around for over sixty years. The celebrity cir- cles he ran in spawned a book called, Broadway Boogie Woogie: Damon Runyon and the Making of New York City Culture. Selected works by Damon Runyon: • CAPT. EDDIE RICKENBACKER, 1942 • THE TENTS OF TROUBLE, 1911 • RUNYON À LA CARTE, 1944 • RHYMES OF THE FIRING LINE, 1912 • THE DAMON RUNYON OMNIBUS, 1944 • GUYS AND DOLLS, 1932 - film 1955, written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz; starring • SHORT TAKES, 1946 Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, • IN OUR TOWN, 1946 Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye. • THE THREE WISE GUYS, AND OTHER STORIES, • DAMON RUNYON'S BLUE PLATE SPECIAL, 1946 1934 • TRIALS AND OTHER TRIBULATIONS, 1947 • MONEY FROM HOME, 1935 • POEMS FOR MEN, 1947 • MORE THAN SOMEWHAT, 1937 • FURTHERMORE, 1938 • RUNYON FIRST AND LAST, 1949 • TAKE IT EASY, 1938 • RUNYON ON BROADWAY, 1950 • MY WIFE ETHEL, 1939 • MORE GUYS AND DOLLS, 1950 • MY OLD MAN, 1939 • THE TURPS, 1951 DAMON RUNYON FROM FIRST • MY WIFE ETHEL, 1939 TO LAST, 1954 • MY OLD MAN, 1940 • A TREASURY OF DAMON RUNYON, 1958 • THE BEST OF RUNYON, 1940 • THE BLOODHOUNDS OF BROADWAY AND OTHER • DAMON RUNYON FAVORITES, 1942 STORIES, 1985 Meet the Writers... Guys and Dolls: Book Abe Burrows Jo Swerling Abe Burrows was born December 10, Jo Swerling was born April 8, 1897 in Rus- 1910 in New York City. He was a multi- sia, but grew up selling newspapers in talented man who had an enviable career . New York City to help support his family. He was a songwriter, director, and per- While working as a journalist in the 1920’s, former among other talents in the enter- he found himself writing for magazines and tainment industry. After attending New newspapers but later developing into a York University, he worked as a script knack as a playwright. His first success writer for radio, and a singer. His career was a co-written production in 1929 called, in radio and television writing began with The Kibitzer. He soon found himself in Hol- This Is New York in 1938, followed by the lywood and finding success by proving Rudy Vallee Program in1940, Duffy's Tav- himself with Ladies of Leisure, the first of ern from1940-45, and the Abe Burrows’ several films that teamed him with director Show from 1946-47. His biggest suc- Frank Capra. The best known collabora- cesses include writing the book version for tion of these two was the classic film, It's a the Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Wonderful Life in 1946. His best-known Business Without Really Trying. He won contribution to Broadway was Guys and four Tony Awards and even a Pulitzer Dolls. Mr. Swerling was a playwright, Prize. Interesting facts about Burrows in- screenwriter and vaudeville sketch writer. clude being the father of two sons in the He died in Los Angeles in October 1964. business: James and Jonathan. James Burrows, is the amazing director of the hit TV sitcoms, “Cheers,” and more recently “Will and Grace.” Fame runs in the family ; Abe Burrows was a distant cousin to the director and film star Woody Allen. Bur- rows died May 17, 1985. Meet the Writers Guys and Dolls: Music and Lyrics Frank Loesser Frank Loesser was born in New York City on June 19, 1910. His father was a classical piano teacher and his brother was a concert pianist, so Frank found himself surrounded by music. The family’s classical approach of music did not interest Loesser like popular music; he took his own path and went into “pop” music. After dropping out of New York City College during the Depression to support himself, Frank found work doing odd jobs in the newspaper business. Those experiences left an impression on him that led him to begin his writing career. After a brief performing stint in New York clubs during the 1930’s, he landed a contract with Hollywood studios. During this period he co-wrote his first hit song, “Moon over Manakoora,” one of the 60 songs he wrote for films. After leav- ing the industry, to work with war efforts in special services, he did eventually return and this sparked the beginning of the most successful period of his career. The score for the musical Where’s Charley became Loesser’s first hit musical in 1948. He followed up two years later with huge success Guys and Dolls, which ended up winning the Best Musical Tony Award for 1950. Loesser’s successful, award-winning show was How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He won the Pulitzer Prize and seven Tony Awards in 1961 for that show. In the 1990’s both of his two, biggest shows were revived and be- came enormous successes all over again, starring well known actors of today including Matthew Broderick, in How To Succeed in Business without Really Trying. The classic song, “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” won an Oscar in 1949, and it continues to be re-recorded by artists today which brings Frank Loesser’s work to a new generation. He was the fa- ther of four children and his lasting effect on the theater industry continues to resonate today with current plans to revive another of his work Hans Christian Andersen for the Broadway stage. This great talent died July 28,1969 after battling lung cancer. FUN FACTS • The show opened at the 46th Street Theatre on Broadway November 24, 1950. • It became the fifth longest-running Broadway musical of the 1950s with 1,200 performances. • It won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1952. • The 1955 film version featured Marlon Brando, Vivian Blaine, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons. • A Broadway revival was staged with an all-black cast in 1976. • Damon Runyon’s ashes were scattered out of a plane over Broadway, by the First World War air ace Eddie Rickenbacker. • 1992 Broadway revival and new cast recording. Meet the Directors Guys and Dolls: AMTSJ Production Step hen Bourneuf (Director) is happy to return to William Liberatore (Musical Director) AMTSJ: AMTSJ once again. Director: AMTSJ’s West Side Story 30 shows including: The Wizard of Oz, A Chorus with Diana DeGarmo and The King and I with Debby Line, South Pacific, Damn Yankees, Children of Eden, Boone; Carousel Dinner Theatre’s White Christmas; Joseph…, Follies, Victor/Victoria, as well as concert Stages St. Louis’ High School Musical. Choreographer: versions of Rags and Kismet. TheatreWorks: Pacific CDT’s Grease, Stages St. Louis’ The Full Monty, Overtures, Smokey Joe’s Café, Ragtime, A Little Night Anything Goes, and A Chorus Line; Maine State Music Music, Jane Eyre, Bat Boy, and Harold and Maude Theatre’s Jesus Christ Superstar. Associate Director/ William is the Choral Director at Gunn High School Choreographer: Broadway’s Prince of Central Park; in Palo Alto. HBO’s “Tracey Ullman: Live & Exposed;” National Tours of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Joseph…Dreamcoat; Thomas Marquez (Costume Designer) Guys Mexico City’s Victor/Victoria. Upcoming projects and Dolls is Mr. Marquez’s 11th AMTSJ production. include: Directing CDT’s The King and I; Directing/ Regional: CLO of South Bay Cities, Music Theatre Choreographing Stages St. Louis’ Joseph…Dreamcoat. Wichita, North Shore; Musical Theatre West. TV: “Third Rock from the Sun,” “That 80’s Show,” “What I Like Vince Pesce (Choreographer) Choreographer: About You.” Received LA Ovation Award nominations “Grease: You’re The One That I Want” (NBC); “Tracey for Once On This Island, Crazy For You. Ullman: Live and Exposed” (HBO); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (National Tour); Victor/Victoria (Mexico Karen Spahn (Lighting Designer) Design Credits City); West Side Story starring Diana Degarmo, The include: The King and I, West Side Story (AMTSJ), King and I starring Debby Boone (AMTSJ); Grease Summer 2006 (Hershypark, PA), The Music Man, (Stages St.

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