'Guys and Dolls' Comes to Crossroads North This Week

After many hours of hard work, 125 students from Crossroads North Middle School are ready for the curtains to rise this week as they perform the hit Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls."

"This group of kids has the right personalities for this show and there's a lot of great parts," said Director Sandra Olsen.

"Guys and Dolls" takes the audience to the roaring streets of New York City filled with chorus girls, gamblers, and the iconic character of Nathan Detroit. Seventh grader Dan O'Brien and eighth grader Tom Steele were tabbed to play the role of Nathan as part of two different casts in the play.

"I like the fact that there's so much dialogue and acting in it," Tom said. "It's about gambling, but it's not what the audience expects when they go to see the play."

Sixth grader J.C. DeMaria and eighth grader Ciomara Valentine get to play the role of small time gambler Nicely-Nicely Johnson.

"It was a really fun character to play with the way he holds himself and his personality," Ciomara said. "There's a lot of humor and a lot of fun."

For the role of Sister Sarah Brown, eighth grader Maddy Schmidt and seventh grader Jordyn Sava split time playing the strong willed moral center of the play.

"It's just a really funny play. When I read the script I was laughing so hard," Maddy said. "It's a show that everyone will enjoy."

Jordyn added that the character's attitude made the role a lot of fun as well.

"I like that she sticks up for herself and doesn't care what others think," Jordyn said. 

Seventh-grader Michaela Sanders and sixth grader Mary Burke play the role of nightclub singer Miss Adelaide.

"It's so much fun to play a role that's filled with energy and life," Michaela said. "A lot of stuff happens that you wouldn't expect unless you've seen the play before."

Sixth graders Wen Son Liu and David Garner had a blast splitting the role of bumbling gambler Benny Southstreet.

"Benny is like one of the Three Stooges so he's all dumb and ditsy," Wen said. "It's a lot of fun and I love getting to play someone so stupid."

David said he enjoyed getting into character, including taking the Benny's Brooklyn accent outside of rehearsal.

"We really got into the part and studied some TV shows to learn the accent," he said. "But sometimes you find yourself doing the accent just because it's fun. Saying lines like 'fuhgetaboutit.'"

For the role of smooth gambler Sky Masterson, seventh grader Max Persaud eighth grader Daniel Kim got to don the slick suits for the charismatic role.

"He's just a really cool guy who walks with his chin up," Daniel said. "The play has a lot of humor, but there's also an emotional aspect that makes it touching."

"Guys and Dolls" will be held at Crossroads North Middle School from Feb. 7-9 at 7:30 p.m. The Thursday and Friday shows are both sold out, but tickets remain for the Saturday show. Tickets cost $10 at the door.