EHS Players Club Eyes Opening Night for "Guys and Dolls"

Next month, when the curtain rises on the EHS Players Club spring musical, audiences will be whisked away to a New York City of yesteryear, one filled with colorful gamblers, quirky social reformers and exhilarating musical numbers that have captured the imaginations of theater-goers for over 70 years. 

This year, Eastchester High School’s acting troupe will tackle “Guys and Dolls,” a 1950 musical written by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, with music and lyrics from Frank Loesser. And although the play might be more “traditional” than recent offerings from the EHS Players Club—the group performed “The Addams Family” and ”Spamalot,” both written since the turn of the century, in the last two years—this year’s cast is eager to bring the classic Broadway play to life. 

Senior Lara Ungaro, who plays Ms. Adelaide, said that she has enjoyed working on the beloved musical—one that was also made into a 1955 film starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando—and said that it was important for actors to appreciate the history of the theater. 

“Even my freshman year, we did a pretty modern show, so I feel like it’s nice to get back to a classic,” said Ungaro. “I was very excited to do an older play that inspired a lot of the shows that came after it.”

Junior Jackson Boyer, who plays Sky Masterson, noted that even though he wasn’t familiar with the play before the Players Club began working towards next month’s production, he quickly became aware of the show’s cultural impact throughout the years.

“I asked my family about it, and they had all seen the show, and my grandmother saw the film when it came out,” said Boyer. “So the fact that many people are familiar with it puts a little more pressure on us.”

Boyer added that audiences should be prepared for rousing musical numbers, including one—“Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat”—that he says is sure to bring the house down. 

“Even though I’m not in that one, I’ve been watching everyone working so hard on it,” said Boyer. “Every single thing they do during that song, you can feel it physically, just like if it was on Broadway.”

“I think it’s cool to see old New York. I love the music in this show, and I think a lot of people are going to like it,” added Ungaro. “A lot of the all-boy numbers, like ‘Luck be a Lady,’ are especially exciting, because you don’t see a lot of those in high school productions.”

The EHS Players Club production of “Guys and Dolls’” will open on Friday, April 4 and run through April 6. For performers like Ungaro—who are preparing for their final spring musical at EHS—the chance to take the stage one more time is an exciting, and bittersweet, opportunity.

“It feels like the Players Club is my second home, and it’s made he who I am today,” said Ungaro. “I feel like I discovered a whole new world, and I’m very sad to leave, but I think that’s what makes it so special.”

Tickets for the EHS Players Club production of “Guys and Dolls” can be purchased at https://eastchester.booktix.com/