MOOSE JAW — The Born to Be Arts Academy is preparing to raise the curtain on its senior production of Guys & Dolls, set to run May 22 to 24 at the historic Mae Wilson Theatre in downtown Moose Jaw.
The show will feature a cast of 42 student performers and a crew of 20, with youth representing every high school in the city. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on May 22 and 23, with two Saturday performances starting with a 1 p.m. matinee and then one last performance starting at 7 p.m. on May 24.
Set in 1950s-era New York City, Guys & Dolls is a high-energy musical comedy following the romantic entanglements of gamblers, missionaries, and showgirls. The story centres on Sky Masterson, a slick gambler who makes a bet that he can win over the straight-laced Sarah Brown, while Nathan Detroit scrambles to find a location for his illegal craps game — all while dodging marriage to his long-suffering fiancée, Miss Adelaide.
The production will showcase some of Frank Loesser’s most iconic tunes, ranging from the comedic tunes of “Adelaide’s Lament” and the show-stopping energy of “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” to the timeless favourites of “Luck Be a Lady” and “A Bushel and a Peck.”
“It’s a very typical love story — bad boy meets good girl,” said director Jessika Kopp. “It’s a comedy, so it’s fantastic. We’ve made it very family-friendly, so kids all the way to adults will really enjoy it.”
Kopp, who also directs the academy, said one of the production’s standout features is its choreography, including swing dance routines and aerial flips.
“We’re really challenging our boys this year,” she said. “We have a very large number of boys in the musical, which you don’t normally see, and we really like to encourage boys to check out theatre — because we need them.”
The Born to Be Arts Academy, which currently includes around 500 students, prides itself on inclusive opportunities for young performers. Kopp said Guys & Dolls brings together young leaders in their respective school theatre programs to collaborate on one major community event.
“It’s like a super production,” she said. “These are very, very talented kids.”
The student-led crew also took charge of props and set design. “(These students) designed all the props themselves, made them, and painted them,” Kopp said. “It’s really cool to have (props and set pieces) made by teenagers.”
With the stage set and the spotlight waiting, Kopp’s hope is that residents will rally behind Moose Jaw’s next generation of rising stars.
“Moose Jaw has always been really good at supporting local talent,” she said. “We want to encourage people to come out and support these kids in their pursuit of theatre. I think Moose Jaw is one big family.”
Tickets are available online at MooseJawCulture.ca and in person at the Mae Wilson Theatre, located at 217 Main Street North. Kopp confirmed that tickets will be available for purchase right up until showtime.
Born to Be Arts Academy is located at 52 High Street West and can be reached at 306-631-5938. For more information, visit BornToBe.ca or follow “Born To Be Arts Academy Moose Jaw” on Facebook.
