Students to perform Broadway classic ‘Guys and Dolls’

11 months ago

FORT KENT, Maine — Those who have never had the opportunity to attend a Broadway show can have a taste of the experience when Valley Unified drama students perform “Guys and Dolls” at the beginning of June.

The long-running musical debuted on Broadway in 1950 and was made into a movie starring Marlon Brando.

The Fort Kent, Wisdom and Madawaska high school students will perform the musical complete with big dance numbers at the University of Maine at Fort Kent’s Fox Auditorium under the direction of educator Doug Clapp.

Actors include Fort Kent senior Olorin Braun, who has tackled leads in multiple Clapp-directed plays, including “Grease,” “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

“It’s a Broadway classic,” Braun said. “It’s a cultural classic and this will be an opportunity to introduce the community to that.”

After graduation, Braun will join a theater company in California and pursue an acting career.

Valley Unified students perform a dance number while rehearsing for an upcoming production of “Guys and Dolls.” (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)

The students will perform “Guys and Dolls” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 1 through 3. A matinee performance is slated at 2 p.m. June 3.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for students.

The show is suitable for audience members of all ages, Clapp said.