Music Theatre International (MTI) first launched its Broadway Senior program in early 2014 with a production of Guys and Dolls Sr. The show featured performers aged 55 years and up in a condensed version of the original musical (music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows). With modified keys, an abbreviated script, and simplified technical needs, the program offered an opportunity for seniors to re-engage directly with theater that might otherwise have seemed lost. MTI’s website explains the appeal: “For some [seniors], they’re taking the stage for the first time. For others, they’re returning to a passion they didn’t know could be available to them in the third act of life.”
StageCoach Theatre Company recently presented one such show, Guys and Dolls Sr., to sold-out audiences in Ashburn, Virginia. The delightful production contained most of the songs from the original score, though shortened to bring the entire musical into a single act.
Betsy Hansen directed the light-hearted piece, Kat Brais served as music director, and Sarah Hardy provided fun choreography. Set design, by Terry Smith and Betsy Hansen, was simple and effective, using a New York City backdrop and rotating panels for scene changes. Terry Smith also provided colorful lighting for the small stage.
Tony Greenberg played Nathan Detroit, a serial gambler running a floating crap game in NYC in the 1920s. Greenberg brought incredible charm and great comic timing to the role made famous by Old Blue Eyes himself.
Nathan’s fiancée of 14 years, Miss Adelaide, was played by Sandy Snyder. Snyder was lovable as the ditzy, sassy, nightclub performer and paired well with Greenberg as the on-again, off-again couple the audience loves to root for.
Smooth-talking Sky Masterson was portrayed by Mark Lorenz, and his love interest, Sara Brown, was played by Soni Oberleas. The pair sang the beloved duets “I’ll Know,” “If I Were a Bell,” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.” Lorenz’s slick Sky and Oberleas’ reserved Sara were well-matched, and their voices blended nicely.
Speaking of nicely, the rest of Nathan’s gang also brought some beautiful harmonies to “The Oldest Established” and notably the well-known “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” led by Nicely Nicely Johnson (Jamey Pellegrini) with the rest of the crew: Benny Southstreet (Dennis McCafferty), Arvide Abernathy (Bob Rosenberg), Big Jule (Paul Shraga), Harry the Horse (Jared Latimer), and Angie the Ox (Mike Hippchen).
Countering the “sinners” were the equally vocally strong Mission Members singing the group’s signature march, “Follow the Fold.” John Totten was the kindly Lt. Brannigan, joined by Kate Pisocky (General Matilda Cartwright), and Bill Kirkendale (Rusty Charlie), with Stacy Crickmar, Caren Christiansen, and Lisa Alford as Mission Members.
Last but not least by any stretch of the imagination were the Hot Box Girls, and general dolls about town, Mimi (Stacy Crickmar) and Cici (Caren Christiansen). This playful, energetic duo brought the fun-loving party to back up sweet Miss Adelaide’s cutesy number, “A Bushel and a Peck.”
StageCoach Theatre Company’s production of Guys and Dolls Sr. was an engaging experience, made all the better by the lovely, heartwarming portrayals of classic roles by such talented local performers. The cast put on a wonderful show, bringing to life the same dice-rolling, dame-chasing crew of gamblers — and the broads who love them — that audiences have cherished for decades. With its abridged format and enthusiastic cast, this production proved that the magic of theater truly has no age limit.
Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes, with no intermission.
Guys and Dolls Sr. played April 17 to 26, 2026, at StageCoach Theatre Company located at 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn, VA.
The program is online here.
Guys and Dolls Sr.
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
CAST
Nathan Detroit: Tony Greenberg; Miss Adelaide: Sandy Snyder; Sky Masterson: Mark Lorenz; Sarah Brown: Soni Oberleas; Nicely Nicely Johnson: Jamey Pellegrini; Benny Southstreet: Dennis McCafferty; Arvide Abernathy: Bob Rosenberg; Big Jule: Paul Shraga; Harry the Horse: Jared Latimer; Angie the Ox: Mike Hippchen; Lt. Brannigan: John Totten; General Matilda Cartwright: Kate Pisocky; Rusty Charlie: Bill Kirkendale; Hot Box Girls/Dancers: Mimi: Stacy Crickmar and Cici: Caren Christiansen; Mission Members: Stacy Crickmar, Caren Christiansen, and Lisa Alford
PRODUCTION TEAM
Executive Producer: Jerri Wiseman; Producer: Alex Bhargava; Director: Betsy Hansen; Music Director: Kat Brais; Assistant Music Director: James Wateris; Stage Manager: Keerthi Somaraju, Choreographer: Sarah Hardy; Technical Director/Lighting Design: Terry Smith; Lighting Technicians: Kat Brais, Jon Rafferty, Terry Smitti; Sound Technician: Ilan Komrad; Set Design- Terry Smith and Betsy Hansen; Set Construction: Terry Smith; Set Painting: Jared Latimer; Costumer: Skye Coles; Assistant Costumer: Etheline Prince-Coles; Hair and Makeup: Caren Christiansen; Props: Katrina Smith; Photography: Kat Brais; Program: Jerri Wiseman; Graphic Designer: Betsy Hansen; Front of House: April Bridgeman, Anna Dulik, Rick Dulik, Torie Dunlap, Herb Fuller, Mark Gatanas, Jerri Wiseman; Call Board Painting: Meg Gupta
