A Good Bet for At-Home Fun

At the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, we were so excited to have not one but two musicals as part of this year’s lineup. The community loved “Matilda” in the fall and couldn’t wait for “Guys and Dolls” this spring. When Steward’s campus had to close before the show could open, director Susan Sanford quickly pivoted to a virtual performance plan.

 

"Guys and Dolls," set in Depression-era Times Square, follows the lives of a handful of gamblers who set out to make bets on the game of love. The virtual performance included several of the show’s most popular tunes. It was a combination of footage from the cast rehearsing together prior to campus closure, and recordings students made from home. The performers’ energy shone through the computer screens and provided a lot of fun for families watching from home when it premiered on Friday, April 24 on both Facebook and YouTube.

 

“We were heartbroken by our inability to do a live performance because our cast, especially seniors Daniel Corcoran as Sky and Kendall Shamus as Sarah, was so perfect in their roles,” Ms. Sanford said. “The fact that we didn’t get to see the fully realized production was a real tragedy for Steward, but I’m so glad we were able to share part of it virtually. I am incredibly proud of how the kids rallied and worked at home to create a performance that was still meaningful and resonant for our community.”