This year, Shaler Area High School performed “Guys and Dolls” for its musical. This show, coined as ‘Golden Show’, was first performed in 1950 on Broadway. The story follows Nathan Detroit, a con man who is trying to find a safe place for his crap games, and Sky Masterson, a man willing to bet on anything. When Nathan bets Sky can’t woo a girl of his choosing, the bet is on, and soon Sky finds himself in love with Sarah Brown, while Nathan works through his 14-year engagement to Miss Adelaide.

Regardless of the show’s age, the audience can still walk away with lessons that apply to their life. The characters in the show are human and reflect those struggles, even if 100 years in the past.

“Honestly, the thing that I’ve taken away the most has been from Adelaide– stand up for yourself. If you know what you want and you can get it, don’t fall into a pattern. Adelaide had 14 years of Nathan putting off a marriage and then she finally puts her foot down,” Meghan O’Neil, stage crew director, said. “There are a lot of things that applied back then that still apply now, whether that’s positive or negative. It’s one of those shows that all ages can relate to.”

But it’s more than just a show for the cast and crew. Over the last three months, they’ve dedicated hours of work after school and on the weekends to make the performance as good as it could be. They faced a shortened period of time for rehearsal due to the band trip being earlier than usual, with a show that ran approximately three hours, so they made the most of the time they had. Not only that, but the number of people involved has dwindled since COVID, especially for the crew. With a lot of cues, costumes, and characters, being short on people can add a lot more stress.

“We faced a more difficult rehearsal process than in past years, but we all shared the same struggle. So we worked through it together,”  Christian Mendoza, who played Sky, said.

There are also, of course, the standard challenges that come with a musical. Some of the songs require a much faster tempo, pushing the cast to stay in sync while maintaining energy. Others involve difficult notes that need a strong pitch and vocal control.

“My hardest scene would be Luck Be a Lady, where we’re shooting crap. It’s the scene that everyone knows so it has to be right. There’s a lot with the money that has to go down, and it doesn’t make sense if someone messes up a line. If it goes south, it’s very noticeable,” Ryan Mcgaffick, who played Nathan, said.

Despite these challenges, the cast and crew put on an amazing show, and even had fun while doing it. This is due primarily to the sense of community and friendship that many have found through the show. When around your friends, even mistakes can seem funny, and the time goes a little faster.

With five successful performances, “Guys and Dolls” proved to be more than just a ‘Golden Show’. It was an opportunity to make friends and have an outlet for creativity in a group setting. For the leads of the show, it’s also their last musical in high school.

Erin Raymond, who played Adelaide, emphasized the importance of seniors in productions. Often, a lot of the underclassmen look to the seniors for direction and guidance, picking up things they say and do. Because of this, they need to be careful about what they complain about since those things can spread like wildfire. She also encouraged people to have an open mind when joining the cast or crew for the musical. Just because you have heard about the long hours doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile experience.

Overall, the musical left a lasting impression on those involved. Whether on the stage, behind the scenes or in the audience, “Guys and Dolls” showed the dedication and talent that makes theater a unique experience, especially at Shaler Area.

“I believe that every person has a gift, and maybe it’s not singing or acting or dancing, but everybody has a place in theater where their gift can shine,” Jordan Fowler, who played Sarah, said.