McLean County Times

Normal’s High School Summer Theatre Program will stage the musical “Guys and Dolls” at the Connie Link Amphitheatre from June 12 to June 21. Auditions for students interested in participating are scheduled for March 28-30 at the Community Activity Center, located at 1110 Douglas St., Normal.

The program is open to students in grades 8 through 12 at no cost, with support provided by the Town of Normal’s Cultural Arts Department, Illinois Art Council, McLean County Arts Center, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Adam Fox, Civic Arts Manager, stated: "The High School Summer Theatre Program has been a point of pride for more than 50 years, providing students with quality opportunities both onstage and off. We're looking forward to this season, which should be a lot of fun for everyone working on the show and in the audience."

“Guys and Dolls,” set in New York during the 1950s, tells the story of Nick Detroit and Sky Masterson as they navigate gambling and relationships. Director Cristen Monson commented: “This production captures a slice of life of the gritty New York time in the 1950s. The relationships between the gamblers and the characters are cleverly written. The songs that propel the story forward remain popular.”

She added: “There’s no doubt this musical was written in a different time period. We must recognize the historical context in which the musical was written and also recognize ways to recontextualize that for today.”

The show is presented through an arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), which supplies all authorized performance materials.

Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply for roles on stage or positions on crew or band. Applications can be submitted via the High School Summer Theatre website.

Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. on June 12-15 and June 18-21. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door, with proceeds supporting program costs. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens, free for children under five years old; season passes cost $40.

All Town of Normal facilities are accessible. Those needing accommodations may contact ADA Coordinator Mark Clinch by email or phone at 309-454-9580.