Guys and Dolls ranks among the classics of the American musical theater. The show opened in New York City on Nov. 24, 1950, and ran for 1,200 performances. A 1992 Broadway revival was also a hit.
Guys and Dolls is based on characters created by American author Damon Runyon. The light-hearted musical takes place among the gamblers and showgirls who flourished after dark in New York City. The characters speak the special slang Runyon invented in his tales about colorful Broadway types. Abe Burrows was primarily responsible for the dialogue.
The musical blends two love stories. One was based on Runyon’s short story “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown” from his short-story collection Guys and Dolls (1931). The story describes an unlikely romance between a Salvation Army worker named Sarah Brown and a gambler named Sky Masterson. The other love story involves a showgirl named Miss Adelaide and her long-time fiance, Nathan Detroit.
Frank Loesser composed the music and wrote the lyrics for the play. Loesser’s score includes such standards as “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck Be a Lady Tonight,” and “If I Were a Bell.” The original stars were Robert Alda (Sky Masterson), Isabel Bigley (Sarah Brown), Vivian Blaine (Miss Adelaide), and Sam Levene (Nathan Detroit). George S. Kaufman directed the production, and Michael Kidd created the choreography.
A motion-picture version of the musical was released in 1955. The movie starred Marlon Brando as Sky, Frank Sinatra as Nathan, Jean Simmons as Sarah, and Vivian Blaine repeating her role as Adelaide.
