When you see a guy reach for stars in the sky…
…chances are you’re at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, where the current production of Guys and Dolls brings those guys, their dolls, and a madcap, mythical Manhattan vividly to life. Gracing Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ Main Stage for the first time in over 35 years and running through September 26th, this offering of the evergreen musical comedy has won praise as “a must-see feast for the senses” (Pioneer Press) and an “eye-popping, stylish” show that’s “full of pizzazz” (Star Tribune).
A tale of love, luck, and “the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York,” Guys and Dolls evokes the colorful Broadway of Damon Runyon, whose stories inspired the musical’s book and Frank Loesser’s timeless songs, including “Luck Be a Lady,” “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat,” and the show’s stars-in-the-sky title number.
The plot revolves around an improbable wager, proposed by crap game entrepreneur Nathan Detroit, who figures on winning a desperately needed $1,000 by betting well-heeled pal Sky Masterson that he can’t swing a dinner date – in Havana, no less – with straight-laced street missionary Sarah Brown. Nathan, meanwhile, avoids setting a date of his own – a wedding date that would cap off a 14-year engagement to his faithful fiancée, showgirl Miss Adelaide.
As one of the four leads in a cast replete with small-time gamblers, racetrack touts, soul-saving mission workers, and a zany assortment of Broadway nighthawks, Madeline Trumble makes her Chanhassen Dinner Theatres debut as Miss Adelaide, wistfully treading the waters of her no-end-in-sight engagement to Nathan Detroit. A Broadway veteran (Newsies), she’s toured nationwide as the lead in Mary Poppins and as Elphaba in Wicked. “I first auditioned for the Sarah Brown role in Guys and Dolls,’ says Madeline, referring to the street missionary whose life takes an unlikely turn. “But when I was called back, I was asked if I’d like the part of Miss Adelaide – a role I first played in high school.”
With her heartfelt sympathy for the character, it’s clear Madeline – and Chanhassen Dinner Theatres – made the right choice. “Adelaide is a kind person, with a great outlook,” she explains. “She’s always positive, in love with Nathan all through that long engagement. And she’s hilarious. The audience admires her – they recognize themselves in her.” It’s also important to remember, as Madeline points out, that the play is a “period piece,” taking place at a time “when a woman’s place was different – Adelaide feels she needs to get married. To her, it’s the only option.”
As a character who’s so much a part of the mid-century Broadway world, Adelaide speaks in that curious lingo long since described as “Runyonesque” – a mix of street-smart patter and contraction-free formality that no one ever really spoke. Asked about the challenge of getting that Manhattan twang just right, Madeline comments that the color and attitude of Guys and Dolls make the task a little easier. “Damon Runyon called his stories ‘fables,’” Madeline explains. “The characters and their dialogue, their relationships and mannerisms, are exaggerated. So, it’s not important in getting the New York accent exactly right.” What she does get splendidly right is Adelaide’s way, as Madeline explains, of “letting her anxiety manifest itself through her colds and sneezes.”
How hard is a stage sneeze? It can’t be more difficult than the aerial maneuvers Madeline had to make in her Mary Poppins and Elphaba roles. “When you’re flying,” she recalls, “you really have to trust the people with the wires backstage.”
In a play filled with songs that remain perennial favorites – “even among people who don’t know they came from Guys and Dolls,” says Madeline – a lead actor who sings so many of them must have a favorite. That’s a difficult choice for Madeline, who finally decides on the duet she shares with Sara Masterson as Sarah Brown, “Marry the Man Today.” For Madeline, “that scene is textbook musical theatre excellence. They don’t write them like that anymore.”
This year’s presentation of Guys and Dolls marks the Main Stage directorial debut of Tamara Kangas Erickson, who took on the role of president and artistic director following the sudden passing of beloved director and president Michael Brindisi in February of 2025. As Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ longtime vice president and resident choreographer, Tamara had collaborated with Brindisi on more than 50 Main Stage musical productions. Choosing the next one was one of her first tasks. “I felt we needed a classic; one that hadn’t been done here in some time,” she explains, “and I kept coming back to Guys and Dolls.”
Like the guys in the song, Tamara reached for the stars – and the winning results are now on the Main Stage at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres.
Guys and Dolls is showing at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres until September 26th. Visit ChanhassenDT.com today to purchase tickets, as well as discover upcoming musicals (including the long-awaited return of Annie this fall) concerts, comedy shows, and other live entertainment!
“If you’re looking for a fun night out with big musical numbers, lots of laughs, and a story that wraps up with heart, this one’s worth grabbing a ticket!” – Broadway World
“Guys and Dolls marks the Main Stage debut production of Tamara Kangas Erickson, showcasing her immersive and visually spectacular take on the classic Broadway show.” – Pioneer Press