With a lineup that includes regional artists like Altamiece Cooper, Jeff Cachero, and Gerald Case-Blanchard; seven Western Michigan University Theatre students including Savannah Fisher and Damon McToy; and performers with national careers like Desiréee Davar and Nicolas Dromard, this Battle Creek Symphony production of Guys and Dolls stands out for its racially and ethnically diverse cast of performers, says conductor Anne Harrigan.
In an interview with Cara Lieurance, she says nowhere in the music or book for Guys and Dolls or other classic musicals does it call for an all-white cast. She has been identifying and hiring performers with Black, Hispanic and Native American heritage for many years, with help from programs like the Sphinx Organizations's NAAS database.
Harrigan also highlights several of the popular songs from the musical, and calls out the brass section of the Battle Creek Symphony as especially crucial to bringing the music to life.
The Battle Creek Symphony's concert version of Guys and Dolls is at 7:30 pm on Saturday, Nov 6 at W.K. Kellogg Auditorium.
