The curtain will be rising on an American musical classic Friday night when Guys and Dolls opens at Ames City Auditorium. ACTORS, the Ames Community Theater, will be bringing Frank Loesser’s musical fable of dancing, gambling, love and temperance to Ames for six performances.

Often touted as one of Broadway’s most hilarious musical comedies, this production of Guys and Dolls will be different from any other.

“It was a directorial decision early on to do a more textured show. Our characters are more three-dimensional with less Broadway glitz. This angle has never been done before,” Michael Cornelison said.

Cornelison would know about Broadway glitz. As a professional actor from Des Moines, he has performed everywhere from New York to Disneyworld to Amarillo, Texas.

This production is special to Cornelison because it is his first ACTORS show. “I haven’t done a high energy show like this in 15 years. This is three hours of concentrated sweat. I wanted to see if I could still cut it,” Cornelison said.

The cast was quick to praise his performance. “Michael helped the show expand so much. It has been wonderful working with a professional actor in such a social setting,” cast member Beth Schroeder said.

Director Linda Blakely was also very pleased with Cornelison’s involvement in the show. “Michael helped everyone with their character studies. He did so much for the show that we gave him the title of Assistant Director,” Blakely said.

Cornelison is playing big-time gambler Sky Masterson, who is romancing Salvation Army lass Sarah Brown, played by Schroeder. The other love story involved in this 1950’s New York musical is between Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide. Detroit, played by Greg Millar, is the organizer of the oldest floating craps game in New York. Miss Adelaide, played by local favorite Victoria Van Voorhis, is the featured attraction at the Hot Box nightclub.

It was the casting of Van Voorhis as the romantic lead that set the stage for the off-beat show wanted by Blakely.

“They really cast against type for Adelaide. I’m not 36-24-36, which is a total change of her character,” Van Voorhis said.

“This isn’t the cute, chorus girl Adelaide. We’re playing the Mae West/Bette Middler type,” Blakely said.

Another off-beat decision made for this production is the location. Blakely decided early on to stage the show at Ames City Auditorium instead of at the ACTORS studio. “This is a huge cast of 52 from all over central Iowa. We needed the extra space to do the show justice,” Blakely said.

While this isn’t the first time ACTORS has held a production at the auditorium, it is the first time for many of the cast members to perform there. “I’ve always wanted to do a show in this auditorium,” said Dean Stevens, who plays Nicely-Nicely Johnson in his 89th community theater show.

Stevens isn’t the only cast member excited about this production. Greg Millar is also looking forward to curtain time. “This is my all-time favorite musical. It was the first show I performed in high school and I just fell in love with it. I also enjoy gambling, and this is a show about gambling,” Millar said.

But there is still another reason to be excited about this production. “This show is just an excuse for the songs. It is some of the most beautiful music ever written,” Cornelison said.

Performances of Guys and Dolls will be held at Ames City Auditorium. Curtain is at 8 p.m. on June 21, 22, 28 and 29. There will also be two Sunday matinee performances beginning at 2 p.m. on June 23 and June 30.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $11 for seniors and students. Tickets may be purchased at John Huber Clothier, 404 Main Street, or call 233-4948 and order using your credit card. For additional information, call ACTORS at 292-2078.