This weekend the Mid-Prairie High School Drama Department is presenting their show Guys and Dolls for the community.

Mid-Prairie Drama Director Ross Schumaker says that he picked the show based on the current students in the department including a strong crop of male performers. Schumaker described the plot of the performance. “Guys and Dolls takes place on Broadway in New York City in the 1930s. It centers on all of the respectable gamblers and gangsters that are trying to make their way in life. Lead character Nathan Detroit is looking for his big break to win big money. He never fully commits to his fiance Adelaide of 14 years. Nathan’s friend Sky Masterson is in town and they make a bet that Masterson can’t take Sargent Sarah Brown of the Local Save a Soul Mission on a date to Havana. As any musical does, we have a good love story there.”

Guys and Dolls opened on Broadway in 1950 and ran for 1,200 performances, winning the 1951 Tony Award for Best Musical. Casting for the main characters of the production includes Mike Meserole as Nathan Detroit, Isaiah Sents as Sky Masterson, Maizy Fugate as Sarah Brown, Gina Waters as Miss Adelaide and Sawyer Black as Big Julie.

The performance is held in the Mid-Prairie High School Multi-Purpose Room. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students. They are available at the door. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday nights with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

You can hear an interview with Schumaker and members of the cast on today’s In Touch With Southeast Iowa program during the KCII midday and evening magazines and online at KCIIradio.com.