Guys and Dolls Musical

The Creation of "Guys and Dolls"

• Frank Loesser, a 30-year-old composer and lyricist, was approached by Broadway producer Cy Feuer to create a musical based on the works of Damon Runyon.
• Loesser was known for his ability to fit God and gunpowder into the same lyrical breath, as seen in his hit "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition".

The Inspiration from Damon Runyon

• Damon Runyon's stories featured lovable lowlifes, including Harry the Horse, Nicely Nicely, Nathan Detroit, and Big Jule from Chicago.
• The producers abstracted a storyline from an old Runyon fable called "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown".

The Storyline and Characters

• The musical is about a slick-suited hustler named Sky Masterson who takes a bet to make the first woman he sees fall in love with him.
• The first woman he sees is Miss Sarah Brown, a prim but unexpectedly sultry Salvation Army drum thumper.
• Nathan Detroit, a gambler and producer of roving crap games, is a key character in the musical.

The Production and Impact

• "Guys and Dolls" opened at the 46th Street Theatre 50 years ago and was Broadway's first and best musical about Broadway.
• The musical was a brassy, daring, and unrelenting entertainment, blending songs, gags, and good and bad guys.
• It was seen as a reflection of the world in 1950, where being good wasn't always as good as being lucky.

Historical Context and Legacy

• "Guys and Dolls" was not as innovative as "Oklahoma!" or as socially conscious as "South Pacific", but it was a unique and influential musical.
• Fred Ebb, who would later compose musicals like "Cabaret" and "Chicago", saw "Guys and Dolls" as a child and thought it was the best musical he ever saw.