William Penn University Plans Fall Musical Production at Penn Central Mall

William Penn University

The William Penn University Fine Arts Department will present their fall production of the musical “Guys and Dolls” on November 12, 13, and 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the Penn Central Mall in Oskaloosa. Based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon, this 1950 Tony award-winning musical comedy pits the gamblers (Guys) against a Mission dame (Doll) in the search of a place to hold a crap game. Comedy ensues and love springs up between the most unlikely of couples. With many toe-tapping melodies, songs familiar to audiences include, “I’ve Never Been in Love Before”, “A Bushel and a Peck”, and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”.

With a cast and crew of over thirty members, this is the largest theatrical production that William Penn University has produced in many years. Director Anita Meinert comments “the last time we produced “Guys and Dolls” was over 20 years ago and community members were highly involved in the cast and crews. We have had such fantastic growth in participation at Penn, it is wonderful to be able to achieve this on our own”. Choosing to put on the production at the mall also was due partially to the growth of students participating. “We can spread out here; rehearse in the hours we need to and creatively adjust the set, the audience seating, and blocking of the show”, Meinert states. “While performing in venues such as the George Daily Auditorium is incredible, our students need to experience what is like to go from nothing to a full scale production— not every community in which they will work in has the luxury of a working theatre”. Audience members will sit up close and personal in center court for this fun production.

This event is free and open to the community.