PUBLISHED JUL 19, 2012 ON THE RENTON REPORTER
BY TRACEY COMPTON
“Guys and Dolls,” this year’s Summer Teen Musical, kicks off July 27 and is one of the many entertainment opportunities featured during Renton River Days, July 27-29. The production, featuring 22 local teens, runs through Aug. 5 and is presented by the Renton Civic Theatre.
“Guys and Dolls,” this year’s Summer Teen Musical, kicks off July 27 and is one of the many entertainment opportunities featured during Renton River Days, July 27-29.
The production, featuring 22 local teens, runs through Aug. 5 and is presented by the Renton Civic Theatre.
“Guys and Dolls” is the story of gamblers and gangsters in mid-20th century New York City and the ladies in their lives.
The script tells the story of Sky Masterson, a gambler trying to persuade a missionary sister, Sarah Brown, to accompany him on a trip to Cuba.
Nathan Detroit has engaged Masterson in this bet that he cannot persuade Brown to go with him. Meanwhile, Detroit is trying to stay outside the grasp of this so-called, long-suffering fiancée, Miss Adelaide.
Fifteen-year-old Ryan Han plays Masterson.
The story follows a traditional arch, he said, of guy meets girl, they fall in love, she hates him and he has to get her back.
Masterson travels around as a gambler and thinks he’s never going to get attached to a woman, Han said.
“We all do that; I actually met my girlfriend here two years ago, when I joined (the program),” Han said. “And she’s playing a guy this year,” he adds with a laugh.
The Summer Teen Musical program has done more for Han and others than foster summer romances. It also offers participants a summer escape and challenging new skills.
“All of the kids and all of the staff have really helped me learn how to be an actor outside of my comfort zone,” said Han.
He came to the program two years ago not having acted outside of school productions; now he plays the lead male role.
Brennan Brichoux would be left only to his driver’s education course this summer if it weren’t for the program.
The 15-year-old plays gambler Benny Southstreet. This is Brichoux’s second year in the program and he enjoys playing the comedic roles.
“I think it’s fun; I really enjoy singing with other people and performing,” he said.
Kendra Stover, 17, plays a hotbox girl or nightclub dancer. It’s her first year in the Summer Teen Musical.
“This year I decided to do it and I’m really enjoying it,” she said.
It was a challenge for her to come into a new environment and adapt, she said.
It was also a challenge for Director Alan Wilkie to corral the 22 teens and their energy.
“They have so much energy,” he said. “They tend to kind of pace back and forth when they’re talking like this and move and kind of twitch,” Wilkie added undulating in place.
“You have to stop that,” he said.
As part of the program, the teens would be split up into groups working on scenes or technique like character interpretation.
They learn how to plant themselves when delivering lines or counter-balance other actors on stage who are speaking.
“With adults you usually have (the show) up and running and pretty much in good shape like a week before you open,” Wilkie said. “These shows you kind of bring it down to the final dress rehearsal.”
Wilkie, who has directed many productions with adults and children, has noticed this occurrence mainly on productions with kids.
“You white-knuckle it down to the end; it’s kind of exciting,” Wilkie said.