author: Amanda N. Gunther

I got the show for y’all— let’s call it Guys & Dolls and a two week run that’s looking beau-ti-ful! Damon Ruyon I am not, but I gots four leading players to sit down and speak (thankfully not in full Runyonese) all about the Howard County Summer Theatre production of Guys & Dolls, which opens in just a few days’ time! Opening on Friday June 21^st and playing selective evening and afternoon performances through June 29^th 2024, it’s the annual summertime offering from HCST and this one is gonna be aces, you can bet your bottom dollar on that!

Thank all four of you for coming to rehearsal just a little bit early to sit down and talk about this fantastic experience you’re having here at HCST and with Guys & Dolls. Why don’t you all tell us who you are, how many years you’ve been doing shows with HCST and who you’re playing in this production?

Marloe Lippert: My name is Marloe Lippert and I am Adelaide. And I have been involved with Howard County Summer Theatre since I was in eighth grade. We’re going to call that ‘just a couple.’

Todd Hochkeppel: I am Todd Hochkeppel and I am playing Nathan Detroit. And I’ve been involved with Howard County Summer Theatre— 15— wait— 16 years! 15 shows, I think. I met Marloe here.

Heather Moe: I am Heather Moe, I’m playing Sarah Brown, and this is my fifth HCST show.

Danny Bertaux: I am Danny Bertaux, I’m playing Sky Masterson, and I would say this is four or five years of involvement for me.

Fantastic! So some more seasoned HCST veterans and some ‘newer’ players. Now what was the reason that you wanted to come out and throw your hat in the ring for Guys & Dolls?

Marloe: Howard County Summer Theatre… there’s just no other group like it. I feel like it is just this anomaly in a world that really needs an anomaly. It’s family oriented, everyone belongs… Tom Sankey (Director) is iconic and really just fabulous to work with, and that’s just the people! I think you come back to HCST for the people. It’s people and quality together; that’s what HCST is and there’s nothing like it. That’s why I come back. And as far as Guys & Dolls specifically, and I’m sorry if no one out there has seen this show, but in my mind, it’s one of the most brilliantly written, older Broadway shows that has ever been created. It’s just so funny. And it’s still relevant.

Todd: It’s a classic, a classic Broadway musical. And it is super well-written. The book is based on the short stories written by Damon Runyon. It’s just brilliant. I’ve been listening to Damon Runyon radio, and if you haven’t been listening— I’ll give you the link (Link to Damon Runyon Radio)— it’s amazing. I think there’s 40 short stories and it’s done like old-fashioned radio drama stories, with the intro and the music, it’s so great. So to make a show inspired by that and then all of those great songs in the show, who wouldn’t want to come out and be a part of it?

Heather: What Todd said, it’s definitely the music. Guys & Dolls wasn’t a show that I was familiar with—

What are they teaching you kids these days!?

Heather: I know! I know! It’s one of those classic shows that I understand local high schools recycle regularly but my high school did weird shows so I wasn’t familiar with it. The music is just so amazing though. I sang some of the songs when I was a voice-minor in college and that’s what drew me to it. Plus HCST— anything happening at HCST, I’m back for it every year.

Danny: I’ve just always loved this role. The role of Sky is such a fun, intriguing role out of all of those older-style shows where the plot is “guy falls in love with girl.” This is such a fun one because there’s so much more of a journey to it. And the females are the ones who win in the end, so I love that! And also just to echo what’s already been said, this place is all about community. I’m ecstatic to be able to do a show with my mother again. I just love her.

Your mom’s in the show?

Danny: Yes! Heidi Bertaux! She’s the best, she’s in the mission, and she’s way more important than I am. That’s what I love about summer theatre, we get to go out and say “come see our show” and that’s really fun for us. I really think that summer theatre really puts the ‘community’ part of it into ‘community theatre.’ You really see everyone putting in all of the work; it’s a great reminder that just because you’re a lead does not mean you’re always the focal point. It’s all of us working together to do this great big thing and I love that.

That sounds amazing. Now Marloe, obviously other than Miss Adelaide here in Guys & Dolls, what is your favorite HCST role that you’ve tackled in the past?

Marloe: Well, this is pretty high up there on the top. But if I had to look at another one, I would say Fantine; she was one of my favorites (Les Miserables 2014) or Eliza Doolittle. (My Fair Lady 2003)

What about you, Todd?

Todd: That would be Thénardier from Les Mis. (Les Miserables 2014)

What about you, Heather? You were not around with HCST when Les Miserables broke out across the tri-county area in 2014 and all 142 theatres were doing it all at once. So what’s your favorite HCST role from a previous production?

Heather: It’s a tie for me between Mary Poppins as the titular character…I just like saying that word, titular. And playing Marian in The Music Man. (Mary Poppins 2017 & The Music Man 2022.)

What about you, Danny?

Danny: This is actually my first role, speaking for a Sankey production, and I’m very excited!

Awesome. What has been the most fun thing for you, up to this point in the process, being here as a part of Guys & Dolls?

Marloe: I, like Danny, have a family member in the show too! And it’s my dad, Craig Crandall. He’s in the ensemble. He’s a police officer and a waiter! So I’m with my dad and it’s so great. That’s been great. We’ve been able to connect on a lot of levels because we’re doing this show together. Also getting to reconnect with a friend from high school, who is playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson, James Toller. I haven’t seen him in years, then I saw him at auditions, and it’s just been so great getting to reconnect with him and connect in new ways with my dad. And that has really come full circle for me.

That’s pretty incredible. What about you, Todd? Most fun thing for you up to this point?

Todd: Wow, that is a hard question. I would just say doing the dialogue in scenes. The scenes are fast and they’ve gotta be funny and moving. It’s challenging to do them well. So it’s been challenging for me and fun. But it’s definitely the scenes for me.

How about for you, Heather? Most fun?

Heather: I think I’ve really enjoyed watching people give their all and bring such a professionalism into rehearsals. Whether it’s choreography, music, scenes and blocking, everyone is just bringing their A-game. This year, even more so than years in the past, people are just totally committed to everything that’s happening on that stage, which makes it just a really special time whenever we’re at rehearsals.

That’s always a good thing to hear! How about for you, Danny?

Danny: Again, I’m going to keep going back to it, but it’s just been so much fun diving into this role in this world. It’s just so much fun, so well written. It’s campy but with just the right amount of cheese. To bounce off of Heather, watching everyone really engage and give it their all is fantastic. There is a dance number for the crap-shooters, that sets up the sewer scene, and it is going to get the biggest applause every night. And it should because these guys are putting everything into it. It tells so much of that ensemble-side of the story, which reminds us how important it all is. And it’s just been so much fun to be back at it. I did summer theatre, ten or maybe twelve years ago, and it has just been a blast to jump out of the “live vicariously through my mother” skin and into the actual production. It’s been so great to reconnect with old friends and make new friendships; it’s just been so much fun.

That is really amazing and I love hearing about a community theatre experience that is this positive all-round. Now, Marloe, how are you and Miss Adelaide a little similar, a little different, what are you bringing to her, what’s she bringing to you?

Marloe: That’s a great question! She is very insecure. And I’m not that insecure. She’s kind of dependent on…I mean, I don’t want to say I’m not dependent. I am married and I have a wonderful husband and he is really great and we have a wonderful relationship. And I have no fear that anything will end or that he’s going to leave or anything like that. But I think Adelaide is just living in fear with Nathan. She’s definitely insecure, but she’s funny. I feel like I love to laugh and she loves to laugh. That’s why I think I just adore this part. It is so wildly funny to me. I just try to pour myself into it and do something new every time. I’ve actually done this role before so I’m trying to bring a fresh twist to it for myself. I did it here…the last time we did it! (Guys & Dolls 2008.) I had just had my son. This is such a different production. You know, you can’t help but compare a little bit in your head, but this cast is so very different too! And I’m at a different place in my life too, so I see things differently. I live things differently. I see myself going over lines and asking “why did I say the line like that before?” because I don’t say it that way anymore because it doesn’t make sense to do it that way this time around. That’s been a really cool and really neat process for me.

That’s really neat indeed! Now, Todd, you and Nathan. How are you similar? Different? What are you bringing to each other?

Todd: We’re very similar but different. I am very committed in my personal life to my family. Nathan… isn’t so much. He doesn’t want to make that commitment. But he’s committed to Adelaide, he just doesn’t want to tie the knot. So there is a commitment, just not the one she’s looking for. In terms of his gambling and his work-ethic…I’m a rule-breaker. I like to find ways around those pesky rules. Nathan and I have that in common. Nathan is also a promoter; he’s promoting the game. I’m a promoter.

Yes. Yes, Todd, yes you are. I’m well aware of what a big promoter you are. That would in fact, guys and dolls, be how we got here, in this band-rehearsal room, with all of you today…because Todd is a promoter!

Todd: Haha! Yes. Oh, and I’m also originally from the New Jersey area, so I know all about that lifestyle.

Oh my! Now, Heather, you and Sarah? Similar? Different? What are you bringing to each other?

Heather: I think with Sarah, she has such strong beliefs and that is something that I resonate with. But I think for her, she tends to forget about the humanity in everybody. She has standards that she holds herself to and then holds everyone else to. Throughout the show, you get to see that journey of her remembering the humanity and the emotions that can come with life. Her journey is something that I experienced 15-20 years ago so it’s kind of fun to get to revisit that journey. There are definitely some similarities there for Sarah and me.

That’s impressive. Danny? How are you and Sky similar and different and what are you two bringing to each other?

Danny: With Sky, there is a bravado to him and a confidence. And I think I’m slowly growing that back, I definitely used to have it. Now Sky’s extrovert-ness has definitely not left me. The energy of being around people is part of what makes him not only a gambler but a successful gambler; it’s a very fun thing. Also, just on a very silly note, is my least favorite song— just because of how it’s written— “My Time of Day” and it leads into her song, “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.” I hear so many people saying, ‘Oh my gosh! I love My Time of Day.’ And I do think that when its sung well, it is a very pretty melody. But what I love about it is that I’m just talking about myself at that point in the show. I am someone who will stay up until four or five or six a.m. because it’s a nice, peaceful time to be awake. It’s very calm. Some people love the morning, because they can be productive? I enjoy four a.m. So when that line comes up, I love it. It’s one of the things that breathes life into the flow of Sky’s nature. He’s an extrovert who really enjoys his peaceful time. He doesn’t always have to be in the hustle and bustle of the gambling life.

I really love that observation and comparison, Danny! Now, Todd and Marloe, you two have worked together before, I have no doubt. What’s it like getting to work opposite of one another as romantic leads?

Marloe: Um? Natural? Effortless?

Todd: It’s very comfortable. We’ve known each other for 15 years. And we have co-directed shows at Ellicott Mills middle school for a number of years. So we know each other in that capacity.

Marloe: It’s completely comfortable. It’s so great. I love that it’s not weird.

Todd: You know, sometimes it can be a struggle to get close to someone in your character’s relationship. And it’s not.

Marloe: Exactly. Todd feels free to be annoying!

Todd: Right. And when you beat me up I think you enjoy it a little too much!

Oh my! But that’s the dynamic I think you really want in your Nathan and Adelaide so this should be good fun!

Marloe: Oh yes. And we text each other. I just send him snide texts. I give him a hard time and it’s really fun. It’s so much fun to give you a hard time, Todd.

This is delightful. And I can tell you two come from the school of method. Now, Danny and Heather, your characters have a slightly different dynamic, what is it like getting to work opposite one another in that Sky-Sarah relationship?

Danny: Different. And it’s a very different story from Todd and Marloe because Heather and I met pretty much the first day of rehearsal. It was “Hi. Now let’s choreograph ‘Bell.’

Heather: Yeah, Bell. (“If I Were a Bell”) so we’ve met for five seconds and suddenly I’m just throwing my whole body at him.

Danny: We had never officially met, maybe seen one another at an audition here or there. But we never crossed paths. So that was something that we very much wanted to acknowledge in our character dynamic because of the journey that Sky and Sarah go through; I think it works. There’s no animosity, not between Heather and I, but you definitely get Sarah and Sky butting heads in those earlier scenes, and that’s very much “two people getting to know each other.” I actually think the more we’ve gone through the rehearsals, the more we’ve talked about these characters, I think we’re really finding the path of this journey that these two—Sky and Sarah— are on.

Heather: We were pretty intentional about it. When we found out we were first cast and got into rehearsals, we got together a couple of times and went through the script, talked through character dynamics, and things like that, and I think that really helped us develop Sky and Sarah as they are.

I love hearing that! Character work! Now, what is your— I always hate to say the word ‘favorite’ and you would think after almost 15 years of doing this I would come up with a better word, but what is your ‘favorite’ musical moment in the show and it doesn’t necessarily have to be one that you sing or are a part of.

Marloe: So, in this production, so far, it’s “Crapshooters.” It is so brilliant to watch those guys dance. They are so great. Kassi (Choreographer Kassi Serafini) is magnificent. She is just such a gifted teacher and choreographer. She is so amazing. Not all of the guys in that number are tried and true dancers. Some of them are and you can absolutely tell but not all of them are and yet Kassi is making it look like they have been dancing for years. It’s incredible. Now, in terms of the musical moment that I’m in? I’d probably say our moment, Todd. When we do “Sue Me.”

I mean, Todd did say you like beating up on him so that tracks.

Todd: It is a three-part story. And “Sue Me” gives you a chance to really pull that story all together. She’s had it at that point.

Marloe: Yeah. I’ve had it. I’m done!

Todd: And I think I’m realizing that she’s had it. So it’s a turning point, that song. Besides that song, which is one of my absolute favorite— the other song has to be— how did you say it, Heather? Tit- title—

Heather: Titular!

Todd: What she said. But that number, “Guys & Dolls” is a great number with the three guys. I love it.

Awesome. Heather?

Heather: Oh gosh. I love them all! I think “My Time of Day” is my favorite moment. I love hearing Danny sing it! And it’s such a great moment, character-wise, where I’m processing what he’s saying. And the music itself? I love the underscoring in that moment; it’s just different than the rest of the show to some extent. Oh and I love “Bell.” I’ve been singing “Bell” since I was in college and it brings more of that jazz that you expect from Guys & Dolls, it makes you think about Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire. I like that I get to sing that. I mean she’s a character that doesn’t really make sense singing it but it’s fun.

Danny?

Danny: I will sing the praises of “Crapshooters Dance” all day every day. I also want to give a lovely shout-out to James Toller as Nicely-Nicely Johnson. Just the energy and the soul and the spirit that that man brings to Nicely-Nicely, specifically in “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat”— oh wow. They rehearsed and choreographed it in about two hours a couple days ago. And when I saw it the following day, I was blown away. Gosh dang, you people are gosh dang talented and I love it! Now as far as Sky, I think I’ve been a sourpuss in a lot of his songs. As a character that I’ve always loved, the tenor in me is like “Luck Be a Lady” is so overdone. I’ve come to really enjoy “My Time of Day” because of how much it really resonates with me on a personal level, but I have found that— and the only word I can think of is addicted— I have found that I’ve become addicted to singing “Luck Be a Lady.” It is just so much fun to finally get to that point in the story with the character and really have it all come down to that moment. I just hate having to get those lower notes out but it’ll be fine.

I love. I can’t wait to hear it! Now, what has been your biggest challenge so far?

Marloe: Honestly? The space. It’s always tricky when you rehearse in a space that you’re not performing in. For me, blocking-wise, especially with my two dance numbers— “Mink” & “Bushel” (“Take Back Your Mink” and “Bushel and a Peck”)— that has been the trickiest part. Still working through those spacing things but that has been the hardest part.

And for you, Todd?

Todd: Memorizing lines. That’s the big challenge for me. I’ve really challenged myself to do it. I recorded all my lines with a friend and I have earbuds that I can take in the water or on my bike; I’m brainwashing myself. They’re in my head. I really want to get them exactly right. I call it “Runyonese” after Damon Runyon, like Shakespeare. You don’t want to mess up Shakespeare.

Heather, what is your biggest challenge?

Heather: I think there are several moments in this show that feel pretty silly. Wanting those moments to come from a place of truth as a human has been the challenge. Especially there’s one scene where I’m supposed to break down crying just because I’m thinking of the memory of Sky. And that is not an easy moment. There’s nothing to build it up with and I just have to break down crying. Other than that, I feel like I fit well in this role and I love it so much. But that moment and moments like that— where all of the sudden there’s a big, out-of-nowhere shift— those are my challenges as an actor.

Danny?

Danny: One of my biggest actor’s flaws is talking too fast. And Sky and I are just people who have boundless energy. I’m either sitting still enjoying myself or I’m bouncing and want to move and do things. Something that Sankey constantly had to remind me of, especially once we got the scripts out of our hands, was “there is a saunter, there is a movement, a confidence, a suaveness to the way that Sky moves and talks and breathes.” And now that we’re on this big stage, which has actually helped me, because it gives me a sense that I have the time to stretch into the space, but it has been a very difficult challenge for me, slowing down. Lots of actors— we want to get to our beats, we want to get across to our next blocking— and it’s been that extra challenge of making sure this doesn’t look choreographed or staged but at the same time making them very specific to Sky and how he moves and talks. Even the melodramatic ones, they need to be fueled with honesty. So finding and giving that control has been the challenge for me.

If you could play any character in the show, regardless of age, gender, vocal appropriateness, etc. but not the character you’re currently playing, who would you want to be?

Marloe: Oh my gosh, this is crazy!

Todd: I see this is why we did the easy questions first!

Famous last words, Todd. Famous last words.

Marloe: Anyone else? I think I would be… oh gosh… one of the Crapshooters. It’s just so fun. Big Jule, all those guys— they have funny lines! I’m always laughing when I hear them speak. I think it would be so fun to be part of those scenes.

Todd: I would want to be Adelaide. Because it’s a hysterical role. She’s got great songs, I’ve got good legs. I want to be Adelaide!

Your legs look better than mine, Todd! I’m not going to shut that down! Heather?

Heather: Same answer. I would be Adelaide! She’s just so much fun!

See? Now, I just want to put you and Todd together in those blue dresses from White Christmas with the fans… I can hear it now— “…sisters! Sisters!”

Todd: Never were there such a pair of sisters!

See? We need to remount White Christmas and make this happen. What about you, Danny?

Danny: There is this character in the mission that I am obsessed with. Her name is Agatha. Aggie! Marloe got the wonderful opportunity to read her for several rehearsals. Agatha is just a step behind on doing all of the things. Saying good morning to the General is really her big moment. Where she says it about five minutes too late. And it’s delightful. It’s little roles like that that I really love. And I think this is a great show to be anyone in the ensemble because it is such a fun world to build.

I love hearing that about the world-building ensemble and I will now be keeping my eye out for Agatha in the mission. Why do you want people to come out to Howard County Summer Theatre to see Guys & Dolls this summer?

Marloe: I think it’s going to be an amazing experience. For this community to come out and experience it, to escape real life, and to laugh and be entertained with quality theatre, with people who are just good, committed people, it’s going to be a treat! And I think they’re going to be wowed.

Todd: People should see Guys & Dolls. I talk it up all the time, I’m a shameless marketer.

Marloe: Todd is our PR guy!

You don’t say…

Todd: It amazes me when people say, “I’ve never heard of that show.” Because my immediate response is “How have you never heard of Guys & Dolls?” It’s a classic! You need to come see the show; it’s a part of Americana. It’s a great summertime outing. It’s a great date night. It’s great for kids to see, there are fun numbers. There’s a lot of dialogue, which people aren’t as used to that? But if they pay attention they’ll learn a lot of things. They’ll learn how to play craps!

Just what we want to be teaching the kids of tomorrow who before they see this show had no idea what Guys & Dolls was! I love these answers, you guys! Heather?

Heather: One thing I love about HCST in general, and as someone who has a degree in performance and who has performed professionally, the word ‘community theatre’ can be perceived as a ‘bad word’ in the theatre community. But not at HCST. From the time I was doing professional theatre and then jumped into Mary Poppins, I realized quite quickly that this is not your normal community theatre. The quality is just as good as some of the equity houses that I have been a part of. Guys & Dolls specifically this year is a bar above anything that we’ve done in a while and that’s saying a lot, in my opinion. The last few shows we’ve done have been incredible. But I think this show will bring that escape from real life, at a higher quality than people expect from community theatre and it’s just going to be pure entertainment for two and a half hours.

Excellent. I would concur with that statement about the quality of HCST productions; I’ve witnessed it grow exponentially in the last several years, since 2016? It’s really become a stellar community theatre. Danny? Why are people coming out to this show?

Danny: I know I’m going to sound like a broken record, but the people. That’s a huge reason why I came back. Like most theatres, like any job, you can say ‘this is a family.’ And you really get that here. This definitely puts the ‘community’ of community theatre at the forefront. The work that these people have put into making this show a success, from the small room to the big room and everything in-between, it’s just coming together and it’s been really cool to see what people are able to bring to the table when you have this room full of people who are willing to challenge themselves and each other and that is led by someone who is willing to challenge us as well. Come see it because people have worked so hard and all the hard work will pay off. It’s very hard to tell a story that is relevant, to tell a story that is fun and have a fun time while doing it, but I think we’re all doing that here.

Absolutely. Now, these are the final two questions— and they’re supposed to be the ‘quick shots’ but I have this feeling that they might be the ‘struggle shots’ we’ll see. Marloe, are you Team Mission Doll? Or Team Gambling Guy?

Marloe: Oh! Ooh! So I’m— can you be in the middle? And what about Team Hotbox? Hmm. I’m going to go Mission Doll. I love where they end. I like the transformation that I see within Sarah. She’s lost the judgmental piece of her personality; that’s what she sheds. Mission Doll. Minus the judgement.

Okay, Todd. Your turn— Team Mission Doll? Or Team Gambling Guys?

Todd: Team Gambling Guys, for sure! We all change as well. We all alter our beliefs. Especially Sky, who’s just going in to win a bit, and then he ends up falling for this doll. And he transforms. You’ve gotta love that transformation. It raises everyone to a higher bar.

So true…and so spoken like a true Gambling Guy. Heather! Team Mission Doll or Team Gambling Guy?

Heather: Mission Doll. And Mission Dolls win…so…

Mic drop. Walk away. Danny?

Danny: I mean, the only way I could follow that up is with the fact that Sky becomes Team Mission Doll…I feel like everyone wins here. That journey is something that Sky was maybe more ready for than everyone thinks. Being able to reach that conclusion maybe proves that there was a Mission-Gambler there all along.

I love that. Team Mission-Gambler. Now, this is the very last question, and to give poor Marloe a break we’ll swing around and start on this side with Danny and work our way backward, but if you had to sum up your experience here at HCST with Guys & Dolls using just one word, which word would you use?

Danny: Humbling.

Heather: No…that was too quick— I haven’t figured out my word yet!

Danny: It was just right there. I was ready.

There are only two types of responses to this question— the Danny type where BAM, word-fired, or what Heather is doing, wracking her brains, wringing her hands, and trying to find the perfect word.

Heather: I need a thesaurus. Um— life-changing.

Todd: I would say exhilarating!

Marloe: Gotta go back to family.

Guys & Dolls plays June 21^st through June 29^th 2024 with Howard County Summer Theatre in the auditorium of Marriotts Ridge High School— 12100 Woodford Drive in Marriottsville, MD. Tickets can be purchased at the door (cash or check only) or in advance online.