GUYS AND DOLLS
The Ultimate Musical Comedy
Presenting the grand finale of its 24th Season, Greater Boston Stage Company proudly
brings Guys and Dolls to the stage! Directed and choreographed by Ceit Zweil, with
musical direction by Dan Rodriguez, this production promises an evening of pure
theatrical joy. Running from June 7 to June 30, 2024.
Guys and Dolls brings to life the bustling world of Broadway’s ne’er-do-well gamblers,
glamorous cabaret showgirls, and determined missionaries. With a book by Abe
Burrows and Jo Swerling and music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, the show features
an unforgettable score with timeless classics such as “Luck Be a Lady,” “I’ve Never
Been in Love Before,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “Adelaide’s Lament,” and the
titular “Guys and Dolls.”
"Bringing Guys and Dolls to our stage is a thrilling way to conclude our 24th season.
It's a show that epitomizes the joy and magic of musical theater, and our creative team,
led by Ceit Zweil and Dan Rodriguez, is crafting a production that will delight audiences
of all ages," says Weylin Symes, Producing Artistic Director of Greater Boston Stage
Company. "We can't wait to share this timeless classic with our community."
This production is not just a retelling of a beloved story but a full-fledged celebration of
the vibrant, larger-than-life characters and the unforgettable music that has made Guys
and Dolls a staple of American theater.
The cast includes Arthur Gomez*, Carolyn Saxon*, Sara Coombs, Jared Troilo*,
Mark Linehan*, Chip Phillips*, Lisa Kate Joyce, Abigail Martin+, Stephen
Markarian*, Darren Paul, Kaedon Gray, Hannah Shihdanian, Allison Russell+,
and Christian David*. Understudies include Laura Markarian+, Autumn Blazon-
Brown+ and John Pagliarulo+.
The production team includes Ceit Zweil (Director/Choreographer), Arthur Gomez
(Assistant Director), Dan Rodriguez (Music Director), Jon Savage^ (Scenic
Designer), Danielle Ibrahim (Assistant Scenic Designer), Corey Whittemore
(Lighting Designer), Deirdre Gerrard (Costume Designer), John Stone (Sound
Designer), Denzil Kakol and Megan Ward (Sound Engineers), Emily Allinson
(Properties Designer), Sydney Grant (Dramaturge), Casey Blackbird (Production
Manager), Shauwna Dias Grillo* (Production Stage Manager), E.D. Fitzgerald*
(Assistant Stage Manager), Cassie Lebeau (Production Assistant), Erin Shine
(Wardrobe/Production Assistant) and Kira Troilo (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Consultant).
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the
United States.
^Member of IATSE/USA
+Young Company Alum
Single Tickets: $64-69 Adults; $59-69 Seniors; $25 Students (with valid ID). For more
information or to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at Greater Boston Stage Company
at (781) 279-2200, or visit https://www.greaterbostonstage.org/shows-
tickets/mainstage/guysdolls/
DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER BIO
CEIT ZWEIL she/her (Director/Choreographer) is a professional performer,
choreographer and arts educator. Previous production team credits at GBSC include
Altar Boyz (Choreographer/Co-Director) and last season’s Clue: On Stage! (Movement
Consultant) in which she also played Mrs. White. Other area choreography credits
include Something’s Afoot and Nutcracker (GBSC); Heart and Soul: The Songs of Frank
Loesser (also dir.) and Happy Days Are Here Again (NELO); and The Paisley Sisters
Christmas Special (ICA, Worcester Foothills). She has had the pleasure of teaching,
directing and choreographing for some amazing arts education programs, including The
Young Company at GBSC and eleven seasons with Performing Artists at Lincoln
School. As a performer, she has appeared onstage with The Huntington, GBSC, Lyric
Stage Company, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, New England Light Opera,
New Repertory and Wheelock Family Theatre. Her career as a multimedia producer and
project manager in educational media includes many flagship properties for PBS. She
holds a BA in History (Smith College) and a MA in Theatre Education (Emerson
College).
CAST BIOS
SARA COOMBS she/her (Miss Adelaide) is delighted to be back at Greater Boston
Stage! GBSC credits: 42nd Street, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Dames at Sea, She Loves
Me, Being Earnest, Miracle on 34th Street, Swan Lake in Blue, Little Women, Clue, and
Titanish. Sara has directed & choreographed Off-Broadway shows, national tours, and
for many regional theatres. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Sara has taught
tap dance and theatre at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center in NYC,
and at multiple dance studios throughout New England. B.F.A in Musical Theatre from
The Boston Conservatory. Thanks to all of you for supporting live theatre!
ARTHUR GOMEZ* he/him (Nathan Detroit/Assistant Director) Acting Credits: Greater
Boston Stage Company: Miracle on 34th Street (Mr. Macy), Last Night at Bowl-Mor
Lanes (Ed), The Three Musketeers (Monsieur Bonacieux). Lyric Stage: Assassins
(Bystander), Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Prisoner). Boston Playwright's Theatre: Lost
Tempo (John ' Sporty' Dale). Gloucester Stage: Every Christmas Story Ever Told...
(Jim). Moonbox Productions: Shipwrecked ( Ensemble), Twelfth Night (Feste),
Amadeus ( Orsini-Rosenberg) Directing Credits: Greater Boston Stage Company: All Is
Calm. Reagle Music Theatre: All Shook Up. Moonbox Productions: House of Ramon
Iglesias, Passing Strange. Undying love to Samantha and Quinn. I am forever grateful
to have you.
JARED TROILO* he/him (Sky Masterson) returns to GBSC after appearing as “Kodaly”
in She Loves Me (IRNE Award) and in his original show Fascinating Rhythm: The Music
of George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. Other credits include, The Huntington,
Speakeasy Stage, Lyric Stage, Wheelock Family Theater, Moonbox Productions,
Palace Theatre, Winter Park Playhouse, Shadowland Stages, The Barnstormers, The
Umbrella Stage, and Reagle Music Theater. TV/Film: About Fate (Amazon), Across The
Pacific (PBS). IRNE Award Winner, 4-time Elliot Norton Award Nominee. Graduate of
The Boston Conservatory. Proud member of AEA. Love to Kira, Levi and Baby T.
JaredTroilo.com. 176pianokeys.com
LISA KATE JOYCE she/her (Sarah Brown) is excited to be back at GBSC after
appearing in Clue and The Salonnieres! Other recent credits include Madagascar the
Musical, Curious George and the Golden Meatball (North Shore Music Theatre), Legally
Blonde (Moonbox Productions), Assassins (Lyric Stage Boston), and Mr. Poppers
Penguins (Wheelock Family Theatre). She is a Dedham native and graduate of Salem
State University. Fun Fact: Guys and Dolls premiered on Broadway on Lisa’s birthday a
decade or two before she made her earthy debut!
CAROLYN SAXON* she/her (General Cartwright) With GBSC: (The Moors, Carolyn
Saxon & Friends: Singin’ in the New Year), Broadway/Bway National Tours/NY Theatre:
Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk, The Civil War, Encores/City Center: Purlie, Hair,
Can-Can, Duke Theater: Timmy the Great, Carnegie Hall/Gershwin Theater: Linda
Eder: The Christmas Concert. Regional: Papermill Playhouse, Alliance Theatre, Actors
Theatre of Louisville, Connecticut Repertory, North Shore Music Theatre, Studio Arena
Theatre, Weston Playhouse, Forestburgh Playhouse, Struthers Library Theatre, Central
Square Theater, Revels @ Sanders Theatre, SpeakEasy Stage, Greater Boston Stage,
Wheelock Family Theatre, New Rep Theatre, Teatro Colon, Emerson Paramount.
Film/TV: Sweet & Lowdown, Small Time Crooks, Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Boston
Pops Fireworks Spectacular, Boston Pops Holiday Lights, Jeopardy! Elliot Norton
Award winner – black odyssey boston
STEPHEN MARKARIAN* he/him (Nicely-Nicely Johnson) is delighted to return to
GBSC, where he most recently appeared in All Is Calm. International/National
Tours: Disney On Classic (The Orchestra Japan) and Bunnicula: The
Musical (TheatreworksUSA). Regional: Violet and Carrie the Musical (Speakeasy Stage
Company), Shrek the Musical (Wheelock Family Theatre), Grease and Route 66 (Sierra
Repertory Theatre). Television: Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified and Drake & Josh.
Proud graduate of The Boston Conservatory. Stephen is also the Co-Founder/Artistic
Director at Boxcar Stage Company, a theatre education program on the South Shore.
Additionally, he is also the Co-Theatre Director at Milton High School. Much love Laura,
Duncan, Maisie & his family.
MARK LINEHAN* he/him (Benny Southstreet) Greater Boston Stage Company:
Titanish (Cal Hockley), Clue (Professor Plum), Onegin (Evgeny Onegin), It's A
Wonderful Life (George Bailey), and many others. Lyric Stage: The Drowsy Chaperone
(George) New Repertory Theatre: Assassins (John Wilkes Booth), The Last Five Years
(Jamie). Reagle Music Theatre: The Sound of Music (Georg Von Trapp), The Music
Man (Harold Hill), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Graydon). Wheelock Family
Theatre: Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Shrek The Musical (Lord Farquaad), Hairspray
(Corny Collins). Hanover Theatre: A Christmas Carol. In addition to performing, Mark
gives tours along Boston's historic Freedom Trail, and has been featured on numerous
episodes of Mysteries at the Museum on Travel Channel. Four-time IRNE nominee.
BFA Emerson College. Proud member of AEA. For Amanda and Georgia, always.
marklinehan.com. Instagram: @linehan.mark
LAURA MARKARIAN+ she/her (Sarah Brown/Miss Adelaide understudy & Dance
Captain) is a Stoneham native and so happy to be back at the theater where she spent
so much of her early theater life. She is a proud Young Company alum, and a graduate
of the Boston Conservatory where she earned a BFA in musical theater. Her previous
credits include: The Producers, The Marvelous Wonderettes, How to Succeed…, 42nd
Street and the Gershwin Spectacular with the Boston Pops. Laura is the proud co-
founder/artistic director at Boxcar Stage Company, an educational theater program that
serves the South Shore of MA (@boxcarstagecompany). Additionally, Laura is also the
co-director of the theater program at Milton High School. She would like to thank her
husband Stephen (her partner in all things), her family, the Boxcar kids and her two
crazy pups Duncan & Maisie.
CHRISTIAN DAVID* he/him (Rusty Charlie) is excited to be making his debut with
Greater Boston Stage Company! He was most recently seen playing the role of Flotsam
in Franklin Performing Arts Company's production of The Little Mermaid, with other
favorite role credits including Donkey (Shrek the Musical), Sebastian (The Little
Mermaid), and CC White (Dreamgirls). He is a student at Berklee College of Music
completing his Bachelor of Arts in Professional Music with a Minor in Musical Theater. A
recording artist, actor and producer, Christian is extremely passionate, and his work has
been praised by many from across the Country.
CHIP PHILLIPS* he/him (Arvide) is delighted to be back at GBSC where he appeared
in Titanish and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Off-Broadway:
Machiavelli, Perfect Crime. Regional: The Full Monty, Falsettos, Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels, 1776. Local credits include I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change,
Beauty and the Beast, The Gig, Sleuth, She Loves Me, The Front Page, Lend Me a
Tenor, Das Barbecu, The Dresser, and Bed and Sofa.
JOHN PAGLIARULO+ he/him (Understudy) A proud young company alumni, is
overjoyed to be back home onstage at GBSC. John is currently earning his BFA at The
Hartt School and recently finished classical training at Drama Studio London. Regional
Theatre credits include A Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol (GBSC), Twelfth Night, A
Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cape Cod Shakespeare Festival). You can also see him
this month at the Boston New Works Festival Meet Me in The Bathroom (Moonbox
Productions). A huge thank you to Weylin and Ceit for this amazing opportunity and to
his family, friends, and pup, Adelaide, for all their support and love.
ALLISON RUSSELL+ she/her (Martha/Big Jule/Hot Box Girl 2) is thrilled to return to
GBSC after recently appearing in Titanish, which was one of her favorite shows to date!
She is a proud young company graduate and credits her love of theatre in large part to
GBSC. Favorite credits include Roxie in Chicago (Pentucket Players), Maggie in A
Chorus Line (Reagle Music Theatre), and Mae in LaChiusa’s The Wild Party (Moonbox
Productions). When she isn’t onstage, you can find her performing as a kindergarten
teacher on the North Shore. Allison would like to thank her Dad for his support. “Always
for Mom. LYM.”
HANNAH SHIHDANIAN she/her (Angie the Ox/Mimi/Hot Box Girl 3) is thrilled to return
to GBSC! She is the Founder of HDC, a fitness and dance community for adults and
teens. HDC has a strong social mission and has raised money for the National Network
of Abortion Funds, PFLAG, NAACP, The BLAC Project, relief aid in Ukraine, and more.
She is also the Program Director for Wellesley Theatre Project (directed and
choreographed over 50 productions). She has performed with the A.R.T., The Umbrella
Stage Co., Reagle Music Theatre and more. Her favorite role is performing as Stage
Manager for her three kids! www.hannahsdancecommunity.com IG:
hannahsdancecommunity
DARREN PAUL he/him (Harry The Horse) Greater Stage Boston Company: All Is
Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (Understudy), Actors’ Shakespeare Project: King
Hedley II (Understudy), Lyric Stage Boston: Assassins (Ensemble), Sight & Sound
Theatres: JESUS (James The Less), NOAH (Guard #1), Theatre Three: Passing
Strange (Youth), Memphis (Gator), Hot Mikado (Poo-Bah), Civil War
Christmas(Ensemble), Ochre House Theatre: Smile, Smile Again (Soldier), Original
Man (Ray-Ray), Jubilee Theatre: The Color Purple (Ensemble), Smokey Joe’s Cafe
(Fred), It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues (Ron). Darren is a recipient of an Irma P. Hall
Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He would like to thank God for his family, his
friends, and Mis. Instagram: @mistadpmc
KAEDON GRAY he/him (Calvin/Brannigan) is pleased to make his debut with GBSC.
Also a singer and pop song writer, his most recent acting credits include: Don, Kaleo
and Kendrick, Queer Voices 10-Minute Play Festival (Boston Theater Co); Snow Cone
Dancer, Rocky Menorah Christmas Show (Gold Dust Orphans); and PrEP ads :) Love
to D.
ABIGAIN MARTIN+ she/her (Agatha/Hot Box Girl 1) is thrilled to be back with GBSC!
She is a recent graduate of Stoneham High School and will continue her education in
theater arts at Salem State University! She has participated in the METG acting
competition where she won 2 acting awards for performances in I Never Saw Another
Butterfly. Recent credit includes The Little Mermaid (Ariel). Favorite credits include
Heathers (Veronica Sawyer) and Mean Girls (Regina George). She's performed with,
SHS Drama Club (former vice president), New England School of Performing Arts, and
Broken Leg Productions. Recent GBSC Young Company credit includes Fun Home
(Helen Bechdel).
AUTUMN BLAZON-BROWN+ she/her (Understudy) is excited to be back at
GBSC after appearing in Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Autumn is an
actor, choreographer, and teaching artist. Previous acting credits include: The
Old Man and the Old Moon (Matheson) at Rodger’s Center for the Arts; Carrie:
The Musical (Norma) at Arts After Hours; The Dream Factory: Femme
Fatale and The Dream Factory: The 60 Most Fascinating People (Ingrid
Superstar) with Silver Dream Projects at Dixon Place; The Lesbian
Invasion (Actor 4) at Fresh Ink Theatre. She holds a degree in Theatre and
Performance from Purchase College.
PROMOTIONAL IMAGES - Download at
https://www.greaterbostonstage.org/press-kit/
Featured Photography by: Gillian Gordon
ABOUT GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY
We bring vibrant professional theatre and dramatic education beyond the boundaries
of Boston, featuring world and regional premieres alongside fresh interpretations of
familiar work. Within this setting, we uniquely foster the artists of tomorrow by
providing ongoing performance and employment opportunities to our company of
current and former students. Now in its 24th Season of live theatre in Stoneham, MA,
Greater Boston Stage Company produces six Mainstage shows, presents a series
of Special Events, and runs year-round classes, lessons, and fully staged productions
through The Young Company for students in grades 1–12.
Box Office: (781) 279-2200; [email protected]
Box Office Hours: Tuesdays – Fridays, noon to 4pm
Location: 395 Main Street, Stoneham, MA 02180
Website: greaterbostonstage.org
Facebook: Greater Boston Stage Company
Twitter: @GBStageCompany
Instagram: gbstageco
Show Sponsor: The Savings Bank
Sponsors: Mass Cultural Council, Salem Five Charitable Foundation, and
StonehamBank.
