Guys and Dolls hitting Wolverhampton Grand

Get set to tap your toes as Guys and Dolls hits the stage in Wolverhampton while Birmingham comes over all hip.

Popular amateur performers, South Staffs Musical Theatre Company, roll their way into the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre next week with the classic musical comedy Guys and Dolls.

Based on the short stories by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, Guys and Dolls is probably best remembered for the 1955 film of the same name, staring Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando.

All the hot gamblers are in town and they're relying on Nathan Detroit to find a place for "The Oldest Established, Permanent, Floating Crap Game In New York!" Only problem is, Nathan needs 1,000 US?dollars to secure a place.

With the pressure from his fiancée of 14 years, Miss Adelaide, to get married and money worries, things look bleak for Nathan, until high roller Sky Masterson shows up.

Nathan bets Sky 1,000 US dollars that he cannot take Mission Doll, Sarah Brown, to Havana for the night, but Sky who is always up for a challenge takes the bet, succeeds and falls in love.

With a whole host of memorable tunes, including I've Never Been In Love Before, If I Were a Bell, Luck Be A Lady and of course the rousing chorus number Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat, Guys and Dolls is an amateur company's dream show.

Drama teacher Lucy-Ellen Parker, who runs The Lollipop Theatre School in Brewood, takes the role of Sarah, with West Midland Police worker, Simon McGee from Lower Gornal as Sky.

Comedy lead, Miss Adelaide is played by Penn school teacher Maria Shee, who has also choreographed the show, with Roger Stokes from Willenhall as long-suffering Nathan.

"The whole company is a real team," said spokesperson for the group Teresa Castle.

"Whether you are in the chorus or taking a leading role, at South Staffs we are a very close knit group of all ages, who work hard, but still have fun."

"This show has been particularly hard work for the men in the group, as the Crapshooters have several numbers to perform and they have been very well drilled by our choreographer, Maria. The ladies have had a much easier time of it!"

Tickets for Guys and Dolls are available from the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01902 429212 or visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk to book online.

Elsewhere in the Midlands love, mistaken identity, cross-dressing and revolution are the themes that will be explored in an all-action production of Some Like It Hip Hop. The creators of Into The Hoods are bringing their production to Birmingham's Hippodrome from Thursday until October 15.

Venue spokeswoman Mandy Rose said: "With a nod to Billy Wilder's much loved film and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Some Like it Hip Hop is played out in ZooNation's trademark style of hip hop, comedy and physical theatre."

A spokesman for ZooNation said the dance company was looking forward to its stint in the West Midlands and added: "The company's main focus is creating pieces of full-length narrative hip hop dance theatre."

Tickets are available online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com