Portlaoise Musical Society's big reveal is a dazzling Broadway classic

Portlaoise Musical Society has made the eagerly anticipated announcement of its show to mark 25 years entertaining Laois audiences.

Taking place from November 16-23, the Society is proud to present what it says will be its most spectacular show yet -  Guys & Dolls - a musical fable of Broadway.

The show is one of the most revered musicals in Broadway history that is sure to dazzle and blow the roof off the Dunamaise Arts Centre when it's brought to life later this year.

The news was revealed at their AGM on March 21 at the Arts Centre where the Society also revealed brief plans for their 25th Anniversary including a concert in collaboration with Dunamaise Arts Centre’s 25th Anniversary and a special Gala event in the autumn. Further details will be announced soon. 

The Society enjoyed a sell-out success, standing ovations and rave reviews for their most recent show Made in Dagenham, last November and Sunshine on Leith, featuring the music of The Proclaimers in 2022. The members are really excited now to bring one of the most beloved and traditional Broadway shows to the stage at Dunamaise for its Portlaoise revival. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: The 2023 Committee - Brian Rohan, Dawn Kavanagh, Gina Rohan, Helen Flynn, JJ Tynan; Julie Kennedy, Caroline O'Brien, Derek McGinn, Sarah O'Sullivan, Lorraine O'Callaghan and Johnny Mulhare.

Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys & Dolls ran for 1,200 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1950. It received nearly unanimous positive reviews from critics and won a bevy of awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desks, and Oliviers.

Frequently revived across the world, the show has been done with numerous all-star casts including productions/concerts featuring Ewan McGregor, Jane Krakowski, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Jessica Biel.

Guys And Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong. The original production of Guys and Dolls got what might be the most unanimously ecstatic reviews in Broadway history. The year it opened, it received a record-breaking one million dollars for the motion picture rights. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Lauren Maher, Aishling Rohan, Brian Rohan, Chloe Finlay at the AGM.

Set in Damon Runyon's mythical New York City, Guys & Dolls is an oddball romantic comedy that centres around Gambler Nathan Detroit, his girlfriend, nightclub performer Adelaide, his fellow gambler Sky Masterson and straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown. 

Portlaoise Musical Society, established in 1999, first took to the stage with the show Oklahoma under the helm of Chairperson Timmy Keane. It immediately captivated its members and audiences with its fabulous productions and were winners of many awards over the years.

The society went from strength to strength and in 2019, won  ‘Best Overall Show’ with Titanic - The Musical in the A.I.M.S. (All Ireland Musical Awards)  and ‘Best Overall Show’ (Runner-up), ‘Best Visual’ and ‘Best Actor’ (Shane Kelly) with ‘Ragtime-The Musical’ in 2020! The society were also Runners-Up at the 2023 AIMS Awards for ‘Best House Management’, ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role’ and ‘Best Technical’. 

Pictured: Shannon Moran, Niamh Delaney and Alannah Conroy at the AGM.

Following their massive success with Made in Dagenham, sponsored by Downeys Autostop in November 2023, Portlaoise Musical Society are hopeful of some success yet again, at this year’s AIMS Awards in Killarney in June. Nominations will be announced as part of a live online broadcast in May.

Further details of the anniversary events and Guys & Dolls will follow in the coming weeks and months.