NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to Reading High School and our performance of GUYS AND DOLLS! We are excited to perform for you today. Please join us as we enter this musical fable of Broadway. Over the past three months, we have worked hard to create a fun and compelling production. I am honored to have directed such an amazing group of young performers, and we hope you enjoy the show.
2025 marks 75 years since Guys and Dolls premiered on Broadway and 30 years since it was last performed on the Reading High stage. This "Golden Age" musical comedy still holds up today because of its timeless themes, witty dialogue, and unforgettable music. Structurally, it is written much like a classic TV sitcom, taking us back to a time when a happy ending was guaranteed in all popular entertainment.
We easily relate to Guys and Dolls because, at its core, it’s about risk—both in gambling and in love. The characters take chances, struggle with commitment, and wrestle with their own flaws, much like we do in real life. In many ways, putting on a high school musical feels the same. Every production is a gamble—from choosing the show to casting, rehearsing, raising money, advertising, and countless hours of preparation, all leading up to opening night. Tonight, we roll the dice, betting that our hard work will once again pay off and that the show will be a hit. That’s the happy ending we’re reaching for.
I want to give a special shoutout to my crew of teachers who have worked so hard to bring this show to life—Holly, Kate, Joe O., Alli, Kaitlyn, and Savannah. This show reminds us that sometimes the biggest gamble is learning to trust one another. I appreciate all of you, and I’m grateful that we are all friends.
Finally, a truly successful production involves more than what is presented on stage. We would not have reached this point without the cooperation, respect, commitment, and teamwork of our students, their parents, our faculty, staff, administrators, the RSD central administration, and the Reading community. It amazes me that, despite everything happening around us, we are still able to put on a production like this. And it thrills me even more that you are here in the audience tonight. I hope you enjoy our show and continue to support live theatre and the arts in our schools.
Sincerely,
Joseph S. Smith
Director, Reading High Music Theatre
