The latest dinner show by the Triumvirate players, the Broadway smash “Guys & Dolls”, opened last weekend at the Triumvirate Theatre in Nikiski. Ten years ago Joe Rizzo opened the first Triumvirate theatre and book store in the Peninsula Center Mall. Later the group purchased and renovated an old big equipment garage in Nikiski and called it Triumvirate North and last summer opened the community’s first dinner theatre with performances of Broadway greats like White Christmas and Aladdin. “We were delighted with the community’s response to those shows so we decided to do a summer production right at the height of the salmon run when visitors from all over can come and enjoy the cultural achievements we’ve been able to produce at our theatre and yes dip net attire is appropriate, plus Guys & Dolls is one of my favorite shows, we have a great cast and Delana Duncan has done a superb job directing the show,” said Rizzo.
“It’s a great show filled with lots of music and a fun story line. All the hot gamblers are in town, and they’re all depending on one dude Nathan Detroit to set up ‘The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York’; the only problem is, he needs $1000 to get the place. Throw in a lonely missionary Sarah Brown, who’s short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, played by Jayton Rizzo, accepts Detroit’s $1000 bet that he can’t get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana, Cuba, remember the show is set in the 50’, then add in Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; Police Lieutenant Brannigan, who always seems to appear at the wrong time; and the music/lyrics of Frank Loesser, and you’ve got quite a musical, with a great local cast,” said Duncan. Baby Boomers will recall hit songs like “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat”. Nathan Detroit is played by Paul Aaronson of Soldotna and his fiancée Adelaide by Hannah Halliday who lead a cast of nearly 20 supporting actors.
With the original Triumvirate Theatre in Soldotna now closed, Rizzo encourages folks to come and visit the new theatre if they’ve not been there before, “You’re in for a treat, but don’t just drive by and judge by the outside of our building or expect a similar theatre as we had in the Mall because inside is a classy place that will surprise you with its’ elegance,” he said. Opening weekend was a near sell out and tickets are available for the final weekend July 25th & 26th. Deadline for reservations is 2:00 pm the night of each show and can be made at the Blue Grouse by calling 283-5600. “It’s a great deal, you get a gourmet chicken Oscar dinner with New York style strawberry cheesecake for desert from the Blue Grouse and a great show for only $39.00.” Learn more on their face book page at triumviratetheatre.
