Zion Opera Workshop, which has been presenting annual musicals in Lehighton for nearly half a century, continues with the staging of "Guys and Dolls" on March 1, 2, and 3.

The show will be on the stage of Smith Auditorium in Zion United Church of Christ, Second and Iron Sts., Lehighton."Guys and Dolls" is a story that all centers on a bet.Nathan Detroit (Michael Muffley) bets high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson (Brent Harris) that Sky cannot persuade Save-A-Soul Missionary Sister Sarah Brown (Jessica Schafer) to accompany him on a trip to Cuba.When the worldly Sky works his charms on a wary Sarah, Nathan is doing his best to stay outside the matrimonial clutches of his long-suffering fiancee, Miss Adelaide (Becky Herd)."Guys and Dolls" is a fable about what happens to gambling men and the women who long to tame them.The show is set in colorful 1950s New York City and is a comical story with larger than life characters such as Nicely Nicely Johnson (Dave Zimmerman), Benny Southstreet (Bryan Buffington), Rusty Charlie (Jason Peters), Harry the Horse (Eric Werley) and Lt. Brannigan (Justin Plocinick).The Mission Band is headed up by Sarah's grandfather, Arvide Abernathy (Bob Fatzinger), and General Matilda B. Cartwright (Lydia Anthony).Other mission band members include Alley Smith, Michelle Stoudt, Teah Garrison, Monica Handwerk, Mikayla Blakeslee, Jim Blakeslee, and Craig Peters.Miss Adelaide's Hot Box friends are played by Patricia Peters, Alissa Muffley, Laura Cressley, and Elyse Kistler.Other Hot Box dancers include Casi Reichard, Kaitlyn Piekarski, Alyssa Huntington, Evy Heckman, and Tina Becker.Other supporting roles include: Angie the Ox (Adam Reichard), Joey Biltmore (Ryan Miorelli), Big Jule (Matt Poirer), master of ceremonies (Jonathan Rodgers), drunk (Noah Smith), waiter (Nicolai Kabana).Dice rollers are Josiah Behrens, Darren Wagner, and Kane Zerbe. New York City citizens are portrayed by Dave Krum, Schyler Cordova, Jennifer Plocinick, Brandon Cressley, Martha Cox, Gavin Krum, Thomas Phelan, Lorena Glissen, Erin McGinley, and Judy Harris.The musical director for Zion Opera Workshop is Brad Cressley and the stage director is Dave Zimmerman.Technical directors for the show are Pati and Duane Reichard; choreography is by Deb Strausberger of TNT Studo of Dance.The rehearsal pianist is Cindy Mack.As always, the show will be accompanied by the Zion Opera Workshop Orchestra.Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. each of the three nights, with a Saturday matinee showing at 2 p.m.Tickets are available from any cast member, at Carbon County Music and More, 115 S. Second St., Lehighton, or by calling box office manager Sue Yeastedt, weeknights from 6-8 p.m., at 610-377-4667.