Live theatre makes a triumphant return to First Presbyterian Church (1702 Iowa St., Davenport) with a long-awaited production of Frank

“Guys and Dolls” stars Jennifer Cook Gregory, left, as Sarah, Patrick Downing as Sky,
Tom Vaccaro as Nathan and Dawn Hickenbottom as Adelaide.

Loesser’s classic musical “Guys and Dolls” on Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24. This production was originally scheduled for March 2020 and postponed as Covid-19 entered the Midwest just two weeks prior to opening night. After a series of further postponements, the church’s Performing Arts Series is pleased to produce the fully-staged musical with its original cast, crew and an orchestra.

The cast relaunched rehearsals in June under strict mitigation protocols, including wearing masks and using air purifiers during rehearsal. The robust cast of 25 is led by Tom Vaccaro as Nathan Detroit, Dawn Hickenbottom as Adelaide, Patrick Downing as Sky Masterson, Jennifer Cook Gregory as Sarah Brown, Mark Ruebling as Nicely Nicely Johnson, and Robert Gregory as Benny Southstreet. Rock Island County board member and WVIK radio personality Kai Swanson makes a special guest appearance. All musicals at First Presbyterian Church are

Jennifer Cook Gregory as Sarah Brown and Patrick Downing as Sky Masterson, in “Guys and Dolls” at First Presbyterian, Davenport.

produced with in-house talent and a top-notch creative team from the church that handles set design, props, costuming, choreography, and direction.

“Guys and Dolls” is one of the touchstone musicals in the theatre repertoire, according to First Presbyterian music director Matthew Bishop. The multiple Tony Award-winning show has been revived multiple times on Broadway following its 1,200-performance run after its 1950 opening. This fast-paced comedy was made even more famous by a 1955 movie adaptation starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, and Vivian Blaine. The show includes such great songs as “Luck Be a Lady,” “The Oldest Established,” “If I Were a Bell,” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”

Showtimes are 8 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, and are available at the door or online in advance, at https://bit.ly/2V8nEgm. Masks are required for all attendees, cast, and crew. For more information, visit www.fpcdavenport.org.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.