Just the Ticket for Weekend Fun: Guys and Dolls Jr. at Scarsdale Middle School

Ten dollars normally doesn't buy you much around here. You could maybe get a half-pound of bakery cookies (and do hours of Pilates as penance). But this weekend, ten bucks can score you a much sweeter deal: the chance to see a musical starring Scarsdale's very own eighth graders! The Scarsdale Middle School Players are presenting Guy & Dolls, Jr. at 7 pm on Friday, March 14th and Saturday, March 15th, at the Middle School Auditorium. Tickets are on sale from 11 am to 1 pm all week at the school's Great Hall; any remaining seats will be sold on performance nights. (But why take your chances? Buy now!).

"We selected the musical for its traditional and fun flavor," says Rachele Ketterer, the production's choreographer. "It's a great play for middle-school students because there are many full- and partial-cast numbers." (Translation: Your favorite little guy--or doll--will be getting plenty of soft-shoe time on stage!). The kids are ready for their close-ups, thanks to plenty of hard work. "We've been rehearsing for weeks," Ketterer says.

If you're unfamiliar with this classic 1950s Frank Loesser musical, you're in for a toe-tapping treat. It's about dice-rollers and do-gooders in 1930s Times Square, and the hilarity that ensues when their worlds collide. Chances are you've at least heard some of the tunes before: "There are songs that everyone should expect to know, such as 'Luck Be a Lady,' " Ketterer reveals. And if you ever caught the 1955 movie version, you'll be floored at how well our kids stack up against Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, and Jean Simmons. "The comedy stylings of some of the actors playing gamblers are a pleasure to watch--the students have really started to perfect their comedic timing," Ketterer says.

All they need to hit it home? Our support! It's crucial to the kids' self-esteem and development, Ketter explains. "The musical is a place for any student to shine, regardless of academic or athletic achievement. A large audience helps the kids feel all their hard work was worthwhile. The laughs are bigger and the applause is louder, so the kids can fully rise to the occasion." So go ahead and get your ticket today--it's no gamble. A great time is guaranteed!

Deborah Skolnik is the proud Greenacres mother of Guys & Dolls do-gooder.