Zachary Chiero, Mandy Irons and Matt Bodo of the Merely Players Theatre Company join me for a conversation about the upcoming production of the musical Guys and Dolls.

Four Corners Arts Forum

In this episode I’m excited to be speaking with three members of the Merely Players Theatre Company here in Durango, Colorado. The company was founded by Mona Wood-Patterson and her husband Charles Ford in 1994, bringing professional theatre to our community. Joining me in the studio are Mandy Irons and Matt Bodo both actors in the upcoming production of Guys and Dolls a classic from the Golden Age of musical theatre. Matt will be playing Nathan Detroit and Mandy will be playing his fiancé Adelaide. Also joining us is Zachery Chiero Assistant Director of Merely Players who will be a choreographer for the production along with his husband Dallas Padovin creating the many wonderful and complex song and dance scenes.

Guys and Dolls, written by Abe Burrows and Jo Sterling takes place in 1950’s New York City and is a story about “gamblers and sin up against purity and redemption”. The story highlights the relationships of three couples and their differences, but in the end “love conquers all”. Nathan Detroit and Adelaide have been engaged for 14 years and although they love each other very much, Nathan is having a difficult time choosing between spending time with Adelaide and his gambling buddies which he has kept a secret. The set for this play is unique with audiences on both sides representing a New York alley with one of the scenes taking place in a sewer. Once again Mona and Charles keep things fresh with their endless creativity and talent that they bring to Durango’s theatre scene.

Zachary and Dallas who won the Best Choreography Broadway World Award for their work on Merely Player’s production of Chicago, bring their talents to this performance of Guys and Dolls. Besides being a choreographer with the company Zachary wears many hats as singer, actor and director. In addition he is also Associate Artistic Director Enchantment Theatre in Philadelphia.

Matt Bodo who is originally from Durango was classically trained with a BFA in acting from CU Boulder and a veteran of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Matt honed his theatre, writing, and stand-up comedy skills in New York City for 10 years and after returning to Durango he played Ebenezer Scrooge’s voice with Durango Theatreworks’ holiday radio-play of A Christmas Carol. He has appeared in numerous Merely Players productions including Caliban in Shakespear’s The Tempest, Radio DJ Frank in Hands on a Hardbody and Henry in Book of Will for which he won 2024 Broadway World Denver Award for Best Performer. He also writes for Durango Magazine.

Mandy Irons also appeared in The Book of Will as Henry’s wife played by Matt Bodo, in Bright Star as Alice and directed and played Sugar in Tiny Beautiful Things for Merely’s Stdio series. She is a minister at Christ the King Lutheran Church and sings in the Durango Women’s Choir.

Guys and Dolls opens April 25th and runs through May 11th, there are 8 evening shows at 7pm and 3 matinees at 2pm. For more information and to buy tickets you can visit their website at www.merelyplayers.org. If a performance is sold out, you can show up 30 minutes ahead of time with a good chance of getting a spare ticket.