Springville Art Center’s latest musical, “Guys and Dolls,” is in its final week of dress rehearsal. With just a half-dozen days or so until opening day, the trial performance was not a scene of tranquility.

The stage musical, originally produced in 1950, was taken from a couple of different short stories by Damon Runyon. It is probably best known from the movie staring Marlin Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine among others.

There is a multitude of dance/action scenes and the Springville Art Center’s stage is not large; some numbers have close to 20 performers on at the same time.

I did not see choreographer Trish Staszek in action, but she must be good. The “Crapshooter’s Dance” involves men who you might not describe as ‘graceful’ in their everyday lives but there were no on-stage collisions and no one was stepped on. I would think that would happen often, especially when the scenes include such a large group of men.

Adelaide, played by Karn Sorensen and the “Hot Box Girls,” Arlene Myers, Julie Noeson, Rebecca Runge and Sara Forsyth perform a feisty “Take Back Your Mink.” It was enjoyable enough. Before the first actual performances begin, they will know it well enough to take it on the road.

Director Sue Sorensen works with musical directors Georgia Miller and Kim Higgins. I have witnessed Sorensen’s directing style in the past; it is usually somewhat relaxed. This time around, maybe because it is such a large cast, she is running a tight ship, whipping actors into shape and is very precise in her instructions.

Sorensen said, “We haven’t done a lot of plays in that space. To do a large musical you have to haul the scenery and the furniture around the stage. Doug Bailey designed the set; it has three set pieces, which have (removable) panels. It is a challenge for the actors who do all this and we are working away on it.”

In local theater, there is always a wide diversity in talent and ability. As usual, there are some stunning voices you wouldn’t believe could come from an area with as small a population as Western New York.

I watched Kim Higgins play ‘Sarah Brown’ decades ago in the high school production of this same musical. When she started to sing this time around, it reminded me of what a wonderful voice she has. In their duet, she and her romantic lead, Sky Masterson, played by Mark Bofinger, were just beginning to meld harmonies. This is Bofinger’s first time on stage in 25 years. Back then, he was involved with many amateur productions through groups from the Aurora Players to the Canisius College Chorale. He and Higgins will be a stunning combination when they work out the kinks.

Set changes were a bit slow in the rehearsal I saw but to be fair they were still streamlining the process. In a later interview, Sorensen indicated that they had made a major overhaul to the scene changing process.

“Guys and Dolls” is a piece of modern American history. The cast and production crew of this show have many decades of experience, and at least half a dozen have performed in, or worked on previous productions of the play.

It should be an entertaining night out. For more information e-mail the SCA at sca@springvillearts.org or call 592-9038. Performances are November 5-8 and 12-15.