Triumphant Guys & Dolls opens on Sydney Harbour

A brand-new production of the Broadway classic musical Guys & Dolls opened tonight with a full house and thunderous applause echoing across Sydney Harbour, where it will play under the stars for a strictly limited 4-week season at Mrs Macquaries Point.

A glamourous, star-studded opening night crowd buzzed with anticipation as they ascended the Red Carpet and caught their first glimpse of the impressive overwater stage and world class views of Sydney’s dazzling harbour.

Audiences were wowed by Cody Simpson as the suave Sky Masterson, matched by the vocally splendid Annie Aitkin as Sarah Brown. Bobby Fox as Nathan Detroit and Angelina Thomson as Miss Adelaide also delighted the rapturous crowd. Jason Arrow as Nice-Nicely Johnson performed a show stopping rendition of ‘Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat’, a tune that kept everyone’s toes tapping well into the wee hours.

The classic production has been entirely refreshed, and super-sized, under the direction of awardwinning Shaun Rennie with all new orchestrations by Jack Earle Musical Director Guy Simpson, who conducted the performance, giving the well-known tunes extra spark and vitality.

Surprising elements of the larger-than-life set by designer Brian Thomson unfolded throughout the night, including the giant centrepiece New York City yellow taxi, which transformed into a variety of different scenes throughout the show.

In a magical twist, the Opera Australia Orchestra have been released from their usual subterranean location below the stage, putting them on display in a purpose-built, fully enclosed sky-deck for the very first time in the event’s 14 year history.

Choreographer Kelley Abbey’s all new dance moves sparkled across the stage as some of Australia’s best singers and dancers, performed a host of Broadway bangers, including ‘Take Back Your Mink’ and ‘Luck Be a Lady’, lavishly costumed by designer Jennifer Irwin,

Regarded as one of the finest musicals ever written Guys & Dolls has enjoyed huge success since its premiere on Broadway in 1950, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

From its adaptation to a Hollywood film in 1955 starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando, to Sydney Harbour’s latest smash hit production, Guys & Dolls continues to prove its timeless appeal as a classic musical theatre favourite.

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is supported by the NSW Government, via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and through the International Foundation for Arts and Culture as Naming Rights Partner, Dr Haruhisa Handa OA’s Patron in Chief, and OA’s Principal Partner HSBC.

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Season Details

Venue: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour
Date: 21 Mar – 20 Apr 2025

For more information click HERE