32 The Queens Courier • JUly 16, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com QUEENS THESPIANS BRING ‘GUYS AND DOLLS’ ALIVE ON L.I. BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAF [email protected] @QueensCourier The beloved musical “Guys and Dolls” comes to life with the help of Queens thespians. From lead roles to behind the scenes, Queens people play a big part in the production at the Landmark Theater on Main Street in Port Washington. The production directed by Astoria resident Brian Long tells the tale with a twist. Long’s production is a tribute to writer Damon Runyon, whose presence is felt throughout the play from the newsstand that is a wink to Runyon’s roots as a news man, to the time period of the play. Long sets the play in pre-war 1939, closer to when it was actually written. Vince LoRusso, born and raised in Little Neck, plays Nathan, and he credits the arts with giving him the courage to catapult his life in the right direction. He grew up with a group of friends who were less than enthused with the arts but he followed his own passion which led to roles in “Law & Order,” “Boardwalk Empire” and many other shows. Giving up was never in his vocabulary. He even founded a theater in Manhattan called Pantheon Players, where he honed his skills and gave the opportunity to fellow actors to do the same. Rob Gold from Whitestone plays Benny. Gold is a high school teacher at Francis Lewis High School but hasn’t let his day job get in the way of being an actor and a part of this musical’s passionate and committed ensemble. Gold started acting in community theater in 1989 and was hooked by the friendships and comradery he found there. Michael Santora, fresh off the national tour of “Anything Goes,” plays Skye Masterson. Although he has many credits under his belt, Michael comes out to Long Island to take part in “Guys and Dolls” for the opportunity to play the part of a lifetime and to do so with an ensemble of supportive and passionate actors. In the male-dominated musical, Karen Santaromita plays Sara. A physical therapist by trade, Karen has been a part of community theater for 15 years. Queens is even behind the scenes. Tim Lavelle, technical producer and stage manager, is from Bayside. He worked at the Old Forge and bartended at One Station Plaza. His day job these days is as a project manager for a construction company, but when he’s working on “Guys and Dolls,” he feels a connection to the community of actors and creatives that can’t be beat. “Guys and Dolls” can be seen at the Landmark Theatre at 232 Main St. in Port Washington. The show runs Thursday through Sunday, July 23 to 26; Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 26, at 2 p.m. Visit www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/1797431 to purchase tickets. A PROUD FAMILY CELEBRATES GRADUATES The Mattone family had four reasons to celebrate during its graduation party for four of its youngest members last month at the North Hills Country Club. Joseph Mattone III graduated from St. Mary’s High School and will be attending Manhattan College this fall, while Patricia Mattone graduated from Divine Wisdom Academy and will attend St. Mary’s High School this autumn. Xavier Mattone earned a diploma from Holy Cross High School and will join Joseph at Manhattan College, and Sophia Goris graduated from The Mary Louis Academy and will attend SUNY Old Westbury. Shown in these photos are Christina Bello along with parents Julie and Guy and grandparents Joe and Mary Ann Mattone.
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