Senior acting major Ashton Guthrie performs in “Guys & Dolls” at Pittsburgh Public Theater Jan 28-Feb 28.
After a “wonderful experience” performing in “My Fair Lady,” Ashton Guthrie, a senior acting major, is returning to the stage at Pittsburgh Public Theater for a production of “Guys and Dolls” set to start Jan. 28.
“Guys & Dolls” is set in the 1950s in New York City, where Nathan Detroit (Joel Hurt Jones) bets gambler Sky Masterson (Charlie Brady) that he can’t get the Save-A-Soul Mission’s Sarah Brown (Kimberly Doreen Burns) to go out with him. Nathan also runs the oldest established floating crap game in New York, which he hides from his girlfriend of 14 years, nightclub star Miss Adelaide (Kirsten Wyatt). Guthrie plays Angie the Ox, a singing and dancing gambler, in the upcoming production, while also being a full-time student.
While balancing school and performing at a professional level, Guthrie felt the Public Theater has become a permanent part of Point Park’s campus for him. He credits some of his ability to juggle academics and acting to the flexibility of the faculty at Point Park and “impeccable care” of Ted Pappas, Producing Artistic Director of the Public Theater, who understands his role as a student comes first. He aspires to move to New York City after graduating.
“Point Park has supplied me with great training, but most importantly professionalism,” Guthrie said. “My education here has given me a great advantage.”
All of Guthrie’s stage experience has also led him to receive membership into the Actor’s Equity Association, a labor union which represents over 49,000 actors and stage managers across the U.S. Guthrie describes the chance to be part of Actor’s Equity as a “blessing.”
Guthrie’s advice to other students hoping to involve themselves in professional theater during school is to “plan ahead whenever possible.”
“Remember that it won’t be easy, but you’ll get through it,” Guthrie said.
Michael Greer, a member of the ensemble in Guys & Dolls and a 2005 Point Park graduate, was given advice by one of his former professors, Mary Rawson, who said “an actor’s work is never done.”
“I didn’t know it then, but after 13 years of doing [theater], she couldn’t have been more right,” Greer said. “Never stop working hard, never stop taking class, and never stop trying to be better at your craft.”
While sustaining a teaching position at Pittsburgh Musical Theater and a role as choreographer for Quaker Valley High School’s musical “9 to 5,” Greer finds the time to continue pursuing his passion of performing.
“Point Park prepared me incredibly well for a career in theater, and I am happy to say that I have worked quite consistently since I graduated,” Greer said.
Adam Rossi, a junior acting major, performed with Guthrie in “Wild Duck” at the Pittsburgh Playhouse last semester and plans to support his friend by seeing the show. Rossi is excited to see a Point Park alum and Guthrie onstage at the Public Theater.
“It’s encouraging to see the opportunities that are available outside of school, and that professional theaters do hire Point Park graduates and even current students,” Rossi said.
“Guys & Dolls” runs Jan. 28 through Feb. 28 at the O’Reilly Theatre located on Penn Ave. Point Park students can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling (412) 316-1600 or visiting ppt.org.
