Guys and Dolls: Craig Bierko and Kate Jennings Grant join cast

Craig Bierko will star as 'Sky Masterson' and Kate Jennings Grant will also star as 'Sarah Brown' in the new Broadway production of Guys and Dolls, directed by Des McAnuff, the Tony Award-Winning director of Jersey Boys, opening at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre on 1 Mar 2009, following previews from 3 Feb 2009.

Craig Bierko and Kate Jennings Grant will star alongside the previously announced Oliver Platt (Nathan Detroit) and Lauren Graham (Miss Adelaide).

Further casting and design team will be announced shortly.

Craig Bierko was nominated for a Tony Award when he made his Broaday debut playing 'Harold Hill' 'The Music Man' (2000 revival). He last appeared on Broadway in 'Thou Shalt Not' (Laurent LeClaire: 2001). He was to star in Manhattan Theatre Club's recent Broadway production of 'To Be Or Not To Be,' but withdrew from the production, for reasons unknown, before it began previews. Off-Broadway he has starred in 'Modern Orthodox' (New World Stages Stage III). His film work includes 'The Long Kiss Goodnight,' 'Cinderella Man,' ' Scary Movie 4.'

Kate Jennings Grant's Broadway credits are 'An American Daughter' (Quincy Quince - replacement: 1997) and 'Proof' (Claire - replacement: 2000). Earlier this year she starred off-Broadway in the Roundabout's productioin of 'The Marriage of Bette and Boo.' Her other off-Broadway credits include 'Between Us' (MTC), 'The Beard of Avon' (New York Theatre Workshop), 'Radiant Baby' (Public), 'Summer of '42' (Variety Arts Theatre) and 'Wonderland' (American Place Theatre). She will be seen as 'Diane Sawyer' in the film version of Peter Morgan's play, 'Frost/Nixon,' directed by Ron Howard, to be released in Jan 2009.

With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the musical marks the first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, 'Urinetown') and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys.

Guys and Dolls brings to life the Broadway of the 1940's, inhabited by gamblers, nightclub performers and members of the Salvation Army, in search of sinners to cure. The score includes the songs 'Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat', 'Luck Be A Lady Tonight' and 'Take Back Your Mink'.

The musical is based on 'The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown' and 'Blood Pressure,' two short stories by Damon Runyon. It also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably 'Pick the Winner'.

Guys and Dolls was first produced on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre, opening on 24 Nov 1950. It was directed by George S. Kaufman and starred Robert Alda, Sam Levene, Isabel Bigley and Vivian Blaine. The productioin won 5 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Director, Best Choreography (Michael Kidd), Best Actor (Robert Aida) and Best Festured Actress (Isabelle Bigley).

The musical enjoyed an initial run of 1,201 performances, winning five 1951 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Director, Best Choreography (Michael Kidd), Best Actor (Robert Aida) and Best Festured Actress (Isabelle Bigley).

The show was revived on Broadway in 1955, 1965, 1977 and 1995.