NEW York comes to York when New Earswick Musical Society performs Guys And Dolls at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre from April 24 to 27.

The two lead actresses in New Earswick’s spring production have a wealth of experience in musical theatre. Intriguingly, both Carol Richardson and Jo Pears have performed the role of Eliza Doolittle in the society’s productions of My Fair Lady.

Carol, who is also in charge of ticket sales, will play Adelaide. She has many New Earswick principal roles to her name, including Dolly in Hello, Dolly, Nancy in Oliver!, Mother in the Yorkshire premiere of The Railway Children, Aunt Eller in Oklahoma! and Anna in The King And I. “I’m enjoying exploring a comedy role in Guys And Dolls,” she says.

Jo Pears adds Sarah Brown to her long list of leads in such musicals as Carousel, Oklahoma! and The Wizard Of Oz. After studying at Harrogate Drama College, Jo joined enthusiastically in the theatre scene in York, where she was stage manager for the 1988 York Mystery Plays and was the secretary for the first committee to run the Joseph Rowntree Theatre.

Chris Hagyard will be playing Nicely-Nicely Johnson in his fourth appearance with New Earswick. He first performed on stage in the title role in Oliver! at York Theatre Royal and made an appearance on Any Dream Will Do, the BBC’s televised hunt for a Joseph for Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the West End. He succeeded in reaching the final 50 from more than 9,000 people who auditioned.

Now he is focusing on rehearsals for Guy And Dolls and in particular his favourite number, the rollicking Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat.

Based on Damon Runyon’s risqué yarns, the show features a book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling and music and lyrics by Frank Loesser.

Its fable of the strange underworld of Broadway, where the “guys are a bit naughty”, is directed and choreographed for New Earswick by society stalwart Ann McCreadie. Musical director Don Pears oversees such songs as Luck Be A Lady, the chirpy A Bushel And a Peck and the romantic I’ve Never Been Loved.

Tickets for Wednesday to Saturday’s 7.30pm shows and the 2.30pm matinee on April 27 cost £13, concessions £12, children £9, online at newearswickmusicalsociety.co.uk