Guys and Dolls Lyrics – All Songs from the Musical

The show premiered on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre in the late 1950s. Until its closure three years after, histrionics collected 1200 hits, after which it was decided to write a musical on vinyl plates (which was done by Decca Records sound company). With the opening of the original production of the musical, there was much positive feedback from the well-known critics about this play in the newspapers, marking the extremely talented music and dance numbers. This production in 1951 was nominated for 5 Tonies & won them all. In the West End, Great Britain, a staging opened in 1953 & 550+ spectacles have been undertaken. The show had a great success & has become a popular choice for performances in schools and community theaters. Its short revival was in 1955 – 1966 were years when a musical was staged from time to time, but on Broadway, the performance was fully revived only in July 1976 and has been shown for 239 times with an additional 12 previews. After that time, it has been revived many times more (up to 2015), nominated for various awards, and the spectacle was a success. In 1955, the motion picture with the same name was filmed after a musical. The actor’s set included hit movie stars of those times: Sinatra & Brando, among others. In early 2013, 20th C. Fox has bought the rights on the histrionics, planning to invite on the shooting actors like C. Tatum & J. Gordon-Levitt.

Synopsis: Guys and Dolls 1950.

Guys and Dolls marries hustlers, missionaries, and romance. New York breathes in technicolor slang.

Nathan runs a floating craps game. Adelaide wants a ring, finally.

High-roller Sky bets he can woo Sarah. Havana stirs everything. Hearts misdeal, then align.

Creation and sources.

Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

Based on Damon Runyon’s short stories. Streetwise prose becomes musical oxygen.

Original Broadway production details.

Premiere date, November 24, 1950. 46th Street Theatre housed the run.

Directed by George S. Kaufman. Choreography by Michael Kidd, kinetic and witty.

Design by Jo Mielziner. Costumes by Alvin Colt. 1,200 performances, a juggernaut.

Stars included Robert Alda, Sam Levene, Isabel Bigley, and Vivian Blaine.

Won 1951 Tony Award for Best Musical. A landmark triumph.

Signature songs and moments.

• “Adelaide’s Lament.” Comedy meets heartbreak, in sneezes and sighs.
• “Luck Be a Lady.” Gambling turns into prayer.
• “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” Showstopper, pure lift.
• “If I Were a Bell.” Havana loosens Sarah’s guard.

Film adaptation.

1955 film starred Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, and Vivian Blaine.

Revival history highlights.

Broadway revivals arrived in 1976, 1992, and 2009. Styles shifted, core stayed.

West End revivals bloomed in 1982, 2005, and 2015. London stayed loyal.

Immersive London reinvention.

Bridge Theatre reframed the show with promenade staging. Crowds stood, thrilled.

Final extension reached January 4, 2025. A victorious, buzzy sendoff.

Leads included Owain Arthur and Timmika Ramsay during later casting. Chemistry sparked.

2025 regional momentum.

Major regionals kept the dice hot in 2025. Houses sold, smiles widened.

Awards and recordings.

The original cast album earned GRAMMY Hall of Fame recognition years later.

Why it endures.

• Perfect blend of grit and glow. New York sings.
• Characters leap off the page, flawed and lovable.
• Loesser’s score dovetails story and swing.
• Comedy lands, then the tenderness lingers.

Production insights for creatives.

• Let the mission band feel urgent, not quaint.
• Lean into Adelaide’s agency, not just gags.
• Stage the craps game as choreography, pulse-forward.
• Havana sequence should feel intoxicating, not touristic.

SEO focus and key terms.

Primary keywords, Guys and Dolls 1950, Frank Loesser, Broadway musical, Damon Runyon.

Secondary keywords, original Broadway cast, Michael Kidd, Bridge Theatre, revival.

Questions and Answers.

When did Guys and Dolls premiere on Broadway?

November 24, 1950, at the 46th Street Theatre.

Who wrote the music and lyrics?

Frank Loesser wrote both, sharp, melodic, character-first.

Which stories inspired the musical?

Damon Runyon’s tales shaped plot, tone, and slang.

What awards did the original production win?

It won the 1951 Tony for Best Musical, among others.

Is there a standout modern revival to note?

Yes, Bridge Theatre’s immersive staging. It extended through early 2025.

Original cast album, basic metadata.

Label, Decca. Format shifted, 78s to LP to CD, then digital.