WHEELING, W.Va. — For travelers looking for an easy weekend getaway from Pittsburgh, Columbus or Cleveland, downtown Wheeling offers more than historic streets and riverfront views. This week, one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals is adding another reason to make the trip.
Oglebay Institute‘s Parcel Players will present Guys and Dolls Aug. 6-9 at Towngate Theatre, bringing a new generation of performers to the stage in a production of the Tony Award-winning classic.
Set in a colorful, mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls follows gamblers, showgirls and mission workers whose lives become intertwined through romance, unlikely friendships and a high-stakes wager. The musical features memorable songs including “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”
While the production offers audiences a chance to revisit one of Broadway’s enduring favorites, it also showcases one of the Ohio Valley’s longest-running opportunities for young performers to develop their theatrical talents.
A stage for the next generation
Parcel Players is Oglebay Institute’s summer theater program for students ages 13 to 21. Participants gain hands-on experience in acting, directing, choreography, lighting, costumes, set construction, and other aspects of theatrical production while collaborating on a full-scale performance.
This year’s production is directed and choreographed by Erin Gallagher Bond.
The principal cast features McKenna Everson as Sarah Brown, Austin Schwanker as Sky Masterson, Chloe Patt as Miss Adelaide, and Jacob Boyette as Nathan Detroit. Also appearing are Josie Figaretti as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Keyuri Morgan as Benny Southstreet, and Alex Fabrizio as Arvide Abernathy.
The Saturday evening performance will feature an alternate cast of lead performers, including Addison Hutson as Sarah, Zack Kuttie as Sky, Flannery Muscar as Adelaide, and JJ Brown as Nathan.
More than a night at the theater
Visitors making the short drive to Wheeling can easily turn the performance into a weekend getaway.
Towngate Theatre sits in the heart of Wheeling’s historic downtown, where restaurants, local shops and heritage attractions are within easy walking distance. Just a few miles away, Oglebay Park offers gardens, walking trails, golf, museums, a zoo and one of the region’s best-known public parks.
Together, the city’s historic downtown and Oglebay’s cultural and recreational attractions offer visitors a full weekend of experiences that blend Appalachian history, the performing arts and outdoor recreation.
Melissa Knollinger, director of marketing and communications for Oglebay Institute, said many of the organization’s larger events already attract visitors from well beyond the immediate Wheeling area.
She said audiences regularly travel from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, Columbus, Cleveland and throughout West Virginia, while signature events such as the Institute’s annual Antiques Show draw visitors from as far away as Philadelphia.
That regional appeal reflects Oglebay Institute’s long-standing role as one of Appalachia’s leading cultural organizations, presenting theater, visual arts, nature programming, museums and educational opportunities throughout the year.
A cultural tradition in the Ohio Valley
For decades, Oglebay Institute has helped shape the cultural life of the Upper Ohio Valley through theater, visual arts, museums, dance, music and nature programming. Its educational mission extends well beyond the stage, offering year-round classes, exhibitions and performances that serve residents while drawing visitors from across the region.
Knollinger said many of the Institute’s signature events attract audiences from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, Columbus, Cleveland and throughout West Virginia. Some of its largest annual programs, including the Oglebay Institute Antiques Show, welcome visitors from even farther away, including Philadelphia.
That regional appeal has made the nonprofit one of Appalachia’s leading cultural organizations and offers travelers another reason to include Wheeling on a weekend itinerary that combines history, entertainment and outdoor recreation.
Planning your visit
Performances run Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 6-8, at 7 p.m., with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday, Aug. 9.
Tickets are $17.50 and available through Oglebay Institute. Towngate Theatre is at 2118 Market St. in downtown Wheeling.
For visitors from Pittsburgh, the trip takes about an hour. Travelers from Columbus can reach Wheeling in roughly two hours, while the drive from Cleveland is about three hours—making the production an easy centerpiece for a summer weekend exploring one of West Virginia’s most historic cities.