It鈥檚 quite a story how actors Chelsea Rose and Jonathan Winsby met on set, began dating, are engaged to be married and now co-star in a big, fun, Broadway musical on the iconic Vancouver stage where their romance first blossomed.
性视界传媒 residents Rose and Winsby play Bible-thumping Sarah Brown and high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson in the Arts Club Theatre Company鈥檚 Guys & Dolls, which opened Wednesday (May 22) at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.
Rare is a chance for real-life lovers to play characters who kiss and, in this story set in 1950s New York City, fall for each other in a song-filled adventure of attracted opposites.
Rose was long ago given the role of Brown, but Winsby was late to the party when cast as Masterson and, in a fun, romantic twist, kept his involvement a secret from Rose until the last minute.
Smiling, she explains.
鈥淚 was given the role by (Arts Club artist director) Ashlie Corcoran just after The Sound of Music (in which she super-starred as Maria, also at the Stanley, in 2022),鈥� Rose said, 鈥渟o I鈥檝e been holding onto this role for a while.
鈥淭his guy, however, had left the industry and has been a mailman for the last couple of years,鈥� she added during a Zoom call with Winsby. 鈥淲hen he saw that I had this role and that they were auditioning the role of Sky, he thought he would email Ashley and ask if it would be worthwhile for him to come in and audition.鈥�
Winsby has performed in several shows at the Stanley over the years, including a 2021 production of Dolly Parton鈥檚 Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol, which also starred Rose. That鈥檚 when they first met.
鈥淚 kind of took some time off to do the regular 9-to-5 thing,鈥� he explained. 鈥淜nowing that Chelsea had already been cast (in Guys & Dolls), I thought it would be really cute to surprise her with an audition. Chelsea had to come in to read with prospective Skys and I got in touch with Ashley and asked if I could come in, not expecting anything past just this audition. Dressed up in a full suit, in the fedora and the whole thing, I came in on the day and she (Rose) had no idea that I was going to be doing it. I took the day off of work and came in and surprised her.鈥�
Indeed, Rose was completely surprised when Winsby showed up at the audition.
鈥淎nd then the best part about it, of course,鈥� he continued, 鈥渋s it went so well that after that audition, I get a phone call from Ashlie saying, 鈥楽o, what are the chances of you potentially taking three months off of work to be able to do the show, because the two of you did such a great job?鈥� Some T鈥檚 were crossed and some I鈥檚 were dotted and it worked out. I鈥檓 on a bit of a leave at this moment, but we have a pretty good audition story.鈥�
Guilford-area residents since February, Rose and Winsby plan to marry this fall.
This spring and early summer, they鈥檙e busy on stage with close to two dozen other actors in Guys & Dolls, packed with award-winnings songs and snappy dialogue. It鈥檚 a razzle-dazzle production that includes a set well-lit with close to 4,000 bulbs.
Wow, light bulbs aplenty at Guys & Dolls opening night at The Stanley Theatre.
鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
Real-life love story for a couple in 鈥楪uys & Dolls鈥� musical at .
鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)
How co-starring actors Chelsea Rose and Jonathan Winsby met, and how Winsby kept his audition a secret from Rose.
STORY HERE:
Winsby鈥檚 character makes a bet that involves a trip to Cuba with conservative Brown (Rose), who is hell-bent on 鈥渟aving鈥� the sinners of bustling New York City.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of the story of how the two of them get together and then of course, are pulled apart when she finds out some gambling has come into the mix of their relationship,鈥� Winsby explains, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 about mending that broken relationship at the end.鈥�
鈥� RELATED: Metal, Maria & 鈥楾he Sound of Music鈥� for 性视界传媒鈥檚 Chelsea Rose, who blossoms on many stages.
Rose, who grew up in Newton and performed at Sullivan Heights while in secondary school, says it鈥檚 been fun performing and rehearsing with fianc茅 Winsby, who grew up in North Delta.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been easy and it鈥檚 been nice for our relationship too, to get to work together and to see each other in that element and then to be able to take it home and work on some scenes sometimes,鈥� Rose noted. 鈥淥n the drive in, we鈥檙e always singing the songs and working on the scenes together, so it鈥檚 pretty fun.鈥�
, Winsby says he鈥檚 鈥渂lessed to be performing in this show with his soon-to-be 鈥榝orever doll.鈥欌��
The Arts Club鈥檚 Guys & Dolls is a toe-tapping, laugh-triggering good time at the Stanley until June 30. As director Corcoran says, the show 鈥渉olds a special place in the hearts of theatre lovers for its blend of humour, romance, and irresistible charm.鈥� , where special performances during the run are listed.
The musical鈥檚 large cast features Rose and Winsby along with Paul Almeida, Meghan Anderssen, Sarah Cantuba, Graham Coffeng, Andrew Cownden, Sharon Crandall, Daniel Curalli, Caleb Di Pomponio, Yasmin D鈥橭shun, Ghislaine Dot茅, Josh Epstein, Daniela Fernandez, Shannon Hanbury, Tim Howe, Victor Hunter, Ashley O鈥機onnell, Tom Pickett, Jason Sakaki, Madeleine Suddaby, Marco Walker-Ng, Tenaj Williams and Terrence Zhou. The muscians are Ken Cormier, Martin Fisk, Angus Kellett, Vince Mal, Sasha Niechoda, Ingrid Stitt and Cam Wilson.
