The Winds of Change

If Anikka Abbott’s career had taken a different turn, she might be about to sing a soprano role at the Granada in the Music Academy’s opera in Santa Barbara this weekend. 

As what happens in life, there’s been a bit of a detour, including serving as first runner-up to Miss Washington in the Miss America program, getting a second degree (after a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance) in broadcast journalism, and spending the last three years telling us about actual storms and rising temperatures as a reporter and now Chief Weather Forecaster for News Channel 3-12.

But now, Abbott has returned to her roots, appearing at the Garvin Theatre as Sarah Brown in SBCC Theatre Group’s summer production of Guys and Dolls. 

“Music was my first love,” explained Abbott, who portrayed Sandy in Grease, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Papagena and Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Magic Flute, among other credits. She only entered the beauty pageant to help pay for college, but it also developed her public speaking skills, which led her to TV news and weather. “I always had the intention of somehow finding my way back.” 

Playing Sarah – the strait-laced missionary love interest of successful gambler Sky Masterson, whose story intersects with broke crap game manager Nathan and his girlfriend Adelaide, a showgirl who wants to settle down, in the musical romantic comedy Guys and Dolls – is a dream come true for Abbott. 

“It’s such a great show,” she said. “The story and the music are classic, and everyone recognizes all of the songs. It’s just a boat full of joy.”

Indeed, with such timeless, oft-covered numbers as “I’ve Never Been In Love Before,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “If I Were a Bell,” “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and the title song, Guys and Dolls remains perennially popular, produced everywhere from high schools and summer stock to revivals on Broadway and abroad, including a current long run in London. 

Joining Abbott in the principal cast directed by SBCC’s Katie Laris are Nick Ehlen (Nathan), who recently portrayed Shakespeare in SBCC’s Something Rotten!; Felicia Hall (Adelaide), who has performed for just about every local company and elsewhere; and Raymond Wallenthin (Sky), whose SBCC credits include Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey. Christina McCarthy provides the choreography, which includes mapping out the fight scene at a nightclub in Cuba that is followed immediately by Sarah boozily singing the charming “If I Were a Bell.” 

She might be playing someone who’s three sheets to the wind, but KEYT’s weather chief not only knows which way the wind blows, but knows how to find her own after dodging fists and flying chairs. 

“I have to come back on stage in no time,” she said. “You really have to have breath control. I’m grateful for all the technique I learned in my opera, acting, and speaking training.” 

SBCCTheatre Group presents Guys and Dolls July 12-29 at the Garvin Theatre. Call (805) 965-5935 or visit www.theatregroupsbcc.com.