Guys and Dolls,” an award-winning 1950 Broadway hit that has earned a place as one of the most beloved shows in the American musical theater canon, will get a youth theater treatment this weekend, featuring a boisterous cast and crew of 25 young Island thespians.

The family-friendly show, an abbreviated two-act version of the musical set in 1930s-era New York City, is being presented by Vashon Allied Arts, thanks to a team of dedicated teachers, drama coaches and volunteers.

“I couldn’t ask for a better group of people helping to put this on,” said Marita Ericksen, who is the show’s artistic director and leader of a production team that includes Drama Dock veterans Tish Lopez and Rich and Sue Wiley. “They are the people who are putting the magic in it.”

“Guys and Dolls” holds a special place in Ericksen’s heart — more than 20 years ago, she starred with her husband John Ericksen and Rich Wiley in a Drama Dock presentation of the show.

This time around, she said she has been amazed by the young Island actors, ranging in age from 6 to 15, who populate the show’s cast.

According to Ericksen, the group is having a ball playing characters including craps shooters, missionaries and hotbox girls.

“All the leads in the show are worth the price of admission alone,” she said.

Ericksen also had high praise for the way the cast and crew have behaved behind the scenes.

“I’ve never had a more compatible cast,” she said. “I am so proud of these kids, and the way the older ones have done so well helping the little ones backstage.”

The youngest children in the cast are members of the Ericksen-led Vashon Island Youth Chorus — a choir that will introduce the show with a lively set of Broadway tunes from such favorite musicals as “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Annie” and “Into the Woods.”

Kids have also been busy backstage, doing everything from running lights to designing the show’s program and publicity materials.

Parents are also involved, of course, including a trio of fathers, led by Rich Wiley, who will have a cameo appearance in one of the show’s scenes.

“It has all just been amazing,” Ericksen said. “I hope lots of people come out to see the show.”

“Guys and Dolls” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at the Blue Heron. Call 463-5131 for tickets.