Teamwork, discipline and mental focus are all part of the experience for midshipmen at the Naval Academy. They come together in perhaps a lesser-known way in the academy's music department, which will present the Midshipmen Classical Concert on Sunday and a two-weekend run starting Feb. 22 of the academy's winter musical, Guys and Dolls.

"There are a number of very talented midshipmen, and this is a wonderful opportunity to hear some of our future leaders of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps demonstrate this aspect," said Monte Maxwell, in his 12th year as department chairman. "I believe that music can serve as a valuable part of the educational experience, helping students become more well-rounded."

Sunday's concert will feature soloists on oboe, trumpet, violin, flute and piano playing works by Mozart, Rachmaninoff and Hummel. A string quintet will play a work by Boccherini, and the 30-piece orchestra will perform several movements from a work by Haydn.

For Guys and Dolls, Maxwell is also rehearsing the pit orchestra of 30 musicians -- twice the number at most current Broadway shows. At last Wednesday's rehearsal, they already sounded at home with Frank Loesser's timeless score.

Director Lois Evans has directed several Colonial Players shows and for the past four years has directed Naval Academy musicals. Guys and Dolls has a cast of 24 or 25, she said, but additionally "We have 10 Hot Box girls and 10 crap shooters -- expanding both groups and double casting to give everybody a chance to appear."

Having played male lead Curly in last year's Oklahoma and earlier young Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees, Ryan Van Loo seems delighted now to have "no speaking lines but lots of chorus work in numbers like 'The Oldest, Established' and 'Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat.'"

"Being a senior, I have less class work," he said, "and without a heavy load, being in this show keeps my spirits up."

Plebe Benjamin Ball, who was memorable in the double roles of Arscott and Major Ross in the Masqueraders 100th anniversary production of Our Country's Good last fall, now moves from those darker roles to playing wholesome the Rev. Abernathy of the Save a Soul Mission in Guys and Dolls.

Having served two years as a Marine, Ball at age 22 is older than most academy freshmen, perhaps an advantage in playing the maturer Abernathy. Ball said he finds "playing darker roles as well as this one a good outlet."

Plebe Susannah Stokes, who plays one of the Hot Box girls, is in her first USNA show. Having danced in high school shows in her native Pensacola, Fla., Stokes said, "This is one of the best experiences I've had so far. People don't realize that to be a leader and public speaker you have to project, especially in this media age."

Assistant director Jeremy Stokes deals with the logistical aspects of the show, "making sure that everyone is where they belong and seeing that they are eligible to participate in rehearsals."

"I grew up in New Jersey and went to lots of theater, which was always a huge part of my life," he said. "Such an outlet is needed in this stressful lifestyle."

Guys and Dolls will play at 8 p.m. Feb. 22, 23 and 29 and March 1 and 3 p.m. Feb. 24 and March 2 at Mahan Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and $18 and can be purchased by calling 410-293-8497 or online at www.usna.edu/Music. Tickets to the Midshipmen Classical Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Main Chapel cost $10 and may be purchased by calling 410-293-8497.