Musical Theatre company stages 'Damn Yankees'

The Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company does it again with the classic musical comedy "Damn Yankees," just in time for baseball fans.

But in this case it's not the all-powerful Yanks who triumph. Instead it's a fan named Joe.

"Yankees" was co-written with Douglass Wallop by veteran Broadway author George Abbott, who also directed the original production. It was based on Wallop's novel, "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant." Music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.

It's a raucous takeoff on the eternal "Faust" tale where the hero sells his soul to the devil for rewards. Earlier, "Faust" was an opera by Charles Gounod in turn loosely based on Goethe's "Faust." High artistic marks for a musical.

"Damn Yankees" was a hit with 1,019 performances in its first 1955 Broadway production. Since then, it has been revived on Broadway, on London's West End, on U.S. television and by companies around the world.

Some of its songs are part of the canon of American music - "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets," "You Gotta Have Heart," for instance.

The show made a star out of Gwen Verdon, a largely untried dancer. She got the role of Lola after Mitzi Gaynor and Zizi Jenmarie turned it down. Verdon akimbo was on the cover of the original cast album. Verdon originally turned the role down but later had second thoughts.

Choreographer Bob Fosse insisted on meeting her before working with her, and after meeting and working for a brief time, they each agreed to the arrangement. The rest is Broadway history.

"Damn Yankees" opened on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre on May 5, 1955, and moved to the Adelphi Theatre on May 16, 1957, with Ray Walston in the part of Mr. Applegate (the Devil). The musical also featured a young Jean Stapleton before her career-defining role as Edith Bunker in "All in the Family." The production was Bob Fosse's first Broadway hit as a choreographer.

That's the history. Now the story:

Meg is unhappy about her husband, Joe Boyd, a fan of the lackluster Washington Senators. Meg goes to bed and Joe is accosted by slick salesman Mr. Applegate (the Devil in plainclothes). Joe sells his soul to the Devil to become slugger Joe Hardy, the "long ball hitter the Senators need that he'd sell his soul for," and leaves his wife Meg. Wisely, Joe puts in an escape clause to cancel the deal up to a point to return home. The hapless Senators vow to do their best despite their lack of talent (this is where "Heart" comes in).

As the new Joe is discovered, his bat helps the Senators to move up.

Though Joe is a big hitter, he moans for his wife and begins boarding with her.

Meg and the young man begin to bond, especially over her "lost" husband. Afraid of losing his victim, Mr. Applegate summons Lola, "the best homewrecker on his staff," to bed Joe and protect the investment. Lola sings the hit "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets," but Joe's love for Meg proves too strong, even for her.

Applegate releases false word about Joe Hardy's true name. "Shifty McCoy," an escaped criminal and con artist.

He confesses in a way to Meg that he is Joe Boyd. Meanwhile Lola and Joe are at a party since they both belong to Applegate and sing of their life.

At the big game Applegate appears just as Joe is going to catch the ball to win the game. Applegate transforms him back to his older self, but Joe catches the ball and wins the pennant for the Senators.

Joe rushes into Meg's arms as Applegate appears, claiming that Joe owes him his soul. Joe begs Meg to hold him and not let go. Applegate promises to make Joe young again, and even ensure a World Series victory. But his powers are useless against the pair's true love, which Lola points out. Applegate and Lola vanish back into Hell, defeated, with Joe and Meg united again forever.

The local production stars James McDuffie as Joe Hardy, Carla Wilson as Meg, Sami Busey as Lola and Jim DeZerga as the conniving Applegate. Forty singers and dancers round out the cast, accompanied by a live orchestra. Stephanie Arrigotti produces, conducts and directs and Gina Kaskie-Davis choreographs.

Damn Yankees cast list

Applegate -- James DeZerga

Joe Hardy -- James McDuffie

Lola -- Sami Busey

Meg Boyd -- Carla Wilson

Gloria Thorpe -- Jane Addington

Joe Boyd -- Jeff Whitt

Sister -- Pam Graham

Doris -- Joan Colburn

Welch -- John Vettel

Postmaster -- Wayne Walters

Commissioner -- Dan Shoup

Lynch -- Ram Stembridge

Gargoyles -- Callen Aten, Raye Busey, Haley Davis

Joe's youngest fan -- Katie Jones

Washington Senators

Benny Van Buren -- Jerry Lowe

Smokey/Radio Announcer -- Thomas Fisk

Rocky -- Paul Stufkosky

Sohovik -- Gordon Murray

Henry -- Adam Machart

Vernon -- Leoney Berg

Mickey -- A.J. Hamann

Linville, Anthony Windisch

Lowe -- Alex Kaskie

Bryan -- Mikey Kaskie

Bouley -- Dallas Pruett

Eddie -- Kyle Vaughn

Women's Dance Troupe

Leslie Carlen

Rebecca Dixon

Lauren-Ashley Durant

Kristine Kirchoff

Kassie MacMillan

Melissa Mauer

Lisa Thomas