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CAST LIST - - -
DAMN YANKEES |
Production Staff Director: George Beeby |
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Orchestra: Conductor: Sam Clark |
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Please call or email the office with your acceptance (947-2210 or otp@chartermi.net)
Read through at OTP on Monday, January 26 at 7 p.m.
April 15, 2004
REVIEW
Playhouse hits a home run with 'Damn Yankees
BY RICK GOULD
Record-Eagle staff writer
America's favorite pastime is a pitch-perfect topic for a '50s musical and resulted in the classic, "Damn Yankees," now being performed at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City.
The plot is a twist on the Faust legend: Middle-aged baseball fan Joe Boyd sells his soul to the devil for a chance to be transformed into Joe Hardy, a star athlete who soon leads the losing Washington Senators to victory. But when Joe wants to opt out of his contract to return to his wife, the Devil and his seductress, Lola, team up to stop him.
"Damn Yankees" has it all: Great songs, good-natured jokes and infectious enthusiasm. All of those sunny musical conventions would send some people running. But for those wanting to bask in escapist entertainment, "Damn Yankees" is darn good fun.
What makes this show work is a stellar cast. John Dew and Barbara Goodearl are affecting as longtime married couple Joe and Meg Boyd. James Hickey recalls an early Jimmy Stewart as young Joe, who is transformed from a baseball fan to a major player. The simplicity of his acting and singing are very effective.
Phil Callighan as the devilish Mr. Applegate is delightful and often steals the show. He is a funny and imposing presence as he strikes up a deal with Joe to barter stardom for a soul. His over-the-top intonations recall announcer Don Pardo and his arched eyebrows an amused Vincent Price. Callighan's performance is a home run.
Sherry McCarty offers a relaxed and amusing presence as the devil's Girl Friday, Lola. Her comic timing, singing and looks make her a lively and lovely Lola.
Christy Anderson is sharply funny as skeptical reporter Gloria Thorpe. Her energetic "Shoeless Joe" number is the first of many highlights in the show.
Hickey, Goodearl and Anderson, doing their first major roles for the playhouse, blend well with the seasoned OTP veterans with whom they share the stage.
And as the sorry "Senators," the OTP "ballplayers" make a winning team. The show's most famous number, "Heart," is put over with verve. And the guys milk all the laughs with "The Game," including some fancy footwork from Brett Nichols and Rob Stow thrown in as a bonus.
The teamwork on stage is the foundation of "Damn Yankees" since the cast is often reacting to offstage action.
George Beeby, executive director of the playhouse, makes his musical directorial debut and does a solid job of keeping the show moving.
The set changes were a little shaky on opening night, but the transformation from "old Joe" into "young Joe" and the devilish entrance of Mr. Applegate are smoothly handled.
The best-known songs "(You've Gotta Have) Heart" and "Whatever Lola Wants," are fun, as are lesser-known but equally fun tunes such as the tartly funny "A Little Brains, a Little Talent" and the jazzy "Two Lost Souls."
And the nostalgic musical owes a bow to the expertise of OTP's costume, hair and makeup crew. They do an eye-catching job of capturing the flavor of the '50s.
Musicals are the toughest shows to pull off and the entire OTP team deserves a big hand for mounting such a solid production.
"Damn Yankees" runs through May 1. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for students and senior citizens (Thursdays only) and $12 for children (Thursdays and Sundays only). For more information, call the box office at 947-2443.
Rick Gould is special sections editor and occasional writer at the Record-Eagle
DAMN YANKEES AUDITIONS AT OTP – January 19-20
Musical slated for mainstage in April
TRAVERSE CITY --- Old Town Playhouse will be holding auditions for the mainstage
production of Damn Yankees on Monday, January 19 and Tuesday, January
20, beginning promptly at 7:00 p.m. All auditions will be held in the Old Town
Playhouse Studio Theatre, located in the lower level of the Playhouse at the
corner of Eighth and Cass Streets in Traverse City.
Damn Yankees is being directed by George Beeby of Traverse City. Musical
director is Sam Clark and vocal director is Matt Archibald. The play has roles
for at least twenty adult men and at least ten adult women. Auditions are open
to anyone high school age or older.
Damn Yankees is a stage musical that opened on Broadway in 1955 and
is inspired by the legend of Faust, a tale of a man’s willingness to sell
his soul in exchange for the realization of a dream. Damn Yankees features
a well-known musical score with standards such as Heart, Whatever Lola Wants
and Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo.
Those interested in auditioning will be required to sing with an accompanist,
and may either bring his or her own sheet music or select from the accompanist’s
repertoire. Everyone will also learn a short dance routine, read from the script
and participate in theatre games as part of the auditions. Please wear comfortable
clothes and shoes that are suitable for dancing.
Performance dates for Damn Yankees are April 9-10, 15-18, 22-25 and
April 29 – May 1, 2004. Show times are at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays
and 3 p.m. on Sundays, April 18 and 25. The box office will begin selling tickets
for Damn Yankees beginning Monday, March 29 at 4:00 p.m.
For more information or to review a perusal script, contact the Old Town Playhouse
business office at (231) 947-2210 or visit www.oldtownplayhouse.com