Reprise! Broadway’s Best
“Damn Yankees”
Music and lyrics by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross
Book by George Abbott & Douglass Wallop
Based on the novel by Douglass Wallop
"The Year The Yankees Lost the Pennant"
Choreography by Lee Martino
Directed by Jason Alexander
Limited engagement of 16 Performances Only!
November 6 to November 18 (Press Opening Nov. 7)
at UCLA’S Freud Playhouse
Jason Alexander, new Artistic Director of Reprise! Broadway’s Best will direct the second production of its 2007-2008 season, “Damn Yankees,” music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, book by George Abbott & Douglass Wallop, based on the novel "The Year The Yankees Lost the Pennant," by Douglass Wallop. “Damn Yankees” won seven 1956 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Reprise! musical director Gerald Sternbach conducts, and the choreography is by Lee Martino, who just choreographed the recent Reprise! “On Your Toes.” “Damn Yankees” is presented by special arrangement with Jeff Richards and James Fuld.
“Damn Yankees” will preview on Tuesday, November 6 and will open on Wednesday, November 7, and continue through Sunday, November 18 at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse.
The authors of this classic musical have given Reprise! permission to update and adapt this classic musical – and bring it forward in time from the mid-fifties to 1981, Los Angeles, where Joe, a middle aged man is endlessly frustrated that his beloved Dodgers are constantly thwarted by those … well, damn Yankees.
Desperate, Joe makes a deal with the devil, Applegate, to exchange his soul for becoming a youthful baseball star leading his team towards the pennant. In the battle of fantasy vs. true love, Joe finds he misses his wife more and more – when Applegate sends in his secret weapon – the irresistible temptress Lola. “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets” she sings – but does she? And does Joe lead Dodger Blue to victory before the devil owns him for eternity?
“Damn Yankees” first opened on Broadway in 1955, just one year after “The Pajama Game,” created by the “Yankees” creative team, took Broadway by storm. That team was the new composer-lyricist duo Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, veteran book writer and director George Abbott, and producers Harold Prince, Robert Griiffith and Frederick Brisson. Prince would go onto one of the most prolific careers in musical theatre as a producer and director with credits including “West Side Story,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Cabaret,” “Company,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Evita,” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” “Damn Yankees” also solidified Bob Fosse’s career as a choreographer, along with its two stars Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston.
The original “Damn Yankees” ran 1,019 performances, followed by a
“Damn Yankees” had a successful Broadway revival in 1994, which starred Bebe Neuwirth and Victor Garber as Applegate, and was directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Rob Marshall, who went on to make the film of “
“Damn Yankees” is the second attraction of the 2007-2008 Reprise! Broadway’s Best season. It will be followed by “Li’l Abner” February 5 to 17, 2008 (press opening February 5) and “Flora the Red Menace” May 6 to 18 (press opening May 7).
“Damn Yankees” will preview on Tuesday, November 6 and will open on Wednesday, November 7 (press opening). It will perform Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8:00pm; Saturdays at 2:00pm & 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm & 7:00pm through Sunday, November 18. Single ticket prices are Tuesday, August 14 (preview) $60.00; Opening night - $75.00; Tuesday through Thursday performances - $70.00; Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, (all performances) - $75.00. Reprise! offers a $20.00 Student/Senior rush 15 minutes before showtime (subject to availability). For tickets, please call the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101.
For further information on Reprise! Broadway’s Best, please visit www.reprise.org.
About Reprise! Broadway’s Best
Reprise! Broadway’s Best, now in its eleventh season at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse was founded by Marcia Seligson, who served as Producing Artistic Director from 1995 – 2005, and is honored as its Founding Artistic Director. In 2007, Jason Alexander was named Artistic Director. In 2005, Jim Gardia became Producing Director. Reprise! has presented twenty-seven of
Since the beginning (“Promises, Promises” starring Jason Alexander, Alan Thicke, and Jean Smart) the scope of Reprise! productions has grown considerably – the rehearsal time has doubled, costumes and scenery have increased, and orchestras have been enlarged
The productions have included “Finian’s Rainbow” with Andrea Marcovicci and Rex Smith; “Wonderful Town” with Lucie Arnaz and Stephanie Zimbalist; “Of Thee I Sing” with Gregory Harrison and Maureen McGovern; “The Boys From Syracuse” with David Hyde Pierce and Lea DeLaria; “Call Me Madam” with Karen Morrow; “Mack & Mabel” with Douglas Sills, Jane Krakowski and Donna McKechnie; “Strike Up The Band” with Charles Nelson Reilly; “1776” with Roger Rees and Orson Bean; “The Most Happy Fella” with Rodney Gilfry; “Anything Goes” with Rachel York and Brent Barrett; “On The 20TH Century” with Bob Gunton, Carolee Carmello, Mimi Hines, Robert Picardo and Dan Butler; “She Loves Me” with Rebecca Luker and Scott Waara; “Babes In Arms” with Joey McIntyre and Jodi Benson; “Kismet” with Len Cariou and Anthony Crivello; “Company” with Christopher Sieber and Judith Light; “Brigadoon” with Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley; “Pippin” with Sam Harris and Michael Arden; “Applause” with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jean Louisa Kelly; “On The Town” with David Elder and Harriet Harris; “City Of Angels” with Stephen Bogardus and Burke Moses; “Zorba” with Marc Kudisch and Judy Kaye; “My One and Only” with Michael Gruber and Rachel York. “Sunday In The Park With George” with Kelli O’Hara and Manoel Felciano; and “No Strings” with Scott Bakula and Sophina Brown.
Reprise! also produced three large special events – “Sweeney Todd” with Kelsey Grammer and Christine Baranski; “Hair” with Steven Weber, Sam Harris and Marissa Jaret Winokur; and “Follies” with Patty Duke, Vikki Carr, Bob Gunton and Harry Groener.
