Little Theatre on the Bay presents for its 2008 winter
musical: Damn Yankees! Directed by Jim Thornton and Josephine Morrison.
Damn Yankees! is a musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and
Douglass Wallop and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.
The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend.
A long-suffering, middle-aged fan of the Washington
Senators baseball team, real estate salesman Joe Boyd, played by George
Nixon, meets a slick salesman, Mr. Applegate, (Byrell Justice). Joe
sells his soul to the Devil to become a young and strong slugger Joe
Hardy, (Alexander Rich). Joe leaves his wife Meg (Luanne May) to become
the slugger the Senators need. Joe does have an escape clause that gives
him the chance to return back to his normal life. Bay Area Teen Idol
runner-up Alyssa Birrer portrays a reporter named Gloria who praises Joe
(and sings "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo").
Though Shoeless Joe is increasingly successful, he truly
misses his wife and boards in an empty room in her house. Fearful of
losing his deal, Mr. Applegate calls Lola, "the best homewrecker on my
staff" (Theresa Erskine), to seduce Joe and thereby ensure his soul to
damnation. Applegate then switches tactics, a plan to blacken Joe’s
reputation and make him unable to go back on their deal.
The current Bay Area Teen Idol Clint Guevara heads a
list of supporting singers, dancers and actors including: Adam
Langenstein, Alan Spjut, Bill Movius, Bob Berry, Jeanette Sprague, Joyce
Kemp, Kay Pace, Michelle Guevara, Ona Clay, Roy Kay, Ken Erskine, Tim
Novotny, Trevor Berrian, Anthony Slaight, Wes Shultz, Yvonne Frey, and
Jeremy Yost. Diane Moulton has served as the Prompter. Must hear
songs include "Heart", "Whatever Lola Wants" and "The Good Old Days".
Assisting Mr.
Thornton and Ms. Morrison are Sally Ford as Choreographer, Janice
Kendall as Vocal Director and Principal Accompanist, and Steve Simpkins
as Orchestra Leader. Linda Sweatt has served as Relief Accompanist.
Members of the orchestra include Wilbur Jensen, Kai Sandoval, and Brian
Feger on Trumpet; Peggy Christiansen and Dustin Dillon on Woodwinds;
Bill Harsh and Ted Terry on Tuba; Dave Bucher on Trombone; and Trevor
Edd as Percussionist.
Jeanne Woods is
the Costumer. The Lighting has been designed by Alice Carlson, assisted
by Jeff Cragun. The lights will be operated by Cassie Justice. The set
and drops were designed and built by Jim Thornton with the assistance of
Byrell Justice, Josie Reid, Jason Denton and Jeff Cragun.
