Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts Presents DAMN YANKEES, 2/23

The high emotions and excitement of Broadway returns to the Spencer Theater at 7 p.m. February 23 with the razzle-dazzle musical "Damn Yankees."

 

The comedic, nostalgic tale takes the old Faustian legend about a man selling his soul to the Devil in order to regain his youth and updates it, American style. In this tale, written by Douglass Wallop, the protagonist is not a world weary intellectual, but rather a 1950s baseball fanatic named Joe Boyd who vows he'd sell his soul if he could just help his favorite team win the pennant.

 

Joe makes a pact with the Devil, a businessman named Mr. Applegate, and becomes "Shoeless" Joe Hardy, a real slugger. He leaves his loving wife and, as a young baseball sensation, transforms his hapless Washington Senators into winners that go all the way to the finals of the American League for a face-off with those damn Yankees. But this being a spirited musical, Joe realizes that there's more to life than home-runs. In spite of the devilish Applegate, and his assistant, the luscious Lola, Joe invokes the handy "escape clause" he initially agreed on, and at the last minute, gives the Devil his due! He returns to his beleaguered baseball widow as himself.

 

"Damn Yankees," which has a lively score written by the team of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross (a follow up to their 1954 hit the Pajama Game), was a multiple Tony Award-winner including Best Musical in 1956, and again for its 1994 revival. The production appearing at the Spencer on Thursday, February 23 comes from Gurtman & Murtha Associates in New York and stars a cast of 30 singers, dancers and orchestra musicians. Seats are available for $79 & $76.  Patrons are also invited to join in the pre-performance Stadium Dogs Buffet ($20 per person) at 5 p.m. in the Spencer lobby.  The winning spread features gourmet beef hotdogs with 20 toppings, nacho salad, crabby fries with cheese sauce, toasted buns and cream cheese chocolate brownies.

 

Call the Spencer Theater at 575.336.4800 or go online to www.spencertheater.com for tickets.