TV: Jason Alexander Directs 'Damn Yankees' in L.A.

Los Angeles' Reprise! Broadway's Best Artistic Director Jason Alexander steps into the director's seat for the current production of the musical Damn Yankees, opening November 7th. Cleavant Derricks, Meg Gillentine, Amelia McQueen, Ken Page, Ty Taylor, Lillias White and Jackee Harry head up the cast of the company's second production of its 2007-2008 season.

Damn Yankees, which has music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, book by George Abbott & Douglass Wallop, and is based on the novel "The Year The Yankees Lost the Pennant," by Douglass Wallop, 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.

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 (Ken Page), 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 (Cleavant Derricks), to exchange his soul for becoming a youthful baseball star (Ty Taylor) leading his team towards the pennant," state press notes. "In the battle of fantasy vs. true love, Joe finds he misses his wife Meg (Armelia McQueen) more and more - when Applegate sends in his secret weapon - the irresistible temptress Lola (Meg Gillentine). "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?"

BroadwayWorld's own James Sims recently caught up with Alexander during rehearsals for Damn Yankees discussing the former "Seinfeld" alum joining Reprise! as Artistic Director and his vision for the future of the Los Angeles theatre company.

Damn Yankees will perform through Sunday, November 25 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, playing an additional week of performances after subscription. For tickets, please call the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310-825-2101 or visit www.reprise.org.