One More Productions Presents DAMN YANKEES At Gem Theatre 10/24

Major League Baseball's regular season is winding down and the march to the World Series is about to begin. Guess who's leading the pack? Those damn New York Yankees!

It's only fitting that One More Productions- one of Southern California's leading musical theater companies - is going to bat with the hit Broadway musical Damn Yankees, running September 30 - October 24 in The Gem Theatre in Garden Grove.

In Damn Yankees, middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd trades his soul to the Devil (the charming but devious Mr. Applegate) for a chance to lead his favorite team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees. As young baseball sensation Joe Hardy, he transforms the hapless Washington Senators into a winning team, only to realize the true worth of the life (and wife) he's left behind.

Based on Douglass Wallop's novel "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant," Damn Yankees is a musical comedy with a book by Wallop and George Abbott, music by Richard Adler, and lyrics by Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend and is set during the 1950s when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball.

Damn Yankees shattered the jinx that had plagued other baseball related shows. It opened at the 46th Street Theatre on May 5, 1955 and ran for 1,019 performances. Gwen Verdon, who was rocketed to stardom by the original production, reprised her role of Lola in the 1958 screen version. The original Broadway production of Damn Yankees won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical. The 1994 revival was nominated for four Tony Awards and won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a musical, as well as a Drama Desk Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor. In addition, Jerry Lewis - in his Broadway debut - won the Theatre World Special Award for his portrayal of Mr. Applegate in the Broadway revival of Damn Yankees.

The One More Productions staging of Damn Yankees features Elizar Pagan as Joe Boyd, Kyle Myers as Applegate, and Brittany Hammond as Lola.

"We're very excited about staging Damn Yankees during baseball season, especially since the New York Yankees are one of the best teams in baseball this year and appear to be headed to the playoffs," says One More Productions Artistic Director Damien Lorton. "It's a delightful show and we have a terrific cast-I think audiences are going to be cheering from start to finish as they watch this theatrical "ballgame" from the bleachers of The Gem Theater."

Tickets & Contact Info
Single tickets go on sale September 13. Tickets are $25 each ($35 for opening night gala). Thursday previews are Locals Night-Garden Grove residents pay only $10! For more details, call the box office at (714) 741-9550 ext. 221, or visit the website at www.onemoreproductions.com.

One More Productions
The Gem Theater
12852 Main St.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Box Office: (714) 741-9550, ext. 221
www.onemoreproductions.com

About One More Productions
ONE MORE PRODUCTIONS is one of Southern California's leading musical theater companies. Now in its third season at the 158-seat THE GEM THEATER in Garden Grove, One More Productions has been lauded for its quality productions of Broadway musicals. One More Productions was voted one of the top five theaters in all of Southern California this past year by the Los Angeles Times. They were awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and The Saint James Family Honors Award by the Board of Directors of the Orange County Imperial Court. They received a Resolution from the City of Garden Grove, and an official recognition from the County of Orange.

THE GEM THEATER recently underwent a $180,000 renovation, adding a state of the art sound system, newly refurbished theater seats, and a reconfigured stage. The theater also boasts a new lighting system, three separate lobbies, and two separate concession areas and is ADA accessible. The Gem is just moments away from the Garden Grove Freeway (22) and offers plenty of free parking.

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