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Damn Yankees 1989

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The old Faustian legend about the man who sells his soul to the Devil in order to regain youth and good looks received a clever updating in this whimsical musical, which took the tale and squarely set it against the background of America's favorite pastime, baseball. As reconceived by Douglas Wallop and George Abbott, Damn Yankees, based on Mr. Wallop's novel "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant," transplanted Faust into middle-America and gave him the name Joe Boyd. After he makes a pact with the Devil, a businessman more prosaically named Mr. Applegate, Boyd becomes "Shoeless" Joe Hardy, a hard-hitter, who takes the Washington Senators, his favorite team (and perpetual losers), all the way to the finals of the American League game, where they face those "damn Yankees." But this being a musical, set in America, there is a happy ending to the story: in spite of Mr. Applegate, and his assistant, the sultry Lola, Joe Hardy invokes the "escape clause" he and the Devil had agreed on initially, and at the last minute, just before curtain time, returns to his loving wife as Joe Boyd, serene in the knowledge that it was he who helped the Senators win the Pennant. A multiple Tony Award-winner (including for Best Musical) in 1956, Damn Yankees ran for 1,019 performances (a rarity at the time), and made a star of Gwen Verdon, playing Lola, whose siren song, "Whatever Lola Wants," became a huge popular hit. Virtually intact, and with only one major cast change (Tab Hunter replacing Stephen Douglass as Joe Hardy), the show was transferred to the screen in 1958, in a splashy screen transfer that retained all the flavor and guile of the original. After extensive revisions, in 1994 it was revived on Broadway, with Bebe Neuwirth as Lola and Victor Garber as Mr. Applegate, where it enjoyed a successful run, before going on the road, with Jerry Lewis, billed above the title, taking over as the Devil. Of the three recordings available, the first Broadway cast offers the original stars (Gwen Verdon, Stephen Douglass, and Ray Walston as Mr. Applegate) in a spirited rendition which has all the freshness and excitement usually experienced when a show first hits Broadway. Its only drawback (if that's the word!) is that it is in mono sound, since stereo didn't become an industry standard until later that year. The soundtrack album, available for the first time in stereo in this CD version, is almost identical to the Broadway cast album, but offers, in addition to the cast change noted above, and Ray Heindorf's flavorful orchestrations, longer versions of some of the songs, as well as better polished performances overall. The 1994 Broadway cast album, with its abundance of new selections, and dynamic renditions of the songs by Bebe Neuwirth, Victor Garber, and the other members of the cast, is as good a recording as can be gotten. It has the vibrancy, the fun, and the excitement one usually expects in that kind of production, and its sound quality is up to the latest standards. Label: RCA



Brett Macias' New Latine Musical, AN UN-HERO'S JOURNEY, Releases Seven Song EP
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 15, 2024

Discover the new seven-song EP from the musical AN UN-HERO'S JOURNEY by Brett Macias. Learn more about the show!

Author V. De La Cruz Releases New Paranormal Thriller THE ENIGMA WITHIN
by Blair Ingenthron - April 14, 2024

V. de la Cruz has announced the release of her new supernatural thriller, The Enigma Within. This gripping tale explores the depths of the paranormal, weaving a story that will leave readers spellbound.

Photos: Go Inside the Recording Studio with Musical Film FROM CORINNE'S HEART
by Blair Ingenthron - April 14, 2024

The cast recording has finished in NYC at famed recording studio EastsideSound Recording Studio for the musical film From Corinne’s Heart. Check out photos here!

Joe Lycett's ART HOLE To Be Published This Autumn
by Blair Ingenthron - April 14, 2024

Anna Valentine, Managing Director of The Orion Publishing Group, has acquired World rights to Joe Lycett's Art Hole by Joe Lycett, from Hannah Chambers at Chambers Management, in a competitive eight way auction.

TCG Books and Arena Stage to Present Conversation & Book Signing with Todd London
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 05, 2024

Theatre Communications Group and Arena Stage will present a book release celebration for The Long Revolution: Sixty Years on the Frontlines of a New American Theatre by Zelda Fichandler. Learn more about the book and see how to attend the conversation.

Charlotte Church to Host First Ever Podcast For BBC Sounds: Kicking Back With The Cardiffians
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 05, 2024

Join Welsh singer-songwriter Charlotte Church as she hosts her first ever podcast, Kicking Back with the Cardiffians on BBC Sounds.

Jack Viertel's New Novel BROADWAY MELODY Is Now on Sale
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 02, 2024

Broadway Melody, the sweeping novel of love, ambition and defeat by veteran Broadway professional Jack Viertel is now available for purchase. Learn more about the book!

Exclusive Video: Listen to 'Hold On' From DISTANT THUNDER
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 01, 2024

Get an exclusive listen to 'Hold On' from Distant Thunder!

Michael Ramos Releases New Thriller MURDERS ON DEATH ROW
by Blair Ingenthron - March 30, 2024

Michael Ramos has announced the release of his new book, Murders on Death Row. This sequel to Silence in the Silos was released by The Native Publishers in March 2024.

Listen: WHITE GIRL IN DANGER Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording Out Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 29, 2024

YELLOW SOUND LABEL has released White Girl in Danger: Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording – the new musical from Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Michael R. Jackson. Listen here!

Aakash Chotrani Releases New Book HUMANS AND AI COEXISTENCE: TECHNOLOGY CHANGING THE WORLD ORDER
by Blair Ingenthron - March 24, 2024

Aakash Chotrani has announced the release of his new book Humans and AI Coexistence: Technology Changing the World Order. Independently published the book is set to launch on March 28, 2024.

3-CD Box Set of George Enescu's Full Symphonies and Romanian Rhapsodies 1 & 2, Out This April
by A.A. Cristi - March 22, 2024

Discover the Orchestre National de France's new 3-CD box set, led by Cristian Măcelaru, featuring George Enescu’s full symphonies and Romanian Rhapsodies 1 & 2.

THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA Digital Cast Recording Out Today
by A.A. Cristi - March 22, 2024

The original cast recording of THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA, the latest musical from acclaimed composer MICHAEL JOHN LaCHIUSA is now available for streaming.

Jay Moreland Releases New Military Fantasy THE LANGUAGE OF SPEARS: A SOULWASHER NOVEL
by Blair Ingenthron - March 20, 2024

Jay Moreland, a promising voice in the world of fantasy literature, has announced the release of his latest novel, The Language of Spears: A Soulwasher Novel. This new fantasy takes readers on an epic journey of conflict and redemption.

Broadway Composer and Keyboard Player Peter Calandra Releases New Improvised Piano Album 'SPIRIT'
by Blair Ingenthron - March 20, 2024

Broadway composer and keyboard player Peter Calandra has announced the release of his new album, 'Spirit.'

Lainie Kazan's Four Classic 60s Albums Available for the First Time in Almost 60 Years
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 19, 2024

Available for the first time in the nearly 60 years since they were introduced, the four 1960s vocal albums from Lainie Kazan are now streaming on all digital platforms.

Baggins & Gamgee Release New Novel THE ALLIANCE OF THE WEAK: VOLUME 1
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 19, 2024

Explore Taiwan's future in THE ALLIANCE OF THE WEAK: VOLUME 1 by Infinity A, a new novel from Baggins & Gamgee that delves into a world where flaws and disabilities redefine societal norms.

Marissa Jaret Winokur to Moderate Talk Back/Q&A for Author Stan Zimmerman at the Drama Bookshop
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 18, 2024

Tony award winner, Marissa Jaret Winokur, will moderate a Talk Back/Q&A for author Stan Zimmerman Tuesday, April 16th 7:30pm ET.

Interview: Roslyn Kind is Leading With Her Heart in 'The Look of Love / The Island'
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 18, 2024

BroadwayWorld spoke with Roslyn Kind to discuss her medley 'The Look of Love' and 'The Island'. The musical artist discusses her career, her philosophy on love, and her new music video in this exclusive interview.

Ben West's THE AMERICAN MUSICAL: EVOLUTION OF AN ART FORM Sets April Release
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 15, 2024

Routledge, an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, will release the new book from musical theater artist and historian Ben West, The American Musical: Evolution of an Art Form, on April 1, 2024.

THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA Original Cast Recording to be Released Next Week
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 15, 2024

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS will release The Gardens of Anuncia (Original Cast Recording) – based on the recent Lincoln Center Theater production – in streaming and digital formats on Friday, March 22. Learn More about the show!

24 Theater Books for Your Spring 2024 Reading List
by Nicole Rosky - March 23, 2024

Need a great book to spring into the new season? This spring, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 24 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's spring reading list.

TV and Broadway Songwriters Team Up for WILLYFEST - A MUSICAL PARODY
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 12, 2024

A team of top film, television and broadway songwriters have joined forces to create a musical satire inspired by the recent, ill-fated Willy Wonka knockoff fiasco in Glasgow. Learn more about the song!

Listen: Hannah Corneau Featured on Demos for BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FOOL
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 12, 2024

Four new original song demos have been released and are now available via from the original musical Beautiful Little Fool. Listen here!

LIGHTHOUSE: AN IMMERSIVE DRINKING MUSICAL to Release EP On St. Patrick's Day Weekend
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 11, 2024

Off-Broadway's hit Irish-American show Lighthouse: An Immersive Drinking Musical will release its Off-Broadway cast EP ahead of St. Patrick's Day. Learn more about the show!

Peter Jöback to Release New Album ATLAS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 11, 2024

Recording artist, actor and musical theatre star Peter Jöback will release his upcoming studio album, ATLAS.

New Orleans Composer William Horne's Newest Chamber Works Featured On Album Out Now
by Blair Ingenthron - March 09, 2024

New Orleans composer William Horne has released world-premiere recordings of three new chamber works on CHAMBER MUSIC OF WILLIAM HORNE, VOLUME THREE, available now. The album features Horne's Sonata for French Horn and Piano, Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, and Trio for Flute, Alto Saxophone, and Piano.

GLITTER & DOOM Soundtrack Out Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 08, 2024

The soundtrack to Glitter & Doom – the new film musical told through 25 iconic Indigo Girls classics – is available now in digital and streaming formats from record label PS Classics.

THE EFFECT World Premiere Recording Out Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 08, 2024

Broadway Records has released music from The Effect (World Premiere Recording) digitally, featuring an immersive and cinematic, beat-driven score by Michael “Mikey J” Asante.

Center Stage Records to Re-Release Four Albums by Jessica Molaskey
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 07, 2024

Center Stage Records will re-release four classic Jessica Molaskey albums – Pentimento, A Good Day, Make Believe, and Sitting in Limbo. Learn more about these albums and see how to listen!



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