DAMN YANKEES Will Open Inland Valley Repertory Theatre's Season

" Damn Yankees, " the Broadway mega - hit and winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, slides into Claremont March 14 to open IVRT's 2018 season of plays and musicals at th the Candlelight Pavilion.

The musical will be the 80 production by the award - winning theatre company since its opening in 1990. Featuring All - American subject matter and an irreverent sense of humor, " Damn Yankees " is a whimsical love story about baseball, the Devil, and eternal optimism. Audiences will laugh, cheer and be uplifted by the story of middle - aged couch potato Joe Boyd who, frustrated by loss after loss for his beloved major league team the Washington Senators, bargains with the Devil for a chance at the team's victory.

The winning score by Adler and Ross includes songs like " Ya Gotta Have Heart ", " Whatever Lola Wants ", " Who's Got the Pain " and " Two Lost Souls. "

IVRT's production is directed by the company's co - founder and producing artistic director Frank Minano, assisted by the company's artistic director Hope Kaufman. Ronda Rubio is the resident music director who, along with working with IVRT's talented cast of singers, will conduct the live orchestra onstage.

Dance numbers originated by Bob Fosse will be choreographed by Allison Eversoll. Aaron Pyle plays the devilish Mr. Applegate, with his sultry sidekick Lola played by Sandra Rice.

The cast of 32 will also feature IVRT resident company members DawnEllen Ferry, Mark MacKenzie, Cindy Smith and Michael Buczynski. Also featured are Jeffrey Bonser, Kristen Hamilton, Jamie Snyder, Lauren Mayfield, Leah Zimmerman, Greg Hardash, Scott McDermott, Aaron Shaw, Andreas Pantazis, Dani Bustamonte, Sam Bixby, Edward Little, Ethan Nelson, Chris Lindsey, John Nisbet, Mia Mercado, Kaitlyn Boyd, Zea Manning, Natalie Roberts and Lucca Beene. Students from IVRT's youth classes who will portray the " Baseball Kids Choir " include Michael Clocksin, Cypress Flores, Carolina Flores, Michael Gallo, Ian Ho, Lukas Loza, Adrian Romero and Thomas Vandegrift. About IVRT's " Damn Yankees " at the Candlelight Pavilion :

All performances are Tuesdays at Wednesdays at 7 : 30pm There is a matinee on each closing performance at 2 : 30pm. Tickets : $ 35. There is a $ 2 handling fee per ticket. Subscriptions : $ 110 for all 4 plays. Damn Yankees : March 14, 21, 27 and 28 The Great Gatsby : May 2, 9, 15 and 16 The Bridges of Madison County : September 25 and 26 Deathtrap : October 24, 30, November 6 and 7.

Founded by La Verne residents Frank and Donna Marie Minano in 1990, IVRT has become a critically acclaimed regional theater company, garnering widespread honors for its theatrical works. IVRT is a nonprofit arts organization and receives funding from the California Arts Council, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the city of Claremont, and the Claremont Educational Foundation, as well as from private and individual donors.

More information may be found on the website at www.ivrt.org or by calling ( 909 ) 859 - 4878.