STAGE TUBE: 5th Avenue Theatre Hosts DAMN YANKEES Spotlight Night

5th Avenue held its Spotlight Night for Damn Yankees on March 20. The evening took audiences behind the scenes of the new production of the musical comedy classic Damn Yankees. Featuring musical performances by some of Seattle's best singers and the cast of Damn Yankees, the event explored the stories that inspired the hit musical, including the legend of Faust. The night also took audiences through the careers of Damn Yankees book writer George Abbott and songwriters Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.

Watch Allen Fitzpatrick and the cast of Damn Yankees sing "Heart" at Spotlight Night in the video!

Damn Yankees is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including “Two Lost Souls” and the sultry favorite, “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.” The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill’s Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

“Damn Yankees is one of the great musicals of the Golden Era of Broadway,” said 5th Avenue Theatre Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong. “We’re very excited to bring this show to our stage for the first time, complete with major league talent from a mix of Broadway and Seattle musical theater all-stars.”

This Faustian tale will feature a line-up of hitters from Seattle and Broadway including Hugh Hastings as aging baseball enthusiast Joe Boyd, Christopher Charles Wood as Young Joe Hardy, Patti Cohenour as the baseball widow Meg Boyd, Hans Altwies as Mr. Applegate (the Devil in disguise), and Chryssie Whitehead as the legendary seductress Lola. Allen Fitzpatrick and Nancy Anderson join the roster as Coach Benny Van Buren and Gloria Thorpe, ace reporter.

Damn Yankees plays April 21 – May 20, 2012 at The 5th Avenue Theatre (1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101). Tickets (starting at $19.00) may be purchased at www.5thavenue.org, by phone at 206-625-1900, or at the Box Office at 1308 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle.