Damn Yankees

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For the rock band, see Damn Yankees (band).
Damn Yankees

original 1958 movie poster
Directed by George Abbott
Stanley Donen
Produced by George Abbott
Stanley Donen
Written by George Abbott
(play)
Douglass Wallop
(play & novel)
Starring Tab Hunter
Gwen Verdon
Ray Walston
Russ Brown
Shannon Bolin
Music by Richard Adler
Jerry Ross
Cinematography Harold Lipstein
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) September 26, 1958
Running time 111 min.
Country USA
Language English
IMDb profile

Damn Yankees is a musical comedy, a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s (when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball), in Washington, D.C., with a script by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. It was based on Wallop's novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The plot concerns a long-suffering middle-aged fan of the Washington Senators baseball club, real estate salesman Joe Boyd, who sells his soul to the Devil (in the guise of one Mr. Applegate) and becomes slugger Joe Hardy, the "long ball hitter the Senators need that he'd sell his soul for" (as spoken by him in a throwaway line near the beginning of the drama). His hitting prowess enables the Senators to win the American League pennant over the then-dominant Yankees.

However, baseball is only part of the story. In a parallel plot, Mr. Applegate tries numerous ploys to keep the soul of Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy, only to be rebuffed and frustrated by Boyd/Hardy. Mr. Applegate's tactics grow increasingly desperate--and humorous. The highlight of his efforts is Lola trying to seduce Boyd/Hardy, only to be rejected at the end. Her efforts are the backdrop for the songs Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets and A Little Brains, a Little Talent.

[edit] Production History

Damn Yankees opened on Broadway in 1955 starring Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston.The musical also featured a young Jean Stapleton before her career-defining role as Edith Bunker in All in the Family.

The original Broadway production was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won six:

Best Musical WON

Best Performance By a Leading Actor in a Musical: Ray Walston (Applegate) WON and Stephen Douglass (Hardy)

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical: Gwen Verdon (Lola) WON

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical: Russ Brown (Van Buren) WON

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical: Rae Allen (Gloria)

Best Conductor and Musical Director: Hal Hastings WON

Best Choreography: Bob Fosse WON


A made-for-TV movie version was filmed in 1967. Phil Silvers played the role of "Mr. Applegate," the earthly form of Satan.

In the late 1970's and early 1980's former MGM "All-American boy" Van Johnson appeared as Applegate throughout the United States.

The stage version was revived in 1994 with substantial revisions to the book and score, and featured Bebe Neuwirth in the role of seductive temptress Lola and Victor Garber in the part of Mr. Applegate (the Devil). Garber was succeeded on Broadway by Jerry Lewis, who then took the production on a national tour and also played the role in a London production.

The Broadway Revival production was nominated for four Tony Awards and won one:

Best Revival of a Musical

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical: Victor Garber

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical: Jarrod Emick (Hardy) WON

Best Choreography: Rob Marshall

[edit] Musical Numbers (Revival version)

Act One Act Two
  1. Overture
  2. Six Months Out Of Every Year (Meg, Joe & Ensemble)
  3. Boyds' Living Room (scene)
  4. Boyds' Front Porch (scene)
  5. Goodbye Old Girl (Joe)
  6. Blooper Ballet
  7. Ball Field (scene)
  8. Heart (Van Buren, Smokey, Rocky, Sohovik)
  9. Locker Room (scene)
  10. Joe at Bat
  11. Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo. (Gloria, Washington Senators)
  12. Shoeless Joe Reprise
  13. Press Conference (scene)
  14. Applegate's Apartment (scene)
  15. A Little Brains, a Little Talent (Lola)
  16. Boyds' Kitchen (scene)
  17. A Man Doesn't Know (Joe & Meg)
  18. Locker Room (scene)
  19. Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets (Lola)
  20. Act One Finale (scene)
  1. Who's Got the Pain? (Lola & Ensemble)
  2. Locker Room (scene, #2)
  3. The Game (Rocky, Smokey & Washington Senators)
  4. Boyds' House (scene)
  5. Near to You (Joe & Meg)
  6. Those Were the Good Old Days (Applegate)
  7. The Trial
  8. Limbo (scene)
  9. Two Lost Souls (Joe & Lola)
  10. Bottom of the Ninth (scene)
  11. A Man Doesn't Know (Reprise)

[edit] Characters

Lead Roles

  1. Joe Hardy — The 22-year-old, home run hitting alter ego of Joe Boyd (baritone age 18-27)
  2. Mr. Applegate — The Devil in disguise as a slick salesman (baritone, age 30-55)

Supporting Roles

  1. Lola — The Devil's seductress assistant (alto age 20-35, dancing)
  2. Meg Boyd — Joe's loyal, traditional wife (alto age 40-60)
  3. Gloria Thorpe — A probing reporter (mezzo-soprano age 21-30, dancing)
  4. Doris — A friend of Meg (age 40-60)
  5. Joe Boyd — A middle-aged, overweight married man who is in love with baseball, and specifically the Washington Senators (tenor age 40-60)
  6. Sister — A friend of Meg (alto age 40-60)
  7. Smokey — Second baseman for the Senators (tenor age 18-27)
  8. Van Buren — The hard working manager of the Washington Senators with great heart but no luck (baritone age 35-65)

Cameo Roles

  1. Henry — Center fielder for the Senators (baritone age 18-27)
  2. Linville — Catcher for the Senators (baritone age 18-27)
  3. Lowe — Left fielder for the Senators (baritone age 18-27)
  4. Sohovik — Third baseman for the Senators (baritone age 18-27)
  5. The Commissioner (age 35-75)
  6. Welch — Team owner of the Senators (age 40-75)

Choruses

  1. Baseball players and batboys (Male Chorus ages 6-27, dancing)
  2. Mickey — Infielder for the Senators (baritone ages 18-27)

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[edit] External link

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Musicals of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
John Murray Anderson's Almanac • The Pajama Game • Damn Yankees

Songs: Rags to Riches • Hey There • Hernando's Hideaway • Steam Heat • Whatever Lola Wants • Heart • I'm Not at All in Love
Related articles: Harry on Broadway, Act I • The Pajama Game • Dance with Me

Musicals of Richard Adler: The Sin of Pat Muldoon • The Gift of the Magi • Kwamina • A Mother's Kisses • Rex • Music Is
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