March 27-April 19, 2015 Park Hall, 9400 Mill St., Ben Lomond
“Timeless” – New York Times
Mountain Community Theater leads off its 33rd season with “Damn Yankees,” the beloved Tony Award-winning musical about love, baseball, and the Devil.
“Damn Yankees” tells the story of Joe Boyd, a middle-aged married man who loves his perpetually losing Washington Senators as much as he hates the perpetually winning New York Yankees. When the Devil appears in the form of the smooth Mr. Applegate, Joe jumps at the chance to trade his soul to become the greatest baseball player of all time and carry his Senators to the pennant. As the Senators go on an historic winning streak and near first place, Joe finally realizes how much he gave up when he walked away from his wife’s love and their workaday life. Will he go back, or will he succumb to the temptations of fame, glory, and the charms of Applegate’s assistant, the luscious Lola?
“Damn Yankees” won 9 Tony Awards in 1956, including Best Musical, Music and Lyrics (Richard 
Adler and Jerry Ross), Book (George Abbott and Douglas Wallop, who also wrote the book on which the play is based, “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant”), Choreography (Bob Fosse), and three acting awards (Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston, and Russ Brown). The memorable and eminently hummable score includes “Whatever Lola Wants,” “You’ve Gotta Have Heart,” “Goodbye Old Girl,” “Shoeless Joe,” and “Two Lost Souls.”
MCT’s big-league production is directed by Peter Gelblum, with Musical Direction by Steve Abrams, and Choreography by Shannon Marie Kerr. The all-star cast includes David Jackson, Shannon Marie Kerr, Steve Edmonds, Scott Whisler, Mindy Pedlar, and Bill Firestone.
The production is presented at MCT’s home, Park Hall, 9400 Mill St., Ben Lomond, Fridays and Saturdays March 27-28, April 3-4, 10-11, and 17-18 at 8 pm, and Sundays April 5, 12, and 19 at 2 pm. Tickets are $25 for General Admission, $20 for Seniors (60+) and Students, and $15 for Youth (12 and under). To purchase tickets, visit www.mctshows.org.
“Damn Yankees” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54th Street, New York NY 10019. Phone: 212-541-4684. Fax: 212-397-4684. www.MTIShows.com.
MCT, a member-run non-profit organization, is Santa Cruz County’s longest continuing operating theater company, founded in 1982.
Shannon Marie Kerr as Lola – Photo Credit David Murakami
David Jackson as Joe Hardy – Photo Credit David Murakami
The baseball team has “Heart” L to R: John Wasielewski; Sutton Arabe; Ryland Gordon – Photo Credit Kylan Thureockes
Steve Edmonds as Mr. Applegate (aka the Devil) – Photo Credit Kylan Thureockes
Gloria and the team L to R: Alie Mac, Sutton Arabe, Ryland Gordon, John Wasielewski – Photo Credit Kylan Thureockes