High School West Performs 'Damn Yankees'

This past weekend, the Theatre West troupe at High School West performed the classic musical comedy, Damn Yankees. Set in the 1950s, the storyline focuses on the New York Yankees when they dominated Major League Baseball.

Based on the book, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, written by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, the Broadway production opened in 1955 at the 46^th Street Theatre on May 5^th, then at the Adelphi Theatre, and ran for 1,019 performances, winning numerous Tony Awards.

The producers were Harold Prince, Robert Griffith, and Frederick Brisson, directed by George Abbot, and choreographed by Bob Fosse, musical orchestrations by Roger Adams. The show featured well-known talents of Ray Walston, Stephen Douglass, Jean Stapleton, and then newcomer, Gwen Verdon. A film version was released in 1958.

The plot centers around an older, long-time baseball fan, Joe Boyd, who meets the Devil, Mr. Applegate. The Devil fulfills Joe’s dreams and changes him into a young ball player named Joe Hardy. Hardy mysteriously disappears from his normal life joins his favorite team as a “long-hitter” to help them win the pennant. In the end, he finds he is happiest in his life with his wife.

Some of the Hills West cast:
Joe Boyd………………………………..Justin Tomazic
Meg Boyd………………………………..Tahra Friedman
Mr. Applegate……………………………Gregory Georges
Joe Hardy………………………………..Chris Knieste
Lola (Friday)……………………………..Amanda Davis
Lola (Saturday)………………………….Brianna Robinson
Glora Thorpe…………………………..Lauren Toscano

The production team included:
Director: Jane DeStio
Assistant Director: Jennifer Ievolo
Musical Conductor: Christopher Foti
Vocal Director: Michelle Martufi and Michael Sydor
Technical Director/Costumes: Gail Giella
Stage and Set Designer: John Carolan 
Choreography: by Andrew (Dr. Ew) Carter
Business Director: Nannette O’Grady 

Curtain calls at Saturday evening’s performance was a tear-jerker for both the cast and audience, as Damn Yankees marked the last Theatre West production by Jane DeStio, who will be retiring at the end of this school year. Ms. DeStio, an English teacher, has been the principal director since 1976. She said, “My hope for Theatre West is that I have inspired more than a few, honed the skills of more than a few, shown sensitivity to more than a few, and have become a part of many lives in some small way. I know that Theatre West has inspired me, help shaped me, and will always remain a part of me.”