Press Releases

Veanne Cox, Michael Mulheren and P.J. Benjamin will join Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson, Ana Gasteyer and Randy Graff in Damn Yankees, running
July 5 – 27, 2008 at New York City Center (55th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues). Damn Yankees will be directed by John Rando with Music Direction by Rob Berman and the original Bob Fosse choreography recreated by Mary MacLeod. A July 10 opening is planned.

Damn Yankees has music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and is based on Wallop's novel "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant." It is the story of Joe Boyd (P. J. Benjamin), the ultimate baseball fan, who sells his soul to the Devil (Sean Hayes) for the chance to help his team win the pennant race against the Yankees. The Devil is aided by the sexy Lola (Jane Krakowski), who seduces a now younger, physically transformed Joe (Cheyenne Jackson), but ultimately helps him outsmart the Devil and return to his beloved wife (Randy Graff).

Damn Yankees opened on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre on May 5, 1955, and ran for 1019 performances, winning four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Choreography (Bob Fosse), Best Actor (Ray Walton) and Best Actress (Gwen Verdon). Songs include "Heart" and "Whatever Lola Wants.”

The complete cast (as of June 5) is: Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson, Ana Gasteyer, Randy Graff, Michael Mulheren, Veanne Cox, P.J. Benjamin, Robert Creighton, Jimmy Smagula, Kathy Fitzgerald, John Horton, John Selya, with Nathan Balser, David Baum, Jimmy Ray Bennett, Rachel Coloff, Anderson Davis, Marya Grandy, Shannon Lewis, Jay Lusteck, Pamela Otterson, Adam Perry, Karine Plantadit, T. Oliver Reid, Jon Rua, Stacey Sargeant, Alexander Scheitinger, Chandra Lee Schwartz, Baron Vaughn and Cody Ryan. Wise.

Sean Hayes (Mr. Applegate) won an Emmy (and was nominated six times) for his portrayal of “Jack” on “Will & Grace.” He starred as Jerry Lewis in the television movie “The Martin & Lewis Story.” His films include Pieces of April, The Cat in the Hat (as the voice of the Fish), Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss, and Cats and Dogs (as the voice of Mr. Tinkles). He has won two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a TV Guide Award and an American Comedy Award.

Jane Krakowski (Lola) originated the role of “Dinah the Dining Car” in the 1987 Broadway production of Starlight Express. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in Grand Hotel; won the Tony Award for the revival of Nine; played April in Company at the Roundabout Theatre; and appeared alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in the Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress. She starred on television in “Álly McBeal” and can currently be seen as Jenna Maroney on “30 Rock.”

Cheyenne Jackson (Joe Hardy) made his Broadway debut understudying both male leads in the Tony Award-winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. He later served as the standby for the character of Radames in Aida, then originated the role of Matthew in the off-Broadway production of Altar Boyz. He originated his first Broadway leading role in the musical tribute to Elvis Presley, All Shook Up. His performance as Chad earned him much critical praise and the Theatre World Award, as well as nominations from the Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor. In 2006, Jackson portrayed Mark Bingham in Universal Pictures' Academy-Award nominated film United 93. He also starred Off-Broadway in Nicky Silver's The Agony and The Agony with Victoria Clark. Jackson, who received a Drama Desk nomination as Best Actor for his starring role as Sonny in Broadway's Xanadu, will return to the production following the run of Damn Yankees.

Ana Gasteyer (Gloria) was a cast member of “Saturday Night Live” from 1998 – 2002. She appeared on Broadway as Elphaba in Wicked, as Mrs. Peachum in The Threepenny Opera and as Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show. Her off Broadway credits include Kimberly Akimbo at Manhattan Theatre Club and Passion (as Fosca) at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. She played Lindsay Lohan’s mother in the feature film Mean Girls, written by SNL castmate Tina Fey. She also appeared in Reefer Madness.

Randy Graff’s (Meg Hardy) many Broadway credits include leading roles in Les Miserables, City of Angels (Tony Award, Best Featured Actress), Laughter on the 23rd Floor, High Society, A Class Act, and Fiddler on the Roof.

John Rando’s broadway credits include The Wedding Singer and Urinetown (Tony Award for Best Director). His other New York credits include The Dinner Party, A Thousand Clowns and Polish Joke. His previous Encores! credits include Face the Music, Strike Up the Band, Do Re Mi, The Pajama Game and Of Thee I Sing.

Rob Berman is Music Director of the New York City Center Encores! series, where he has conducted and provided musical direction for Stairway to Paradise and Applause. He was the conductor of the Broadway revival of The Pajama Game and music director of the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration’s Sunday in the Park with George (Helen Hayes Award, Best Musical Direction). Berman is music supervisor of Irving Berlin's White Christmas and music director for the Kennedy Center Honors.

Mary MacLeod’s Broadway credits include Fosse, Seussical, Chicago, Company (Kathy), Guys & Dolls, Smokey Joe’s Café (Dance Captain/ASM). She appeared in the very first Encores! production of Fiorello, followed by Can-Can and Juno and was Associate Choreographer for Bye-Bye Birdie. Mary has assisted choreographers Robert Bianca, Chris Chadman, Joey McKneely, Casey Nicolaw, Peter Pucci, and Scott Wise. She teaches theatre dance all over the country.

This production is made possible in part by Stephanie and Fred Shuman Fund for Encores!
Budweiser is a proud sponsor of Damn Yankees.

Encores! Summer Stars, an expanded version of City Center’s acclaimed Encores! series, is dedicated to presenting more fully-realized productions of classic works of the American musical theater, and to giving leading actors the chance to play roles they were born to play. Its first production, the critically acclaimed Gypsy starring Patti LuPone, is currently having a successful run on Broadway.

New York City Center Encores! (Jack Viertel, Artistic Director; Rob Berman, Music Director) has, since 1994, celebrated the rarely-heard works of America’s most important composers and lyricists. Conceived as “concert versions,” each Encores! season gives three scores the chance to be heard as originally intended by their creators. Over the years, Encores! has presented the works of the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, Bock and Harnick, Burt Bacharach, Kander and Ebb, Comden and Green, and many more. The program is the recipient of a special 2000 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, as well as an Outer Critics Circle Award, Lucille Lortel Award and Jujamcyn Theaters Award.

The landmark not-for-profit New York City Center was founded in 1943 by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia as Manhattan's first performing arts center, and is now the annual New York City home to Alvin Ailey, American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre's fall season, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company and Manhattan Theatre Club. New York City Center is host to some of America's and the world's most acclaimed performers and productions, and the producer of the Tony-honored Encores! and Encores! Summer Stars series, and the annual Fall for Dance Festival.

Damn Yankees will run July 5 – 27. Please see chart below for July 5 – 11 performance schedule. Beginning July 12, the schedule is as follows: Tuesday and Sunday evenings at 7 pm, Wednesday – Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, and matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm.Tickets for Damn Yankees are available at the New York City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues), through CityTix® at 212-581-1212, or online at www.nycitycenter.org. Tickets for the Orchestra, Grand Tier are $110 & 85; Mid-Mezzanine tickets are $50; tickets for the Rear Mezzanine are $25

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On The Town , the first Broadway musical written by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, with original choreography by Jerome Robbins, will open the 2008-2009 Encores! season as part of the city-wide Leonard Bernstein 90 th Birthday Celebration sponsored by Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic from September through December 2008. As part of the Bernstein Festival, the Encores! season will begin in the fall, with On The Town running November 19 – 23, 2008. The season will continue with Music in the Air, a rarely seen 1932 Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical, and conclude with Finian’s Rainbow, with music by Burton Lane and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg.

On The Town, with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based on a concept by Jerome Robbins, was inspired by Robbins’ 1944 ballet, “Fancy Free.” Set in wartime 1944, On The Town is the story of three sailors’ adventurous 24-hour leave in New York City. Their fabulous day-long journey is spurred by a search for sailor Gabey’s dream girl, “Miss Turnstiles.” Along the way, each sailor falls in love with a woman, and with New York City itself.

The original Broadway production of On The Town, starring Nancy Walker, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, opened at the Adelphi Theatre on December 28, 1944, playing a total of 462 performances. It has since been revived at the Imperial Theatre in 1971 and the George Gershwin Theatre in 1998. Songs from On The Town include “ New York, New York,” “Some Other Time,” and “I Can Cook Too.”

Music in the Air , with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, has been lovingly restored by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, and not been seen in its original form since its premiere Broadway engagement at the Alvin Theatre in 1932. Opening on November 8 th of that year, it played for 342 performances in a production directed by the authors, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. A revised version had a brief revival at the Ziegfeld Theatre in 1951. Music in the Air will run February 5 – 8, 2009.

Set in Bavaria and Munich, Music in the Air was the transitional piece in Oscar Hammerstein II’s career between his early operettas and his modern musicals written with Richard Rodgers. Although it retains an operetta-like setting, it is a musically and emotionally sophisticated romance, combining wit, elegance and melancholy in a manner reminiscent of the films of Ernst Lubitsch. It tells of an aging rural music teacher, his naively charming daughter and their misadventures trying to break into the cynical, world-weary theatre scene in the big city. Songs include “I’ve Told Ev’ry Little Star” and “The Song Is You”.

Finian’s Rainbow , with music by Burton Lane, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg and book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, opened at the 46th Street Theatre on January 10, 1947, directed by Bretaigne Windust, and played a total of 725 performances. Michael Kidd won the Tony Award for his choreography. (In an interesting note, the show played at New York City Center once before - for a week in May, 1955, presented by the New York City Light Opera.) Finian’s Rainbow will run March 26 - 29 2009.

Finian’s Rainbow is the story of the Irishman Finian McLonergan, and his daughter Sharon who arrive in the small Southern town of Rainbow Valley in the mythical state of Missitucky, with plans to bury a stolen pot of gold in the shadows of Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief it will grow and multiply. They have been followed from Ireland by the owner of the gold, a leprechaun, who shows up determined to recover his treasure. The musical is unusual in that it deals in a satirical way with issues of class and race, most specifically in the character of a bigoted southern senator who is accidentally turned black. Songs include “ How Are Things in Glocca Morra?,” “When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love,” and “If This Isn’t Love.”

Rob Berman will music direct and conduct all three productions of the upcoming season. He was appointed Music Director of Encores! before the 2008 season and conducted this season’s production of Applause and last season’s Stairway to Paradise. He worked as founding music director Rob Fisher’s associate on several Encores! productions, and took over the podium from Maestro Fisher during the Broadway transfers of Wonderful Town and The Apple Tree, both of which originated at Encores! He conducted the Tony Award winning revival of The Pajama Game and was also music director and conductor of the Kennedy Center’s production of Sunday in the Park with George for which he won a Helen Hayes Award for best musical direction. He is music supervisor for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas as well as The Gershwins’ An American in Paris and is music director of the Kennedy Center Honors orchestra.

Newman's Own is a proud sponsor of Encores!. Paul Newman and the Newman’s Own Foundation donate all profits and royalties after taxes for educational and charitable purposes.  Paul Newman and the Newman’s Own Foundation have given over $200 million to thousands of charities worldwide since l982.  For years, Paul Newman filled old wine bottles with his homemade salad dressing for Christmas gifts.  One day, he reckoned that what was good enough for his pals was good enough for the public, and Newman's Own all-natural line of food products was born.   It has grown to include pasta sauce, microwave popcorn, salsa, lemonade and steak sauce.  For more information about Newman’s Own, please visit www.newmansown.com.

The 2008-2009 season is made possible in part by:  Stephanie and Fred Shuman Fund for Encores!

Major support for the New York City CenterEncores! 2008-2009 season is provided by the Joseph S. and Diane H. Steinberg Charitable Trust and Roz and Jerry Meyer.

New York City Center Encores! (Jack Viertel, Artistic Director; Rob Berman, Music Director) has, since 1994, celebrated the rarely-heard works of America’s most important composers and lyricists. Conceived as “concert versions,” each Encores! season gives three scores the chance to be heard as originally intended by their creators. Over the years, Encores! has presented the works of the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, Bock and Harnick, Burt Bacharach, Kander and Ebb, Comden and Green, and many more. The program is the recipient of a special 2000 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, as well as an Outer Critics Circle Award, Lucille Lortel Award and Jujamcyn Theaters Award.

New York City Center (Arlene Shuler, President and CEO) has long been known and beloved by New York audiences not only as one of the City’s preeminent performing art institutions but also as an accessible and welcoming venue for dance and theater.  New York City Center produces the Tony-honored Encores!musical theater series, and is home to some of the country’s leading dance companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company, as well as Manhattan Theatre Club, one of New York’s leading theater companies. Continuing to fulfill its mission to make the arts accessible to the broadest possible audience, in 2004 New York City Center launched the acclaimed Fall for Dance Festival.  In 2006, New York City Center formed partnerships with both London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre to facilitate the exchange of innovative dance works, and with Carnegie Hall to work together on exciting new programming initiatives between the two neighboring institutions. In 2007 New York City Center introduced the Encores! Summer Stars series with the critically-acclaimed production of Gypsy¸ currently having enjoying a successful run on Broadway, and will continue this summer with Damn Yankees starring Sean Hayes and Jane Krakowski.

Tickets for the 2008-2009 Encores! season are available at the New York City Center Box Office ( West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues), through CityTix® at 212-581-1212, or online at www.nycitycenter.org. Tickets for the Orchestra, Grand Tier and Mid-Mezzanine tickets are $95; tickets for the Rear Mezzanine and Front Gallery are $50; tickets for the Rear Gallery are $25.

DAMN YANKEES, starring Sean Hayes and Jane Krakowski, will be the second of New York City Center’s Encores! Summer Stars series, running July 5 – 27, 2008 at New York City Center, W. 55 th Street between 6 th & 7 th Avenues. Damn Yankees will be directed by John Rando with Music Direction by Rob Berman. A July 10 opening is planned.

Damn Yankees has a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and is based on Wallop's novel "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant."

It is the story of Joe Boyd, the ultimate baseball fan, who sells his soul to the Devil (Sean Hayes) for the chance to help his team, the Washington Senators, win the pennant race against the Yankees. The Devil is aided by the sexy Lola (Jane Krakowski), who seduces Joe, but ultimately helps him outsmart the Devil and return to his beloved wife. Songs include "Heart" and "Whatever Lola Wants.”

The original Broadway production of Damn Yankees opened at the 46th Street Theatre on May 5, 1955, playing 1,019 performances. Directed by George Abbott with musical numbers staged by Bob Fosse, the original cast included Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston.

Sean Hayes won an Emmy (and was nominated six times) for his portrayal of “Jack” on “Will & Grace.” He starred as Jerry Lewis in the television movie “The Martin & Lewis Story.” His films include The Bucket List, Pieces of April, The Cat in the Hat (as the voice of the Fish), Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss, and Cats and Dogs (as the voice of Mr. Tinkles). He has won two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a TV Guide Award and an American Comedy Award.

Jane Krakowski originated the role of “ Dinah the Dining Car” in the 1987 Broadway production of Starlight Express. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in Grand Hotel; won the Tony Award for the revival of Nine; played April in Company at the Roundabout Theatre; and appeared alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in the Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress. She starred on television in “Ally McBeal” and can currently be seen as Jenna Maroney on “30 Rock.”

John Rando’s Broadway credits include The Wedding Singer and Urinetown (Tony Award for Best Director). His other New York credits include The Dinner Party, A Thousand Clowns and Polish Joke. His previous Encores! credits include Face the Music, Strike Up the Band, Do Re Mi,The Pajama Game and Of Thee I Sing.

Rob Berman is Music Director of the New York City Center Encores! series, where he has conducted and provided musical direction for Stairway to Paradise and Applause. He was the conductor of the Broadway revival of The Pajama Game and music director of the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration’s Sunday in the Park with George (Helen Hayes Award, Best Musical Direction). Berman is music supervisor of Irving Berlin's White Christmas and music director for the Kennedy Center Honors.

Encores! Summer Stars, an expanded version of City Center’s acclaimed Encores! series, is dedicated to presenting more-fully realized classic works of the American musical theater, and to giving leading actors the chance to play roles they were born to play.

New York City Center Encores! (Jack Viertel, Artistic Director; Rob Berman, Music Director) has, since 1994, celebrated the rarely-heard works of America’s most important composers and lyricists. Conceived as “concert versions,” each Encores! season gives three scores the chance to be heard as originally intended by their creators. Over the years, Encores! has presented the works of the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, Bock and Harnick, Burt Bacharach, Kander and Ebb, Comden and Green, and many more. The program is the recipient of a special 2000 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, as well as an Outer Critics Circle Award, Lucille Lortel Award and Jujamcyn Theaters Award.

The landmark not-for-profit New York City Center was founded in 1943 by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia as Manhattan 's first performing arts center, and is now the annual New York City home to Alvin Ailey, American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre 's fall season, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company and Manhattan Theatre Club. New York City Center is host to some of America 's and the world 's most acclaimed performers and productions, and the producer of the Tony-honored Encores! and Encores! Summer Stars series, and the annual Fall for Dance Festival.

Tickets for Damn Yankees are available to members beginning April 11, to Encores! Subscribers on April 14 and to the general public beginning April 18 at the New York City Center Box Office (West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues), through CityTix® at 212-581-1212, or online HERE. Tickets for the Orchestra, Grand Tier are $110 & 85; Mid-Mezzanine tickets are $50; tickets for the Rear Mezzanine and Gallery are $2