On February 20, 21, and 22, Geiger Reeves Theater was brought to life with a wonderful production of the musical Damn Yankees by Douglass Wallop and George Abbott. Over 100 students worked around the clock for months to create an organized, exuberant, and highly engaging show. Three months of rehearsals produced a successful, intricately choreographed, and professionally produced musical that didn’t fail to entertain and amuse the audience.
Damn Yankees, a show from the 1950s, presents a powerful and humorous message about the meaning of love set against the complex backdrop of baseball. From the devil to an old baseball player, from a Chicago homewrecker to an old house in Hannibal, Missouri, the show twists and turns, bringing the audience along for an unforgettable ride.
Hari Pandya ’28, who played the baseball player Smokey, reflected on the experience by saying that “[i]t was a lot of work, but it was all worth the end result. We all really enjoyed the experience!”
Starring Ethan Sbarro ’26, Brooke Truslow ’25, Yanelly DeLeon ’25, Nathan Kim ’25, River An ’27, and Emily Crehan ’25, the musical deals with the abominable performance of the baseball team the Washington Senators, a team which was failing miserably during the 1950s. The show is full of devilish deals, whirlwind dialogue, and witty humor. This all happened against the backdrop of expertly painted set pieces and designs from the set crew, including many large room-sized backdrops and colorful life-size scenery. All the while, complex light patterns were created from the light booth using the spotlight and stage lights, all coming together to accurately depict settings such as a house and a baseball field.
Mr. Cirnigliaro, director of the show, said that the “experience was exceptional overall. All the students involved, in all three groups, had a great and unique commitment to make the show awesome.” When asked what his favorite part of the show was, he said that “it’s really hard for me to pick a favorite part, because I love all of it.” The rehearsal time totaled 140 hours spent singing, dancing, and acting.
The production also included a full Broadway-sized, live pit orchestra. From ten feet below the audience, the orchestra played in front of the stage. At the helm was Alan Michaels, who expertly watched and waited for the right time to commence each of the songs. The orchestra accompanied dance numbers like “Who’s Got the Pain?,” “Shoeless Joe,” and “Six Months Out of Every Year.” There were also passionate and emotional songs like “Goodbye Old Girl,” “Whatever Lola Wants,” and “Near To You.” Alex Cao ’28, the bassist of the pit orchestra, stated “I really enjoyed the musical. The bass music was especially fun to play.”
The musical delivered a powerful statement about giving up everything, even international fame, for one’s love. Damn Yankees presented an awesome and illuminating experience for everyone involved. Overall, it was a wonderful and powerful production that will certainly be remembered for a long time.
