Composer

:

Richard Adler

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1955

Average_duration

:

68:06

Damn Yankees is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop. The musical is based on Wallop's novel "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant," which tells the story of a middle-aged man named Joe Boyd who sells his soul to the devil to become a young baseball player and help his favorite team, the Washington Senators, win the pennant. The musical was composed in 1955 and premiered on Broadway on May 5, 1955, at the 46th Street Theatre. The original production was directed by George Abbott and choreographed by Bob Fosse. The show ran for 1,019 performances and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical for Ray Walston, and Best Choreography for Fosse. The musical is divided into two acts and features several memorable songs, including "Heart," "Whatever Lola Wants," and "You Gotta Have Heart." The music is characterized by its catchy melodies, upbeat rhythms, and clever lyrics that capture the spirit of baseball and the American Dream. The first act introduces Joe Boyd, a middle-aged man who is a die-hard fan of the Washington Senators. He is frustrated with the team's losing streak and wishes they could win the pennant. The devil, in the form of a smooth-talking salesman named Mr. Applegate, appears and offers Joe a deal: he will become a young baseball player named Joe Hardy and help the Senators win the pennant in exchange for his soul. Joe agrees to the deal and becomes a star player for the Senators, but he soon realizes that he misses his wife and old life. He also falls in love with Lola, a seductive woman who works for Mr. Applegate. The first act ends with Joe struggling to decide whether to stay with the Senators or return to his old life. The second act features several plot twists and turns as Joe tries to outsmart Mr. Applegate and win back his soul. The climax of the show takes place during the final game of the season, where Joe must decide whether to throw the game and lose the pennant or play to win and risk losing his soul forever. Damn Yankees is known for its energetic dance numbers, clever humor, and memorable characters. The show has been revived several times on Broadway and has been adapted into a film and a television special. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless themes of love, loyalty, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

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