Show Dates
October 1 - 24, 2004
Fri/Sat at 8 pm
Sun at 2 pm
Tickets
$12 / kids 12 and under
$15 / seniors and students
$18 / adults
Tickets always available at the door!
For group sales, call 847.604.0275.
Book by Douglass Wallop & George Abbott
Lyrics & Music by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross
Based on "The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant"
Trivia Quiz: How Much Do You Know About the Washington Senators?
producers
Michelle Cunningham & Marsha Rutenberg
director
Jon Cunningham
assistant director & co-choreographer
Nancy Flaster
choreographer
Ann Fink
music director/conductor
Kurt Henning
The Real-Life Joe Hardy . . .
"I recently published a book, Damn Senators, about my grandfather, who was a baseball player for the old Washington Senators. His name was Joe Judge, and he played for the team from 1915 to 1932–including the 1924 World Series, which Washington won. He is a forgotten but great player–he still holds fielding records, hit over .300 nine seasons and was the prototype for Joe Hardy, the character in DAMN YANKEES. He coached at Georgetown University for years after retiring." - Mark Judge in The New York Press (V.16 I.27)
DAMN YANKEES Cast List
Jeff Goumas ~ Joe Hardy
Laura Stuart Obenauf ~ Lola
Mark Johnson ~ Applegate
Don DeCarl ~ Joe Boyd
Karen Doyle ~ Meg Boyd
Peter Verdico ~ Benny Van Buren
Andrea Urban ~ Gloria Thorpe
Diane Bischoff ~ Sister
Ann Stuart ~ Doris
Ryan Oboza ~ Eddie
Max Rubin ~ Welch
Washington Senator Ballplayers
Rob Smith
Adam Sales
Tom O'Doherty
Joe Rosenmayer
Ryan Oboza
chad roby
Craig Joseph
Female Ensemble/Dancers
Marjie Killeen
Rachel Schwartz
Naomi Kopelman
Katie Cunningham
Ann Garrison
DAMN YANKEES is the only successful musical comedy built around the American national pastime of baseball--the baseball story neatly combined with the age-old Faust theme. Joe Hardy is a middle-aged, happily married baseball fan. He is found in his living-room watching a game over the television. Joe is in the depths of despair, for his favorite team, the Washington Senators, seems incapable of getting a winning stride. Suddenly the devil, in the person of Applegate, visits him with a proposition: Would Joe be willing to trade his soul if the Senators won not only the pennant but also the World Series? Joe is more than willing; he has never put much stock in his soul in the first place.
A show Chicago fans must see!
Spotlight on ....
Jon Cunningham, director
DAMN YANKEES marks Jon Cunningham's directorial debut with Winnetka Theatre, and the first time he and wife Michelle (producer of DAMN YANKEES) are part of the same production staff.
This is not his first directing experience, however, having directed for three years with the Schaumburg Park District's Street Theatre program; THE HOMECOMING (also with the Schaumburg Park District); YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Jon graduated U of I with a B.A. in Speech Communications); and as assistant director of CHAIM'S LOVE SONG at the Attic Playhouse in Highwood.
Jon also has many acting credits on his resume including (with WT) DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP? (Eddie Ryan), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Simon Zelotes), and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNOCOLOR DREAMCOAT (Zebulun); THE DRAWER BOY (Miles), PIECE OF MY HEART (Man), and RUN FOR YOUR WIFE (Stanley Gardner) with Attic Playhouse; and TOMMY (Cousin Kevin) and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Charlie Kringas) with White Horse Theatre Company.
Of Jon's performance in TOMMY, a reviewer from the Chicago Free Press said, "More excellent vocals come from an ensemble that includes standout Jon Cunningham, whose enthusiasm lights up the stage whether he's in the chorus background or leaping to the fore as the devilish Cousin Kevin.."
When not home in Gurnee or at the theatre, Jon works for Mad Science of Northern Illinois. With Mad Science, "Mad" Jon educates and entertains the children of Northern Illinois with their many programs, including special events and assemblies, after-school classes, and workshops. Jon is also manager of operations, in charge of all equipment and coordinating birthday parties.
Jon is a member of Winnetka Theatre's Board of Governors, as well as a member of White Horse Theatre Company's Artistic Board.
$8 industry tickets available for 8pm Friday Oct 1 and 2 pm Sundays Oct 10, 17 and 24.
Bring headshot and/or resume and pay at the door.
KURT HENNING
Kurt Henning joins WT for the first time as Music Director/Conductor for DAMN YANKEES. A classically trained conductor, the 2000-01 season marked Kurt’s premiere as a conductor for local musical theatre. Since that time he has conducted the North Shore Theatre of Wilmette’s productions of DAMN YANKEES, CHICAGO, GEORGE M!, and A CHORUS LINE; the Park Ridge Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s productions of IOLANTE, RUDDIGORE and THE MIDADO; the Buffalo Grove Park District’s CABARET; LES MISERABLES in Elgin; SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN for the Starlight Theater of Wilmette; and it all started with a production of DAMN YANKEES with the Up and Coming Theatre Company in Arlington Heights.Kurt attended Northwestern University and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Double Bass Performance, and a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting. He has studied conducting with Margaret Morse, Vince LaGuardia, Kevin McMahon, Fred Ockwell, Dale Clevenger, John Paynter, and Victor Yampolsky.Kurt was the Director of Orchestra and Bands at Loyola University Chicago from 1990 to 2000. Since 1996, he has been the Music Director for The Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, a Northwestern University-based professional dance company (Billy Siegenfeld, Artistic Director). Kurt has conducted in the Chicago area for Lincoln Opera, Opera Viva!, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, the North Shore Chamber Orchestra, the Northwest Indiana Youth Orchestra, and the Valley Civic Orchestra. He has traveled as a professional conductor to Colorado and Italy. As a professional bassist, he has performed all over Chicago, the Midwest, as well as in San Diego and New York City.During the day, Kurt runs his own successful business as a piano tuner/technician. He also joined the United States Navy last November as a Reservist. The Navy will be teaching Kurt how to maintain and repair their airplanes and helicopters. Kurt figures if he can fix a Steinway, he should be able to fix an F-15. It’s pretty much the same thing, right?
