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New musical on deck at Southside Theatre Guild

Fairburn production swings for the fences.

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@TheCitizenNews.com

The cast of “Damn Yankees,” the current musical production being staged at the Southside Theatre Guild in Fairburn, have been “in training” since early March. Director Debbie Lewis has pulled together a winning team of actors to tell the story of one fan’s obsession with the luckless Washington Senators and his soul sacrifice to see them win against the New York Yankees. Based on the classic story of Faust, “Damn Yankees” re-imagines the tale as a light-hearted look at baseball complete with song and dance.

“It’s such a fun show.” Lewis remarked. She pointed out the many talented people involved with the production, including her husband, Rick, the show’s technical director. “There are several explosions on stage throughout the show and a music score that Rick has been translating onto our computer system. He’s been working on it for a solid year.”

The choreography has been a shared effort between Ashley Mallam, Maureen McDaniel, Andrew Puckett, Sabine Scholz, and the cast of ball players themselves. “We spent the first two months working on the singing and dancing. Jerry Mathis, our musical director helped the cast learn the music.” Lewis said.

Terry Hoffman plays Joe Boyd, the die-hard Senators fan who becomes baseball sensation, young Joe Hardy, played by Fayette County High School student, Andrew Puckett. The role of Mr. Applegate, the devil, is played by Tommy McDaniel. His daughter, Maureen McDaniel plays satanic temptress, Lola.

The part of Coach Van Buren is played with rustic realism by Ron Wilcox. In addition to staging some of the choreography, Ashley Mallam, a chorus teacher at Rising Starr Middle School, plays reporter Gloria Thorpe. Lewis recruited Ray Collins of Red Rooster Antiques, to play another reporter named Lynch. “It’s Ray’s first time on stage. He just fit the part perfectly.”

Collins offered his services in decorating the set and the theatre lobby as well with vintage 50s merchandise, including two historic Campbell County High School yearbooks.

Before the overture, the audience will be treated to a screening of the famous “Who’s on First?” sketch starring Abbott and Costello as well as some baseball bloopers. A lot of team effort has gone into the Southside Theatre Guild’s latest production.

The musical by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, originally staged on Broadway in 1955 starring Gwen Verdon, is home for such rousing classics as “Heart,” “Whatever Lola Wants,” and “Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo.” The show itself is based on the Douglas Wallop novel, “The Year The Yankees Lost The Pennant.”

The show starts tomorrow evening and runs for three consecutive weekends. Curtain time is 8 p.m. There will be a Sunday matinee performance on July 24 at 2 p.m. For tickets and information phone the Southside box office at 770-969-0956 or visit the website at www.stgplays.com.