Andre De Shields Leads DAMN YANKEES At Engeman Theater, 7/10

Come see The John W. Engeman Theater hit one out of the park with the 2010-2011 season opener: DAMN YANKEES. Just in time for baseball season, this musical comedy is centered around America's National Pastime. No matter what team you root for, Damn Yankees is sure to be a Grand Slam!

DAMN YANKEES, Winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is set in Washington D.C. during the 1950's - a time when the New York Yankees dominated baseball. With words and music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop DAMN YANKEES features songs such as Heart, Whatever Lola Wants, and Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, MO. It's the perfect musical comedy that both theater and sports enthusiast will love.

Press Opening is Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 8:00 pm

DAMN YANKEES will play the following performance schedule: Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

IN ADDITION, there will be a special matinee on: Thursday, July 15 at 2:00 p.m.

ALSO there will performances on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m., starting July 25. ADDITIONALLY, there will beperformances on Wednesday evenings at 8:00 p.m., starting August 4.

Tickets are NOW ON SALE and are $60. Tickets may be purchased by calling (631) 261-2900, by visiting www.engemantheater.com, or at the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

DAMN YANKEES is produced for the John W. Engeman Theater by Richard T. Dolce, the theater's Producing Artistic Director. The Director is John Simpkins who recently directed the three-time Drama Desk nominated Off-Broadway production of Bloodsong of Love: The Rock'N'Roll Spaghetti Western (by Joe Iconis) at Ars Nova. The Choreographer is Stephanie Lang whose New York credits include Light in the Piazza, Candide and Broadway Bares XX. Musical Director, Mark Hartman, is the recipient of two MAC Awards and the Backstage Bistro Award for Music Direction. His work includes B'way: Sondheim On Sondheim, Avenue Q, 1776 (Roundabout), Miss Saigon. The Casting Director is Stephen DeAngelis who has been a member of the John W. Engeman Theater since its inception and has cast all of the main stage productions as well as the ongoing Broadway Concert Series. Stephen is on staff at Grey NYC having cast over 2,200 network television and radio commercials. The Production Manager is Michael Leslie.

The Design Team includes Michael Schweikardt (Set Designer) whose work includes the world premiere of the new Duncan Sheik/ Kyle Jarrow musical Whisper House at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre. Sets for several musicals by Joe Iconis: Bloodsong Of Love at Ars Nova, ReWrite at Urban Stages, The Black Suits at The Public Theater, The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks for Theatreworks U.S.A., Things To Ruin at both The Zipper Factory and Second Stage. Michelle Eden Humphrey (Costume Designer) recently designed costumes for Off- Broadway: Bloodsong of Love (Ars Nova), Academy (NYMF TBG Theater and Daegu International Musical Festival in Korea), Caesar and Cleopatra (Clurman Theater at Theatre Row), ReWrite (Urban Stages), Things to Ruin (Second Stage & The Zipper Factory), The Black Suits (SPF The Public Theater). Joel E. Silver (Lighting Designer) Caucasian Chalk Circle (New School), Damascus (Northern Stage), Run For Your Wife (John W. Engeman), F#@king Up Everything (Off the Leash Productions), Zombie (Razor's Edge Productions), Little Shop of Horrors (John W. Engeman Theatre). Kate Miller (Sound Designer) has been the Resident Sound Engineer at the John W. Engeman Theater since its opening in 2007 and has designed numerous shows including Jekyll & Hyde, Wonderful Life, Little Women, Crazy For You, and Miracle on 34th Street. Mark Adam Rampmeyer (Hair and Wig Designer) Who recently completed work on West Side Story currently on Broadway. Mark joins the John W. Engeman Theater this season in a full time role as Artistic Administrator in addition to his design responsibilities. The Production Stage Manager is CJ LaRoche.

The cast of DAMN YANKEES features Andre De Shields (Applegate) who is best known for his show stopping performances in the original Broadway productions of four legendary musicals: The Full Monty (Tony, Drama Desk and Astaire Award nominations, and both the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards), Play On! (Tony nomination), Ain't Misbehavin'(Drama Desk nomination) and The Wiz; Felicia Finley (Lola) who has been in such Broadway shows as The Wedding Singer, Aida,
Forbidden Broadway, Smokey Joe's Café, and The Life; and Austin Miller (Joe Hardy) most recognized from NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want." Theater credits include Sophisticated Ladies at DC's Arena Theater, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Arkansas Rep and 42nd Street at Goodspeed Opera House.

The cast also includes Stephen Berger (Van Buren) who returns to Northport having appeared as "Speed" in last year's production of The Odd Couple; Scott Davidson (Joe Boyd) also returns to Northport after appearing in last season's The Odd Couple; Jan Leigh Herndon (Meg) who appeared on Broadway in A Chorus Line (Sheila) and La Cage Aux Folles (original cast); and Rebecca Kupka Overton (Gloria Thorpe) whose Broadway credits include Jersey Boys and Saturday Night Fever.

Rounding out the cast are William C. Bailey , Solomon Buchman, Amanda Trusty, Rebecca Stavis, Bronson N. Murphy, James Lee Glatz, James Erickson, Jeremy Morse, Zander Meisner, Andrew Leggieri, Amy Jane Finnerty, Kristen da Costa, Ashley Chasteen, Jason "Sweet Tooth" Williams and Freddie Kimmel.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport is Long Island's only year round professional theater company, casting our actors from the Broadway talent pool. From curb to curtain, we have made it our business to provide affordable, Quality Theater in an elegant one-of-a-kind location with outstanding facilities and extraordinary service. The renovated Theater offers stadium-style seating, state-of-the-art lighting and sound, a full orchestra pit, and a classic wood-paneled piano lounge with full bar. For a complete show schedule and more information contact the theater directly at 631-261-2900 or visit our website at www.engemantheater.com

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