Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director of Amas Musical Theatre, announced the company will produce its third "BLAST FROM THE PAST" Benefit on Monday, November 14th featuring a 90 minute concert presentation of the hit Broadway musical "DAMN YANKEES", set for the first time in the Negro Baseball Leagues.
"DAMN YANKEES" will star Tony winner Sara Ramirez (Spamalot) and Tamara Tunie as dueling Lolas; Alton F. White (Ragtime, Lion King) as the devilish Mr. Applegate; Rodney Hicks (Rent) as Joe Hardy; Tony winner Chuck Cooper (The Life, Caroline, Or Change) as the Coach; Ken Primus as Older Joe; Vivian Reed (Marie Christine, Bubbling Brown Sugar) as his wife Meg, Tina Fabrique as Sister and Rob Evan (Jekyll and Hyde, Little Shop of Horrors) as Mr. Welch, with Wayne W. Pretlow, Raun Ruffin, Eric Anthony, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Rob Evan, Stacey Sargeant, Christine Clemons, Amber Efe, Britton Jones, Kevin Anthony, Michael Blackman and Delance Minefee. The concert presentation of DAMN YANKEES will be directed and choreographed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj with music direction by Charles Creath. The original production, which opened on Broadway in 1955 and played 1019 performances, starred Gwen Verdon as Lola. The musical has a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross and Lyrics by Mr. Adler and Mr. Ross.
This year, Amas will present the "Rosie" Awards (named for founder Rosetta LeNoire) to Tony Award-winner Leslie Uggams and to The JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and will present The Ossie Davis Award for Inspirational Leadership to Brian Cashman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the New York Yankees. The Rosie Award is given to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary accomplishment and dedication in the theatrical arts and to corporations that work to promote opportunity and diversity. The late Ossie Davis and his wife Ruby Dee, were recipients of the 2003 Rosie Award. This year's presentation to Brian Cashman marks the first Ossie Davis Award, given to a key leader of an organization, in any industry, that epitomizes the color-blind search for excellence that has characterized the Amas mission since its founding. Celebrated director, choreographer and performer Maurice Hines will present the awards to this year's honorees. Leslie Uggams won the Tony Award for Hallelujah Baby! and was nominated for another Tony recently for her role in King Hedley II.
The Blast from the Past Gala Benefit evening begins at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, Amas also places special emphasis on the well-being of young people. At Amas, they learn the many disciplines of theatre, music and dance with seasoned professionals, who not only serve to educate, but act as important role models.The Rosetta/> LeNoire/> Musical/> Theatre/> Academy/>/> is a year-round pre-professional training program for teenagers. Each graduating class presents a full Off-Off-Broadway showcase production. The Immigration Experience is Amas' artists-in-school program for public high school students to research their personal and communities' immigration histories. Based on their research and writing the students formulate a musical, which they perform for the entire school and community.121 Christopher Street/>, at 7 PM, followed by a buffet dinner, auction and raffle at The Garage (
99 Seventh Avenue South/>). Benefit ticket prices range from $125 (performance only) to $500 (cocktails, premium performance seats and buffet dinner). For tickets, call (212) 563-2565.
"Setting our concert version of Damn Yankees in the Negro Baseball Leagues is a fresh and unique interpretation of this classic tale of baseball, temptation, second chances, and the power of the human spirit," says Trinkoff. "No text has been altered except the Washington Senators are now called the "Black" Washington Senators, and the musical arrangements and dance numbers are unmistakably influenced by African American and Caribbean music of the era. As conceived and directed by our artist-in-residence
Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, this is a show that both breaks new ground and pays homage to the past," she adds.
During the benefit evening, the third Rosetta LeNoire Scholarship will also be presented to a deserving college-bound student attending Amas' arts education program, The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy.
Amas' Honorary Benefit Committee is chaired by
Bob Boyett and
Chita Rivera with Judith Ann Abrams, Billie Allen, Mary Ann Anderson, Joe Nenincasa, Ruby Dee, Carmen deLavallade, Andre DeShields, N.Y. State Senator Tom Duane, Dasha Epstein, Angelina Fiordellisi, Tara Fishman, Michael Frazier,
Micki Grant,
Whoopi Goldberg,
Maurice Hines, Geoffrey Holder, Jeffrey Kent,
Eartha Kitt, Willette Klausner, Pam Koslow, Jack Lang –Hall of Fame Baseball Historian, Jeff Larson, Nathan Matthews, Charles Mirotznik, Esq., Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Congressman Charles Rangel, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer,
Tamara Tunie, Elizabeth Williams.
The Amas Blast from the Past Benefit is an annual event held to raise funds in support of Amas Musical Theatre's ongoing theatre and arts education programs.
About Amas Musical Theatre
Amas Musical Theatre has been a pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since it was founded in 1968 by actress and visionary Rosetta LeNoire. Amas ("you love" in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals and to the training and encouragement of inner-city young people.
For 37 years, Amas has engraved its unique trademark in the world of musical theatre, producing groundbreaking work embracing different cultural perspectives while reaching out to underserved audiences.
In recent years, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director
Donna Trinkoff, Amas has produced a series of acclaimed Amas Mainstage shows that have moved to expanded touring, regional and commercial productions after their Amas appearances.
These productions include Rollin' on the T.O.B.A,
Reunion/>: A Civil War Musical, 4 Guys Named Jose … and Una Mujer Named Maria, Langston Hughes's Little Ham, Zanna, Don't!, Latin Heat, From My Hometown, and Lone Star Love. Musicals developed and produced at Amas have been nominated for and received numerous awards, including Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel, Kleban, Richard Rodgers, Dramatists Guild, ASCAP Popular Songwriters, and Audelco Awards.
