Kritzer Joins DAMN YANKEES as 'Gloria Thorpe' at St. Louis Muny

The Muny will present DAMN YANKEES from July 12 - July 18, 2010. As previously announced, the cast will be lead by Eric Kunze (Joe Hardy), Angie L/ Shworer (Lola), and Lewis J. Stadlen (Applegate).  BroadwayWorld has now confirmed that Leslie Kritzer will join the cast as 'Gloria Thorpe.' The production is being directed at the open-air theater by Paul Blake and will feature choreography by Mary MacLeod.

Damn Yankees is the tempting, tantalizing musical that simply sizzles! It's the story of Joe, a middle-aged man who still dreams of playing professional baseball. It doesn't take long for the dapper devil Applegate and his siren-side-kick, Lola, to convince Joe to sell his soul for the chance to do just that. 

Kritzer has appeared on Broadway in Hairspray, Legally Blonde The Musical, A Catered Affair, and Sondheim on Sondheim. Off-Broadway she was seen in The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Bat Boy, Godspell, and Rooms: A Rock Romance. Regional credits include Vanities (Kathy), Babes in Arms (Baby Rose), and both Grease (Rizzo) and Funny Girl (Fanny) at Paper Mill Playhouse, Pop! at Yale Rep. She received a 2007 Special Achievement MAC Award for her show Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches, and a 2007 Clarence Derwent Award for her performance as Serena in Legally Blonde. She stared in the Encores! staged concert presentation of On the Town in November 2008 and in May 2009 Kritzer performed in the musical "Cabaret" at the Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) portraying the lead role of Sally Bowles.

Eric Kunze (Joe Hardy) is thrilled to return to The Muny. Most recently, he performed in The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Kennedy Center. He made his Broadway debut as Marius in Les Misérables (opposite Lea Salonga) and went on to star as Chris in Miss Saigon and then as Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees (with Jerry Lewis). He received rave reviews for the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat (Muny, KC Starlight, Sacramento Music Circus). Eric recently won the IRNE Award for best actor for his portrayal of Joseph in Joseph...Dreamcoat and for the Man in Whistle Down the Wind in Boston this past year.

Angie L. Schworer (Lola) is honored to return to The Muny after playing Ulla in The Producers here with two of her favorite actors, Lewis J. Stadlen and Lee Roy Reams. Broadway credits: The Producers (Ulla), Young Frankenstein, and Chicago. World premieres: Catch Me If You Can (Seattle) and Minsky's (Los Angeles). She most recently played Vicki Nichols in The Full Monty at North Carolina Theater. Television appearances include As The World Turns, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and the Kennedy Center Honors Tribute to Mel Brooks, and she has appeared in the film version of The Producers.

Lewis J. Stadlen (Applegate) performed 761 performances as Max Bialystock in The Producers on Broadway and was the 2008 recipient of the Kevin Kline award for his performance at The Muny. He made his Broadway debut as Groucho Marx in Minnie's Boys (Drama Desk, Outer Critic's Circle, Theatre World Awards). Other Broadway shows include Ben Silverman in The Sunshine Boys, Voltaire and Dr. Pangloss in Candide (Tony® nomination), and Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Tony® nomination). Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls; Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! and Mendel in Fiddler on the Roof. He played Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at The Muny. Some of his better films include Serpico, The Verdict, and To Be or Not to Be. He is the author of the theatrical memoir Acting Foolish.

Tickets are available at The Muny Box Office in Forest Park seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, at all MetroTix outlets, or by calling (314) 534-1111 and charging tickets to MasterCard, American Express, Discover or VISA. There is a convenience charge added to the ticket price on MetroTix phone orders and at all MetroTix locations. Ticket prices: Center and Side Boxes, $66.00; Terrace A (Rows A-M), $47.00; Terrace A (Rows N-Y), $39.00; Terrace B (Rows A-M), $28.00; Terrace B (Rows N-Y), $18.00; and Terrace C, $9.00.

This is the musical that's got it all: Terrific tunes, dazzling dancing, and...baseball! Not a weak spot in the line-up! For information, call (314) 361-1900, or visit our website at www.muny.org. To charge tickets by phone, call (314) 534-1111.

Coupons are available in the St. Louis Post Dispatch and at area Schnucks locations for $5.00 off closing night (Sunday) tickets in Terrace A and B. There is a limit of ten (10) tickets per coupon. Coupons may be redeemed only at The Muny Box Office in Forest Park.

American Airlines is the official airline of The Muny. Damn Yankees is welcomed by Fox Sports Midwest TV and KTRS/Cardinals radio.Group tickets are on sale now, and discount rates are available for groups of 20 or more.Call the Group Sales Department at (314) 361-1900, ext. 308.###

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.