Pope Caffey Alternates with Tunie as Lola in Amas' Damn Yankees Concert, Nov. 14

Amas Musical Theatre has announced that Stephanie Pope Caffey (Chicago, Millie, Fosse, Smokey Joe's Café, A Funny Thing, Kiss of the Spider Woman) will alternate the role of the sultry Lola with Tamara Tunie (Julius Caesar, "Law & Order SVU," "As The World Turns") in a starry 90-minute concert version of Damn Yankees during Amas' third Blast from the Past benefit evening on Monday, November 14th at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street) at 7 PM.

Damn Yankees, which will be set during the Negro Leagues post WWII, also stars Darius de Haas (Marie Christine, Rent, Carousel) as Young Joe Hardy with Alton F. White (Ragtime, Lion King) as the devilish Mr. Applegate, Ira Hawkins (Caroline or Change at The Public, Honky Tonk Nights, Timbuktu, Tap Dance Kid) as the Coach, Ken Prymus (Ain't Misbehavin', Cats) as Older Joe, Vivian Reed (Marie Christine, Bubbling Brown Sugar) as his wife Meg, Tina Fabrique (Ragtime, Noise Funk, Dessa Rose) as Sister and Deven May as Mr. Welch.  

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 1,019 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 Adler and 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.  Maurice Hines will present the awards to this year's honorees. Leslie Uggams won the Tony Award for Hallelujah Baby! and was nominated for her role in King Hedley II.

 
The show will be 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 or go to www.theatermania.com.