The students of Weehawken High School will take audiences out to the ball game with their annual spring musical production, Damn Yankees.
“I think it’s a good play that the students can relate to,” said play producer Steve Spinosa, “and it’s the American pastime.”
The play will run from March 20 to 21. General admission is $5 and the shows begin at 7:30 p.m.
The story and the cast
Damn Yankees is a musical comedy adapted from the novel “The Year the Yankees Lost.” The story is a modern version of the Faust story in which the character makes a pact with the devil. It is set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C. – well, Weehawken for the school version – during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball.
Old Joe Boyd is a hardcore fan of baseball and of his favorite team, the Weehawken Indians. He would love for the Indians to beat the Yankees this year.
Boyd’s devoted wife Meg always tries to support her husband, but that doesn’t seem to be enough for Old Joe.
“I’m his wife, I’m caring, and a very calm type of person,” said junior Deana Lantigua, 17, who plays Meg. “I’m very loving and I just miss my husband most of the time.”
“I think it’s a good play that the students can relate to and it’s the American pastime.” – Steve Spinosa
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“I am the transformed version of old Joe,” said junior Joshua Duncan, 16, Young Joe. “Applegate [makes] me young, so I can go back and fulfill my dream to beat the Yankees for the pennant.”
This is Joshua’s third play. Last year he played the lead character Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors.
“I just like the whole feeling of being on stage and performing for people,” said Joshua. “That is something that I’m very passionate about.”
The original Damn Yankees production debuted on Broadway in 1955, and ran for 1,019 performances. A film version was released in 1958 and in 1994 there was a Broadway revival of the play.
Such a devil
Driving Joe throughout the play is Mr. Applegate, who uses all the tricks at his disposal including his sexy evil henchwoman Lola, to claim Joe’s soul. As the song goes, “Whatever Lola wants…Lola gets.”
“I’m very persuasive, cunning, and I add a little flare to the devil character,” said senior Matthew Ferran, 17, while still in his devil character. “I want to take Joe’s soul, but he’s not listening so I have to [corrupt] him.”
Spinosa encouraged Matthew to try out for the play due to his performance background from the age of 7. He is also a big fan of Brittany Spears, who is one of his biggest influences.
“I am a singer and a dancer, so acting is a new thing for me,” said Matthew. [I’m looking forward to] the spotlight on me. I am a performer and the dance floor is my stage.”
Sharing the hellish spotlight with Matthew is senior Jennifer Melgar, 17, who plays Lola.
Opening night
The cast continues to prepare for the upcoming shows.
“I’m hoping that a lot of people come, that we have a good show, and hopefully nobody forgets their lines,” said junior Ruben Vaquiro, 17, who plays Van Buren, the Indians’ manager.
Making his theater debut as well is junior Richard Turner, 16, as Young Joe.
“Mr. Spinosa really convinced me to do it,” said Richard. “It’s pretty cool maybe something I’ll try next year, and it’s a lot fun working with all [the cast] and the music director.”
Also taking the Weehawken stage for the first time is theater veteran junior Jacinda Viniani, 17, who has been in several school productions since middle school. Jacinda plays the part of probing reporter Gloria Thorpe.
Spinosa gave special thanks to the Board of Education, Braddon Mehrten from Inside Broadway, wood shop teacher Paul Simons, art teacher Elizabeth McParland, and Principal Dr. Peter Oliveri.
For more information and ticket sales, call (201) 422-6130.