Baseball and musical comedy are joined by an American sensibility that is brash, bright and joyous.  The show was developed by Richard Adler, Jerry Ross, George Abbott, Bob Fosse and Hal Prince, the creative team of the hit musical the previous year, The Pajama Game.  The original Broadway production of Damn Yankees won eight Tony Awards and was later made into a movie starring Gwen Verdon, Tab Hunter and Ray Walston. 

The show is about middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd who trades his soul to the Devil (the charming but devious Mr. Applegate) for a chance to lead his favorite team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees.  As young baseball sensation Joe Hardy, he transforms the hapless Washington Senators into a winning team, only to realize the true worth of the life (and wife) he's left behind.  With the help of a handy escape clause and a guilt-ridden temptress named Lola, Joe outsmarts Applegate, returns to his former self and shepherds the Senators to the World Series.  Musical numbers include "Heart" (you gotta have heart, all you really need is heart), "Whatever Lola Wants," and "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, MO".

Gary Baumgartner is the CFCT skipper managing the team for Damn Yankees.  Baumgartner directed many hit plays for CFCT that have included Lend Me a Tenor, M*A*S*H, Rumors, and Harvey.

Adam Western plays the role of the Devil, Mr. Applegate.  Western is an employee of KWWL television and KWLO The Radio Group.  Adam studied Improv at Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis and appeared on stage at the Guthrie Theater.  Joe Hardy (the younger version of Joe Boyd) will be played by Mike Wissink.  Wissink earned his BA in music from UNI.  Mike has appeared with CFCT, WCP, GBPAC and on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.  Wissink sings with The Proud Image Chorus.  Jackie Kehoe will play the venerable Lola.  Kehoe is a theatre major at the University of Iowa.  She appeared in Footloose, Cats and Beauty and the Beast at WCP.  Kehoe also appeared in Rocky Horror Picture Show at Theatre Cedar Rapids.  Gary Baumgartner will play Joe Boyd, the man who becomes young again to be the famous ball player.  Gary has appeared on stage in many plays at WCP, studied theatre at UNI and earned a degree in marketing from Upper Iowa University.  Teri Sikula will play  Joe's wife, Meg. 

Sikula is an art teacher in the Hudson Community School District.  She last appeared for CFCT as Sonia Walsk, the lead female in the Marvin Hamlisch/Neil Simon musical They're Playing Our Song.  Sister Peg will be played by Michelle Rathe.  Rathe earned her BA from Iowa State and is an English and drama teacher at Cedar Falls High School.  She has directed and appeared on stage in many shows, including CFCT's Pippin last June.  Gloria Thorpe is the Newspaper reporter out to get "the scoop" and is being played by Sara Galm.  Galm appeared in several shows with CFCT, WCP and Spencer Community Theatre.  Galm earned her MAE in Postsecondary Education from UNI.  The role of Van Buren, the team manager,  will be played by veteran performer Duane McDonald.  McDonald is the Patron Services Manager at the GBPAC.  He has appeared in multiple shows at CFCT and WCP.  McDonald is on the board of directors of the CFCT, Chairs the auction committee and serves on the Golf Tourney Committee.

The Washington Senators baseball players that steal the show (and your hearts) are:   Chris Tuzicka is playing Smokey.  Tuzicka is an associate technical director at the GBPAC.  He sang with the concert choral at Wichita State University.  Chris performed in several shows in high school and appeared on stage at McPherson College.  Michael Holtan is playing the role of Eddie.  Holtan earned his BS in Computer Science from Iowa State University.  He is a video game programmer specializing in artificial intelligence for 8monkey Labs.  Holtan appeared in numerous shows at South Hamilton High School in Jewell, Iowa.  Michael appeared as the Snake Man in Pippin for CFCT.  Brent Hansen will play Sohovik.  Brent is part of the "Hansen Dairy Farm" family in the Cedar Valley Area.  Brent was a music major at UNI in vocal performance.  He appeared in several musicals that included All American, Music Man and Grease.  Eric Eichelberger will play Vernon.  Eric is graduating from Cedar Falls High School.  While in high school, Eric participated in All-State Chorus, Concert Choir, Jazz Singers, State Ensemble & Solo Contest, and danced with the critically acclaimed Co-Ed Dance Team.  Sam Lilja will play Rocky.  Lilja, a junior at Cedar Falls High School,  has appeared on stage in twenty-five shows.  Sam has appeared with the SYT, BHCT, WCP, and CFCT.  Sam played Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress at CFHS and Pippin in Tom Pardoe's production of Pippin last year.  Joel Kirner will play Henry.  Kirner appeared in the musicals Company and Jesus Christ Superstar.  Joel also appeared in Pyrates at the Lampost Theatre.

The ensemble includes the following specialty performers:  David Hildahl, who also plays Lynch.  Hildahl is employed with Hellman & Associates.  He appeared in WCP's production of Footloose.  Phil Kenealy doubles as Weston.  Phil works for ACES.  Kenealy has performed in many roles over a twelve year period at the Cedar Valley Community Church.  John Mardis, the former mayor of Evansdale, is a long time arts supporter in the Cedar Valley.  Mardis performed in many shows at WCP over a twenty-five year period.  Some of those included The Miracle Worker, Charlie's Aunt, Inherit the Wind, Fiddler, Oklahoma and Auntie Mame.  Irene Hochgraf Cameron recently appeared in CFCT's The Imaginary Invalid.  Cameron sings in both honor choir at NU High School and her church choir.  She appeared in Pippin for CFCT as one-half of the famous Siamese twins last summer.  Dennis Downs will play Welch, the team owner.  Downs has appeared in many hit CFCT musicals and Holiday plays.  Some of those include A Christmas Carol, Guys and Dolls, John Loves Mary, Man of La Mancha, Singin' in the Rain, 42nd Street.  Emily Stortz is graduating from Cedar Falls High School.  She performs with the Jazz Singers, the Dance Team, Concert Choir and All-State Honor Choir.  Stortz studied dance at Attitudes Dance by Aimee.  Stortz has appeared on stage for BHCT, WCP and appeared in CFCT's production of Pippin as Tatoo Lady.  Megan Kreitzer is a student at UNI.  She has appeared in multiple shows that have included Sweeney Todd, Tommy, Les Miserables and A Chorus Line.  Marcia Wilimek works for VGM Homelink.  Marcia last appeared on stage for CFCT in M*A*S*H.  She also appeared in various productions like The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, and Oklahoma.  Gary Woods appeared in WCP's production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and CFCT's production of Man of La Mancha.

Damn Yankees performances are scheduled for June 6-8 and 13-15 at the Oster Regent Theatre at First and Main Streets in Cedar Falls.  Sunday matinees are at 2 PM.  Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 PM.  Individual tickets are $23. for adults and $14 for full-time students.  Ticket reservations begin for CFCT season ticket holders and APPLAUD members May 21 and tickets go on sale to the general public starting May 27.  The box office is open Monday through Friday from 1 - 5pm.  Gift certificates and special group rates are available for this show-stopping entertainment. “Back To The Basics” is the season theme and season tickets are now on sale that include three additional shows.  For more information about season tickets dial 319-APP-LAUD.

Members of CFCT’s support group, APPLAUD, are invited to enjoy desserts in the Deery Room on the third floor of the Oster Regent Theatre following the opening night performance. The director and actors will be available at the dessert to visit with those in attendance.