Damn Yankees

On this day in 1955 the original Broadway production of Damn Yankees opened. Written by Richard Adler and Herbert Ross the musical was based on the Faustian legend, except here, a man sells his soul to the devil for the chance to bring his favorite baseball team (the long forgotten Washington Senators) to the World Series. Ray Walston played the devil, here called "Applegate" and the fabulous Gwen Verdon played his handmaiden, "Lola". The show won Tony Awards for both Verdon and Walston as well as for Choreographer Bob Fosse. A few years later the three of them re-teamed for the film version. Though perhaps not the greatest musical of all time, Damn Yankees is truly an entertaining, innocent show that anyone can enjoy. But the heart and soul of the whole show (as well as the film) is in Gwen Verdon's performance.

Boy, this blog sure came out like a bland theatrical review. Anyway, Happy Birthday Damn Yankees.