Musical comedy Damn Yankees coming to Shaw Festival Theatre

The musical comedy “Damn Yankees” will be performed at the Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., for a six-month run, beginning April 23.

April 19, 2022

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Even if you don’t like those damn Yankees, Damn Yankees might be something you will want to go and see.

The mega-popular Broadway production of yesteryear is making its way to the Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario for a six-month run, beginning April 23.

Based on the Douglass Wallop novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, Damn Yankees is a musical comedy and sounds like a lot of fun.

The main character is Joe Boyd, a middle-aged, out-of-shape real estate agent, who has the misfortune of being a Washington Senators fan in an era when the Yankees are dominating the major leagues.

One transaction later, he becomes Joe Hardy, who develops a reputation for hitting home runs. The question arises: Can he help the Senators beat out those damn Yankees?

Shane Carty plays Boyd and James Daley is Hardy. Carty has spent more than 25 years working at many of Canada’s theatres, including Stratford. Other cast members include Andrew Broderick, Peter Fernandes, J.J. Gerber and Elodie Gillett.

Act I will be one hour and 35 minutes long and then there will be a 20-minute intermission when you can grab a drink before Act II which encompasses 45 minutes, according to Ashley Belmer, the theatre’s senior director of communications.

Damn Yankees is directed by Brian Hill with music direction by Paul Sportelli. Allison Plamondon handles the choreography and Cory Sincennes looks after the designing of the set and costumes. The lighting is handled by Mikael Kangas. John Lott, not the baseball writer we know, is looking after sound and Skylar Fox will be the force behind magic and illusions.

Opening Day on Saturday, April 23 will be a matinee performance, beginning at 2 p.m. Play ball!