Gaslight Players to stage ‘Damn Yankees’
The St. Stephen Gaslight Players, founded in 1981 by parishioner Joy Joseph, have been staging annual productions ever since that time. This year they will be performing the Tony Award-winning musical “Damn Yankees” the first two weekends in March.
Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 1, 2, 8 and 9, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 3, in Hanley Hall at St. Stephen Church, 1835 Spruce St., Des Plaines. There is reserved table seating with tickets priced at $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $12 for children 12 and younger. A table of four can be reserved for $70. There will be food and drinks for sale at all performances.
For tickets or information, contact the parish office at (847) 824-2026 or visit marymotherofmartyrs.org. If available, tickets will be sold at the door.
It’s the mid-1950s and a middle-aged real estate agent, Joe Boyd, is bemoaning the fact that his favorite baseball team, the Washington Senators, is once again going to lose the pennant to the New York Yankees — those “Damn Yankees!” He will do anything to help his team, even sell his soul to the devil, so that he can become the best home run hitter in the league and guide his team to the championship.
The talented and diverse cast includes Tim Vana and John Di Leo (Joe Boyd), Joan Mattingly (Meg Boyd), John B. Boss (Mr. Applegate), Robert McDonough (Joe Hardy), Sarina Knudtson (Gloria Thorpe), Beth Debowey (Lola), Jeff Blume (Van Buren), Jim Szczesniak (Mr. Welch), Jennifer Case (Sister), Caryl Davidson (Doris), Phyllis Rotondo (Lynch), Denise Wiorek (Miss Weston) and Nancy Patterson (Postmistress).
The Washington Senators team members are Andy Caccavari (Sohovik), Ivan Lazcano (Eddie/Commissioner), Kevin Lipecki (Mickey), Rob Potempa (Smokey), Scott Skiple (Henry), Charlie Vana (Rocky), and Aiden Broehl (Bat Boy). Ensemble members are Denise Adams, Marie Burke and Amy Serpe.
The show is directed by Tim Vana, assisted by co-director and choreographer Ellen Ecker. Producers are Jill and Charlie Vana and Phyllis Rotondo. The music director and rehearsal accompanist is David Richards. The set designer is Joanna Fosco and the technical director is Wayne Dean.
The stage manager and prop master is Deb Szczesniak. The assistant stage manager is Monica Potempa. Stage crew members include Gianni Frazier and Lucas Strecker. Costumes are coordinated by Phyllis Rotondo. Woolson Production is providing the light and sound equipment. The kitchen crew is headed by Danielle Broehl and Mary Beth Conte.