Damn Yankees has been a show close to my heart for a long time. It was the first show I was in at the Old Town Playhouse after I started teaching in Elk Rapids. Since that spring of 2004, I knew at some point in my life I wanted to direct Damn Yankees. After all, the show has so much “Heart!”
Throughout this process, we have been surrounded by fantastic people. We had an incredibly large turnout for the auditions and the students have been dedicated and eager ever since. This group of seniors is a fantastic core of people who are fun, talented, and pleasant. We will miss them so much next year, but we are enjoying them while we have them!
We have had equally impressive parental support for the show. Jennifer Lett stepped up from the beginning to help with our program, publicity, and parent communications. Amy King Schindler made online ticketing possible with Jen’s help. The LaLones have, for the last several years, been stalwarts in heading up our costume and set building operations. Nothing on stage would look the same without them. The Fedrigons have been incredibly generous with their time and talents. Pat Wyers valiantly has led the concessions effort. The Hegers, the Starrs, the Waltzes, the Letts, and many, many, many more families have tirelessly built, painted, sewed, shopped, ironed, and generally made things possible on and backstage. Annie Goodman and her troops from the Performance II class have made tons of the props and provided make-up services for the actors. Dan Berck is, as always, a professional in all that he does. Noah Moothart and Nick Loew have been superstars on our technical team.
Finally, Blair Grammer continues to amaze me with her talents as a choreographer and assistant director. She is so organized, has such a good eye for the stage, and is generally so pleasant and an awesome team mate.
Thanks to Jeremy and Sadie for all the late nights you held down the fort without me.
Enjoy our show with “A Lot of Brains and A Lot of Talent!”
