Sussex Tech students to perform 'Damn Yankees'

SPARTA — "Damn Yankees", the Adler and Ross musical about a man who sells his soul to the devil to become the greatest baseball player that ever lived, is showing at Sussex County Technical School on Feb. 26-28 at the McNeice Auditorium.

"Damn Yankees,” which opened on Broadway in 1955, is the story of Joe Boyd, a frustrated baseball fan (played by Alex McCully) who declares he would sell his soul for a longball hitter for his favorite team, the Washington Senators. Eager to stir up trouble, the devil appears in the form of Mr. Applegate (played by Nicolas Perez) who transforms the fan into baseball natural Joe Hardy (David Lisboa). The manager of the Senators, VanBuren (Samantha Rapp) signs Joe onto the team, while reporter Gloria Thorpe (Emma Kimble) gives Joe the nickname "Shoeless Joe" because of his mysteriously small cleats.

When Joe begins yearning for his wife Meg (Lucia Re) and his old way of life, the devil is afraid of losing control of him. So he sends the temptress Lola (Alexis Hernandez) into the locker room after Joe.

Additional cast members include Sam Bloch, Ariana Buccieri, Michael Clancy, Aileen Czarkowski, Antonio Danino, Alexis Garrity, Julia Geydoscek, Nate Gile, Madeline Kelleher, Alex McCully, Christine Miller, Jamie Oliver, Veronica Pollock, Holly Reitter, Cassandra Rinn, Zachary Smolder, Isabella Spina, Alexandria Sterling, Jessica Stillwell, Amber Tiritilli, Hope Young, and Liri Ziba.

This musical is directed by Amy Roberts, musical direction is under John Zatorski, and choreographed by Alyson Sandman. The student stage manager is Morgan Anderson, the assistant stage manager is Justice Urena, and the costume coordinator is Sarah Biccum.

Show times are Feb. 26 and 27 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. Advance tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $10 for adults. Tickets will be available at the door. Door prices are $10 for students and seniors and $12 for adults. Ticket information hotline: 973-383-6700, Ext. 235.