TLC Musical, New Adaptations of DAMN YANKEES and PAL JOEY Will Play Arena Stage- Page 6

[JSquared2]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 3:40pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "Hmm. Krysta Rodriguez could be a great Lola."

FYI, Lola isn’t a Latina in DAMN YANKEES. She puts on that Latin spitfire persona when she tries to seduce Joe during “Whatever Lola Wants.” Any actress can play the role. Her heritage is never addressed and has never been played with Hispanic implications, like Rose in BYE BYE BIRDIE."

In that case I could see a Paloma Garcia-Lee type in there. Or maybe a Broadway return for Ashley Park. Krysta would still be great. Mackenzie Kurtz has the right feel as well.

And Elizabeth Teeter has what it takes, even if a bit young. Still, if Circle isn’t available for a year or so, that might not be a problem.

It will probably end up being Hannah Cruz at the end of the day. Brilliant and likely done with Chess by the time Yankees moves."

 

Not one of the people you have have named would sell a ticket.

 

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 4:21pm

I know she’s divisive but is it crazy to think Jennifer Lopez might be good as Lola? Just worked with Sergio, can be seductive and funny, can dance, and this role doesn’t require the world’s best singer.

The key would be getting her to commit to 9-12 months of performances.

Then it wouldn’t really require a star for Applegate (because let’s be real, the role of Applegate isn’t THAT good).

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 4:32pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "Hmm. Krysta Rodriguez could be a great Lola."

FYI, Lola isn’t a Latina in DAMN YANKEES. She puts on that Latin spitfire persona when she tries to seduce Joe during “Whatever Lola Wants.” Any actress can play the role. Her heritage is never addressed and has never been played with Hispanic implications, like Rose in BYE BYE BIRDIE."

FWIW, although Lola doesn't have to be played by a Latina actress, the producers and creatives were specifically seeking a Latina for this production and they would like to keep it that way.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 4:40pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "FYI, Lola isn’t a Latina in DAMN YANKEES."

Is that true in this specific revision and the vision of its Latin American director? Having not seen the production, race seems very intentional here. A Black man at the center of it, who makes a deal with a white Devil who’s costumed and hair designed like an absolute sleeze-ball (complimentary).

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 4:43pm

Ermengarde - having seen the production, they definitely lean into the idea of Lola being Latina but it isn't explicitly stated. She does have a line about loving to dance to a Latin beat, but that's as far as it goes - although subtextually, it is obvious that they had the idea of a Latina character in mind.

[Dom P]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 5:05pm

J-Lo and Marc Anthony?

 

 

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I know she’sdivisive but is it crazy to think Jennifer Lopezmight be good as Lola? Justworked with Sergio, can be seductive and funny, can dance, and this role doesn’t require the world’s best singer.

The key would be getting her to commit to 9-12 months of performances.

Then it wouldn’t really require a star for Applegate (because let’s be real, the role of Applegate isn’t THAT good)."

 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 6:44pm

Applegate gets star billing, appropriately, but the role isn't actually as potent as one remembers. I saw it in stock in the 70s with the original, Walston, opposite Verdon returning for a summer tour. Then Victor Garber, who made no major impression. When Jerry Lewis went it, it became the Jerry Lewis show, regardless. It's not exactly a triple threat role, and over the years plenty of non-singers have played it. I'm curious if it's funny here. By now, Faustian constructs have been so overused, this one may feel less fresh.

I can see it played more like Hamm's Don Draper, a slick conman in Mad Ave grey flannel. The Satan shtick gets tired very fast, with little left to surprise us. Making him an ordinary huckster from the soulless corporate entertainment industry would do it for me. 

Updated On: 9/24/25 at 06:44 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 7:16pm

The implications of the original script, though it's never stated in explicit terms, are that "Lola" is white and Jewish, who takes on the "fiery latin temptress" persona as part of her gig. That's also the implicit joke of "Who's Got The Pain:" a ton of sort of Catskills-Jewish-coded kvetches or Yinglishisms, set to an improbable mambo beat. 

Jewishness is different today, and the East Side/West Side cultural divide between Latin and Jewish culture has long disappeared. So a character like Lola is remembered AS the role she played, not as it being an ironic put-on.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/24/25 at 10:32pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I know she’sdivisive but is it crazy to think Jennifer Lopezmight be good as Lola? Justworked with Sergio, can be seductive and funny, can dance, and this role doesn’t require the world’s best singer.

The key would be getting her to commit to 9-12 months of performances.

Then it wouldn’t really require a star for Applegate (because let’s be real, the role of Applegate isn’t THAT good)."

It's crazy to think they could even afford her.