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.

[CJRochester]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 7:58am

Ben Cook has joined the cast, filling in for another cast member who had to bow out due to an injury. 

https://www.arenastage.org/yankees

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 8:39am

CJRochester said: "Ben Cook has joined the cast, filling in for another cast member who had to bow out due to an injury.

https://www.arenastage.org/yankees"

Illinoise's Ben Cook? Oh I love him!

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 9/29/25 at 11:19am

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "CJRochester said: "Ben Cook has joined the cast, filling in for another cast member who had to bow out due to an injury.

https://www.arenastage.org/yankees"

Illinoise's Ben Cook? Oh I love him!"

Same.  Ben is too talented for this production.  But people need work I suppose...

 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 10/31/25 at 4:52pm

Guessing Ben is pitch-hitting for Giuseppe Bausilio, who left the show due to injury late in previews.

Seeing the show the final weekend, is it really 2h15m including intermission? That's what their site is saying now. 

[Flowerlovestage5]

Posted: 10/31/25 at 8:44pm

I was fortunate to see this on Wednesday. I’ve always been a fan of the score, the film (the original Bway Cast) and the OBC Album. That said, what a SUPERB Production. The leads and supporting cast are superb …..

Sergio Trujillo’s directorial vision honors the original (it’s all there) in its 1955 glory. Doug Wright & Will Power have revised certain aspects that flesh out the book within its original blueprint. The cast is superb: 22  talents combined with a sublime orchestra and the most charming design.  

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 9:58am

I bought a last-minute standing room ticket to last night's performance.  The Lola understudy was listed as going on, as well as a swing for one of the baseball players.  At 8:10 the communications manager came out and announced that they had to cancel the performance due to cast injuries.  Not sure how they didn't know this before they opened the house.  It'll be interesting to see if they'll be able to play their remaining performances as the show closes on Sunday.

Updated On: 11/7/25 at 09:58 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 10:03am

DottieD'Luscia said: "I bought a last-minute standing room ticket to last night's performance. The Lola understudy was listed as going on, as well as a swing for one of the baseball players. At 8:30 the communications manager came out and announced that they had to cancel the performance due to cast injuries. Not sure how they didn't know this before they opened the house. It'll be interesting to see if they'll be able to play their remaining performances as the show closes on Sunday."

I saw this post on Reddit and tend to think more than one ensemble member was out/injured. Not sure how many swings they have.

[Angel of Harlem]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 11:33am

Myles Frost the only name I’ve heard for Pal Joey -

any others?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 1:51pm

Heading down to DC tonight to catch the matinee tomorrow, suddenly very nervous. I saw I think the Raul's IG takeover that they were splitting tracks like crazy during yesterday's matinee, it must've gotten a lot worse to cancel the evening show.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 2:40pm

The show is on for tonight as the box office issued me a standing room ticket in exchange for last night's canceled performance.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 3:05pm

The show has 3 swings only. 2 male, one female. Guessing if this comes to Broadway they'll need to hire a few more. Trujillo's choreo does look very physically demanding in this show.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 7:53pm

At the show tonight. They're down 4 male ensemble members. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 8:08pm

DottieD'Luscia said: "At the show tonight. They're down 4 male ensemble members."

Which means the two male swings are doing split tracks.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 11/8/25 at 2:38am

ACL2006 said: "The show has 3 swings only. 2 male, one female. Guessing if this comes to Broadway they'll need to hire a few more.Trujillo's choreo does look very physically demanding in this show."

It'll probably get amped up some since it probably won't be in the round on Broadway. 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/8/25 at 10:38am

What an enjoyable evening! I saw this production before they officially opened. I liked it the first time, but liked it much more last night even with some missing ensemble members. 

Ana Villafañe's performance has grown. I wasn't a fan the first time around. 

Joe Hardy is a perfect role for Jordan Donica. His voice!!! Loved his, "And now your Joe...."

Rob McClure's performance seemed the same. He was good. 

Wish I could see it again before it closes tomorrow. Hope the injured ensemble men heal quickly. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/9/25 at 11:23pm

Saw the matinee yesterday, and I'm so glad I made the trip down. From the first downbeat, I was hooked. There was so much joy, so much heart, on display on that stage. The updating to 2000 and integration of more current events was never not seamless and made it feel so fresh. The choreography was just stellar, even with the ensemble tracks being split. Jordan Danica was stellar, and it really felt like he was the lead of the show. (If it comes to Broadway, I hope that the billing and the award nomination reflect that.) Rob McClure is a hysterically nimble delight, from moment one having the crowd in his hands. Bryohna Marie as Meg, I could've used more time with, she gave a star-making performance. Ana Villafane is very good as Lola, but I think it's not really her "star power" as some have commented on, I think that's a role of its time - and it's hard to find that hook to the role in modern theatre.

Really the only slightly underpowered performance was Alysha Umphress as Gloria. The vocals weren't there and he seemed tired. My main memory of her lungs of steel in On The Town in mind, perhaps she was tired. Some of the new lyrics from Lynn Ahrens work, though changing a lot of "The Game" except for the two girls one car bit was surprising. Act Two in general felt a bit rushed, my husband noticed how quickly the scenes kept changing. And the show being only 2:10, I can definitely understand how some scenes could've used some breathing room.

Watching the show, as fun as it is in the round, I realized that this show doesn't really need to be in order to transfer to Broadway. Especially with Sergio's smart use of projections, something noticed in Real Women Have Curves - it can definitely work in a proscenium. 

Speaking of Curves, leaving the show, I overheard a fellow theatre nerd was saying that Sergio was hoping to take the show to the James Earl Jones, since Just In Time looks to be sticking around and he loves the Jones. I can definitely see it there.

Spotted in the audience, a big hit with the DC crowd: PBS guy and recent Orioles owner, David Rubenstein, along with MLB legend Cal Ripkin, Jr. 

I only wish I lived near DC, so I could've seen this production numerous times. It was two hours of pure joy.

 

BRYONHA MARIE*