LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — On March 11, 12 and 13, Sullivan West will add “Damn Yankees!” to its musical repertoire. The show, based on the novel “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant” by Douglass Wallop, was originally performed in 1955 on Broadway, where it ran for 1,019 performances. It was revived numerous times, most notably at West End in London and again on Broadway in 1994.

The plot of “Damn Yankees!” revolves around an older real estate agent, Joe Boyd, who has a life-long love of baseball, particularly for the Washington Senators. Unfortunately, his favorite team rarely wins a game, and the show begins with a disappointing loss to the Yankees. Meanwhile, his beloved wife, Meg, must constantly compete with the television screen for his attention. The plot begins when Boyd is offered a deal by the devil, Mr. Applegate, to exchange his soul for a chance to be the greatest baseball player in history. The story escalates as Boyd (now Joe Hardy) begins to regret his decision. The comical show features catchy tunes throughout, including “Heart,” “Shoeless Joe,” and “Whatever Lola Wants.”

Director Jerry Hoch says, “This is a different show than anything I’ve done. Everyone is a character. There are no small parts.” The cast is a conglomerate of ages, with large speaking roles ranging from eighth grade to, of course, seniors. This year, senior participation is high, with many seasoned actors who have acted in numerous shows. “We have a lot of veteran students in the cast. This is second nature to them,” Hoch said when asked what some of the strengths of this cast are.

Senior Gabriel Pinciotti, who portrays Mr. Applegate, is in his third and final year of being a lead in productions at Sullivan West, and plans on studying theater in college. “I didn’t really know that I was interested in theater until I did ‘Beauty and The Beast’ [in 2014], and I realized that—wow, this is something that I not only enjoy, but it’s something that, well, people tell me I’m good at.”

This year, underclassmen have been given fairly large speaking roles. “I do the musical to get out of my comfort zone and to meet more people that are in the show,” says freshman Allison Unser. She and several other freshmen and sophomores are preparing to step into major lead roles in the coming years as older students graduate. Unser is confident that the quality of shows will remain high. “The cast will decrease significantly, but the shows will still be as great as they are. Those who don’t have as much experience will step up and produce a great show.”

Compared to previous performances at Sullivan West, “Damn Yankees!” brings elements of modern-day American culture and a healthy dose of laughs to the stage.

“I think that people will view it as a bit of a departure from last year [‘The Secret Garden’],” says senior William Engle, who portrays the role of Joe Boyd. Hoch agrees, noting that, “We wanted something more comedic. Last year we did something very serious.”

Choreographer Laura Tighe also finds “Damn Yankees!” to be a shift from the three previous shows she has been involved with at Sullivan West. “This one is definitely more involved... it’s a different atmosphere. We’re telling more of the plot with the dances this year. Last year, it was like movement to the songs. Now, it’s movement to the story.”

The cast and crew have been working diligently for two months to put the production together. The show features scenes appropriate for almost all ages, however there is a small amount of sexual innuendo.

Come support the young performers on March 11 and 12 at 7 p.m., or the Sunday matinee on the 13th at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $6 for students, and free for seniors 62 and older. All proceeds from the show go toward future productions. “I hope we can get a few chuckles from the audience,” says Hoch. Help cheer on these passionate students by attending “Damn Yankees!”