Arena Stage opens 75th season with Damn Yankees

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater steps up to the plate for its monumental 75th anniversary season with a sizzling revival of Damn Yankees, launching the 2025/26 season in grand style. Arena is thrilled to announce the cast and creative team for this seductively retooled take on the all-American musical, which blends baseball, devilish deals, and one unforgettable femme fatale in a story bursting with humor, heart, and heat. The all-star lineup behind this new adaptation includes co-adaptors Lucille Lortel Award winner Will Power (The Power) and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), with additional lyrics by Tony Award winner Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime). Leading the charge of this powerhouse production is Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo (Ain't Too Proud) as both director and choreographer. Damn Yankees runs September 9 - November 9, 2025, in the Fichandler Stage.

Damn Yankees at Arena Stage in DC

Set in a time when the Bronx was home to a seemingly unbeatable lineup of MLB superstars, a die-hard baseball fan makes a deal with the devil to help his rival team clinch the pennant, only to find himself torn between fame, temptation, and the life he left behind. Featuring an iconic score filled with hits like "Whatever Lola Wants" and "Who's Got the Pain?" from Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, this irresistible musical comedy blends high-stakes romance and just the right touch of mischief. Boasting all the elements that made it famous, this all-star adaptation honors the heart of the original story by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop - immersing audiences in a whirlwind of love, laughter, ego, and sacrifice.

"Placing this classic musical in the 2000s-era Yankees dynasty we all remember so well has been thrilling. Our goal has been to honor the show's heart while bringing its characters, rhythms, and spirit into the modern age," shared Trujillo. "This version is bold, fresh, and rooted in a contemporary cultural understanding. I'm so proud to be sharing this work at Arena Stage, a place that celebrates both legacy and innovation."

"For 70 years, Damn Yankees has held its place as a cornerstone of American musical theater," said Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif. "Brimming with ambition and heart, it's a story of yearning, of love, the dreams we chase and the moral crossroads that can define or destroy us - a narrative as poignant today as it was at its debut. We're honored to introduce this reimagined, iconic musical to a new generation, infused with fresh energy and timeless soul."

The on-stage roster for Damn Yankees will include Giuseppe Bausilio (Hamilton), Raúl Contreras (Sunset Boulevard), Deanna Cudjoe (Smash), Grammy Award nominee Quentin Earl Darrington (Once on This Island), Tony Award nominee Jordan Donica (Camelot), John Michael Fiumara (Hamilton), Rayanne Gonzales (The Phantom of the Opera), Danielle Marie Gonzalez (Beetlejuice National Tour), Michael Harmon (MJ The Musical), Nehal Joshi (The Phantom of the Opera), Ryo Kamibayashi (The Outsiders), Bryonha Marie (Our Town), Georgia Monroe (Sunset Boulevard), Keenan McCarter (Signature Theatre's Hair), two-time Tony Award nominee Rob McClure (Mrs. Doubtfire), Kevin Munhall (Anastasia), J Savage (Smash), Justin Showell (Floyd Collins), Sarah Anne Sillers (Olney Theatre's Frozen), Jordyn Taylor (Arena's Unknown Soldier), Alysha Umphress (On the Town), Ana Villafañe (On Your Feet!), Drake Leach (Signature Theatre's Into the Woods), and Dani Spieler (A Bronx Tale).

Trujillo leads a championship-caliber team of creatives that includes four-time Tony Award-nominated set designer Robert Brill (Hell's Kitchen), two-time Tony-Award winning costume designer Linda Cho (The Great Gatsby), Drama Desk Award-nominated lighting designer Philip S. Rosenberg (BOOP! The Musical), Tony Award-nominated sound designer Walter Trarbach (SpongeBob SquarePants), five-time Tony Award-nominated projections designer Peter Nigrini (Hell's Kitchen), three-time Drama Desk Award-winning wig and hair designer Charles G. LaPointe (Death Becomes Her), Drama Desk Award-winning illusion designer Paul Kieve (Ghost), Emmy and Grammy Award-nominated score supervisor David Chase (NBC's The Sound of Music Live!), Tony Award-nominated music supervisor and arranger Greg Anthony Rassen (Bandstand), three-time Tony Award-winning orchestrator Doug Besterman (Thoroughly Modern Millie), and music director Adam Rothenberg (Sunset Boulevard). New York casting is by The TRC Company / Tara Rubin, CSA, Merri Sugarman, CSA and DC casting is by Raiyon Hunter. The production stage manager is Christi B. Spann and the assistant stage managers are Stefania Giron Zuluaga and Sara Gehl.

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