Ramirez, Tunie, White Set for Amas Damn Yankees Benefit

Tony Award winner Sara Ramirez and Tamara Tunie will both play Lola for the Amas Musical Theatre’s upcoming Blast from the Past benefit production of Damn Yankees, which will be held at the Lucille Lortel Theater at 7pm on November 14. The concert presentation, to be directed and choreographed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, will re-set the 1955 show about baseball in the world of the Negro Baseball Leagues.

The benefit’s cast will also include Alton F. White as Applegate, Rodney Hicks as Joe Hardy, Chuck Cooper as the Coach, Ken Prymus as Older Joe, Vivian Reed as Meg, Tina Fabrique as Sister, and Rob Evan as Mr. Welch. Also appearing will be Wayne W. Pretlow, Raun Ruffin, Eric Anthony, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Stacey Sargeant, Christine Clemons, Amber Efe, Britton Jones, Kevin Anthony, Michael Blackman, and Delance Minefee.

Damn Yankees, which features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, tells the story of a middle-aged man who sells his soul to the devil to become a big-time baseball star, and falls for the temptress Lola in the process. The original Broadway production starred Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston (both of whom reprised their roles in the 1958 film version) and Stephen Douglass as Joe Hardy. (Tab Hunter played the role on film.) The musical was revived on Broadway in 1994 starring Bebe Neuwirth, Victor Garber, and Jarrod Emick (who won a Tony Award for his performance).

At the benefit, Amas will present its annual “Rosie” Awards (named for founder Rosetta LeNoire) to Tony Award-winner Leslie Uggams and to The JPMorgan Chase Foundation. It will also give The Ossie Davis Award for Inspirational Leadership to Brian Cashman, senior vice president and general manager of the New York Yankees. Maurice Hines will present the awards to this year’s honorees.

In other Amas news, the group will begin a series of afternoon discussions called Conversations at the Players Theater (115 MacDougal Street), beginning October 9 at 4pm with the legendary Geoffrey Holder. The October 16 discussion focuses on lyricists and composers, while the October 23 panel is devoted to “leading men of color.” Maharaj will moderate these events.

Tickets to the Damn Yankees benefit are $125 (performance only) and $500 (including cocktails, premium performance seats and buffet dinner). Tickets to the Conversations are $10; $5 for students and seniors. Call 212-563-2565 for more information.